The story is horror because of the narrator's unstable mind and the way the heart's beating haunts them. The suspense and the psychological terror make it a perfect horror tale. Also, the element of being unable to escape the consequences of one's actions adds to the horror.
Definitely a horror story! It has that intense atmosphere, a mysterious plot, and it plays on people's fears and anxieties, which are typical of horror.
The story is horror because it plays on our fears of the unknown and the dark side of the human mind. The narrator's actions and inner turmoil create a sense of dread throughout.
The 'vulture - eye' metaphor enhances horror as it makes the old man seem like a prey and the narrator a predator, creating a disturbing power dynamic. It gives an inhumane quality to the old man through the eye, which is quite horrifying.
One of the things that makes 'Tell Tale Heart' a great horror story is its use of suspense. The narrator's careful planning of the murder and the build - up to the act keep the reader on edge. Also, the guilt that eventually drives the narrator to confess is a powerful element that adds to the horror.
The main character in 'Tell Tale Heart' is the unnamed narrator. He is a deeply disturbed individual who commits a heinous act.
It's a short story because it has a concise plot and a relatively limited number of characters and events. The story unfolds quickly and gets to the point without extensive elaboration.
The story creates suspense by the internal conflict within the narrator. He is driven by his madness to kill the old man, yet his conscience seems to be lurking beneath the surface. As the story progresses, the sound of the old man's heart, which may be just in the narrator's head, heightens the tension. The police coming and the narrator's increasing paranoia as he hears the heart beating louder and louder makes for great suspense as we wait to see if he will be caught or break down.
The old man is portrayed as a somewhat helpless figure. He is an innocent victim who is targeted because of something as superficial as his eye. We get a sense of his vulnerability from the description of his fear when he wakes up in the middle of the night, suspecting that someone is in his room. This makes his murder all the more tragic.
In the end, the narrator's own psychological torment gets the better of him. He can no longer bear the perceived sound of the heart and breaks down, revealing his crime. This shows the power of guilt and the fragility of the human mind.
The 'Tell Tale Heart' short story is relatively short, usually taking around 20 minutes to read.