As you read, think about what universal fears Poe is attempting to tap into. A pendulum swings slowly from a 30- or 45-foot ceiling with a painting of *father time. When the narrator sees the pendulum descending, he thinks of it as a milder way to die than by falling into the pit. What comment do you think poe may be making about the political, religious,and social situation in the historical period which the story takes place? “The Pit and the Pendulum” Plot Chart Name_____ Characters Setting Basic Situation Key Events 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Please explain some of the symbolism in "The Pit and the Pendulum." With "The Pit and the Pendulum," Poe gives us a story as written by a man saved from the brink of death. He describes it as *square , its perimeter about 25 yards, with a stone floor and a central pit from which rats swarm.The walls are jointed metal plates with grotesquepaintings .A pendulum swings slowly from a 30- … The story’s rising action relates his macabre tortures, first by a bladed pendulum and finally by the movement of the cell’s red-hot walls. The Pit and the Pendulum Homework Help Questions. Though “The Pit and the Pendulum” does not convey a powerful theme that will make you reflect upon the consequences of your actions or technology or the nature of pride, it does address some of our universal fears - some subtle, some more obvious. The pendulum has begun to lower and to swing. What is the basic situation for The Pit and the Pendulum? The Pit and the Pendulum Summary. 9 years ago. Moll Cutpurse. its perimeter about 25 yards, with a stone floor and a central pit from which rats swarm. and find homework help for other The Pit and the Pendulum questions at eNotes On the ceiling above, he notices the figure of Father Time holding a pendulum. The narrator gives a detailed description of his cell on p. 263. 1 Answer. Favorite Answer. Every paragraph is filled not only with an intense description of harrowing events, but also with a serious investigation of their meaning. The Pit and the Pendulum is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. In “The Pit and the Pendulum,” however, readers view the action through the eyes of a presumably innocent man condemned by the sinister, unjust judges of the Inquisition. 3. Get an answer for 'What is the basic situation of the story "The Pit and the Pendulum?"' Like many of Poe's stories The pit and the Pendulum is not much more than a series of macabre situations. What is the population of tigers in a country like India? Edgar Allan Poe. Explain how this allegorical reading of the story can be supported. The walls are jointed metal plates with grotesque paintings . Days seem to pass as the pendulum continues to … Relevance. Though our narrator has escaped execution, he cannot escape from his memory – and it shows. Show how "The Pit and the Pendulum" is such a story. Background: “The Pit and the Pendulum” is set during the period of the Spanish Inquisition, which was established in 1480. The Spanish Inquisition jailed, tortured, tried, and executed thousands of people for heresy, or having opinions that differed from Catholic Church doctrine. When he wakes up again, he's tied to a wooden frame, with just his left arm still free. Imagine being sentenced to a torturous death without any insight into when or how it is going to happen. Eek. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. What is the basic situation of the story "The Pit and the Pendulum?" As the story begins, our narrator is being sentenced to death by a panel of black-robed, pale-faced judges. Unanswered Questions. The pendulum has begun to lower and to swing. On the ceiling above, he notices the figure of Father Time holding a pendulum. Answer Save. The Pit and the Pendulum tries to include this final message on the end, not so explicit, not that easy to be seen, maybe, but clear enough so those who are meant to can read between the lines. "The Pit and the Pendulum" was included in The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843, edited by Eliza Leslie and published by Carey & Hart.