Comparison of Edgar Allen Poes The Tell-Tale Heart and...

Comparison of Edgar A. Poes The Tell-Tale Heart and Stephen Kings Misery Introduction The objective of this study is to compare Edgar Allan Poes The Tell-Tale Heart and Stephen Kings Misery. Poes work entitled The Tell-Tale Heart begins with the statement: TRUE! nervous very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story. (Poe, 1843) Poe states that he does not know how he first acquired the idea but that once it had entered into his mind that the idea overtook him. He had no reason for what he had done and in fact, he loved the old man and the old man had never done anything wrong to him. The old man had no material possessions he wanted however, Poe states: I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture a pale blue eye, with a film over it. (Poe, 1843) Poe states that when that eye looked towards him that his blood ran cold, and so by degrees very gradually I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever. (Poe, 1843) Stephen Kings work entitled Misery begins by stating the following: When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you. C.