The Oval Portrait Analysis

Decent Essays
The Oval Portrait takes place in a dark room known as the Chateau, where the valet takes the hurt man to rest for the evening. The time of the place taken was during the night, around 1850. He described the place as “Its walls were hung with tapestry and bedecked with manifold and multiform armorial trophies, together with an unusually great number of very spirited modern paintings in frames of rich golden arabesque” (Poe, page 1). After noticing the aspects of the room, the narrator comes across a portrait that hadn’t caught his attention previously. The portrait was of a young girl that showed mainly her head and arms, “It was a mere head and shoulders, done in what is technically termed a vignette manner” (Poe, page 1). After admiring the …show more content…
After noticing Forunato 's cough, he informed him that they could return. He stated that, "the cough 's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough" (Poe, Page 1). Walking through the cold, dampered catacombs, Fortunato is now drunk and unaware with what 's happening. Not noticing the human remains on the walls of the catacombs, Montresor began to build what they mentioned as a, "the first tier of the masonry" (Poe, Page 1) around Forunato as he sat there chained to the wall. The vault grew quite and Montresor began to noticed the eight tier being built. No sound came from Fortunato as he came to the end of his revenge.
Poe 's short stories fits each of the elements. They presented a theme, setting and plot. There were moments where you could figure out the climax of each story, the characters seem realistic and much needed details were provided. However, I have a split decision about the short stories being more effectuve than the novels. Short stories go straight to the point. You know when the climax is near and a list of all of the characters from the beginning. Most novels you have to read several pages to actually get an understanding of whats going on, and with Poe, it 's very hard to grasp and dictate the next

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