The narrator's voice is a key element. His obsessive and unhinged way of speaking makes the mood feel unstable and nerve - wracking.
The events leading up to the murder, like the slow build - up of the narrator's hatred for the old man's eye, create a mood of growing dread. And the way the murder is described, so coldly yet with so much detail, adds to the horror mood.
The pacing of the story is a major element. It moves slowly at first, building up the details of the narrator's plan to kill the old man. This slow build - up creates suspense as we anticipate the act.
The author creates a tense mood through the narrator's erratic behavior. The narrator's over - detailed descriptions of his actions and his constant attempts to prove his sanity actually make the reader feel unease. For example, when he describes how he stalked the old man every night, it builds a sense of dread.
The setting of the house, being dark and quiet, creates a spooky mood. The stillness makes any little sound stand out, like the old man's heartbeat. It makes the whole situation seem more tense and nerve - wracking.
The setting of the story, that old, dilapidated house, is key to the mood. It gives a feeling of being cut off from the outside world. The dim lighting and the creaky floors make it seem like a place full of secrets. It makes the reader feel as if they are in a place where something bad is bound to happen. This sense of foreboding is what makes the mood so tense and full of horror.
Common elements include a sense of isolation. When characters are alone in a dangerous situation, it amps up the horror mood. The appearance of the supernatural or unexplained also contributes. For instance, ghosts or strange, unearthly phenomena that defy logic. Moreover, a feeling of being watched can be very effective.
The most prominent element is the narrator's madness. He tries to convince the reader that he is rational while his actions, like stalking the old man every night and then brutally killing him, are clearly signs of insanity.
One main theme is guilt. The narrator's guilt over the murder is so strong that he imagines he hears the dead man's heart still beating. Another theme is madness. The narrator's erratic behavior and his distorted perception of reality show his madness.
Well, themes in 'The Tell - Tale Heart' include insanity. The way the narrator meticulously plans the murder and then is driven crazy by the sound of the heart is a sign of his mental instability. Also, there's the theme of the power of conscience. Despite trying to convince himself he's not mad, his conscience gets the better of him in the end.
One of the main themes is guilt. After killing the old man, the narrator is haunted by the sound of the heartbeat, which is a manifestation of his guilty conscience.
Guilt. Throughout the story, the narrator's actions and his inner thoughts show how guilt eats at him. He commits a horrible crime and thinks he can get away with it, but the psychological burden of guilt, symbolized by the tell - tale heart, becomes too much for him to bear.