Poe creates horror through his use of vivid and often grotesque descriptions. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', he describes the old man's vulture - like eye in great detail, which is really disturbing. Also, his narrators are often unreliable, which makes the reader question what's really going on. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', the narrator's calmness as he leads Fortunato to his doom is quite terrifying.
He uses the setting to great effect. His stories are often set in dark, gloomy places like old mansions or catacombs. These settings immediately set a spooky mood. In 'The Fall of the House of Usher', the decaying mansion is almost a character itself, with its creaking floors and dank walls. Poe also plays with the psychological state of his characters. He shows how fear can drive a person mad, like in 'The Pit and the Pendulum'. The protagonist's increasing terror as he faces the deadly pendulum is palpable and makes the reader feel the horror too.
He uses vivid descriptions. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', he describes the old man's eye in great detail, making it seem very creepy. Also, the characters' psychological states are often unstable, like the narrator in 'The Black Cat' who goes from loving his cat to hating it in a very disturbing way.
Poe uses vivid and disturbing descriptions. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the detailed account of the old man's eye and the narrator's stealthy approach to the murder creates a sense of horror. Also, the sounds in the story, like the beating heart that won't stop, add to the unease.
Poe often used psychological elements. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's own guilt and paranoia create the horror. His detailed descriptions of the character's mental state make the reader feel the unease.
Through the narrator's actions. His cruel treatment of the cat, like gouging out its eye, is really horrifying.
Poe often used unreliable narrators. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's insistence that he's not mad while clearly showing signs of insanity makes the reader uneasy. His detailed descriptions of grotesque settings, like the decaying House of Usher in 'The Fall of the House of Usher', also add to the horror.
He uses the character's actions. The narrator's cruel treatment of the cat, like gouging out its eye, is horrifying. It makes the reader feel a sense of dread.
The sense of horror is created through the psychological aspect. The narrator's deteriorating mental state is very disturbing. We see him go from a normal person to someone who commits heinous acts. And the way he tries to justify his actions makes it even more chilling. The presence of the second cat, which seems to be a symbol of his guilt, adds to the horror. It haunts him everywhere, and its appearance is often accompanied by an eerie feeling.
Poe creates horror through the narrator's unreliable voice. We can't fully trust what he says, which makes the events more mysterious. Also, the description of the cats, especially the second one with the strange mark on its chest, is spooky. The sudden and violent actions of the narrator, like killing the first cat, add to the horror.
He used vivid and detailed descriptions. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', he described the old man's eye in great detail, which made it seem so grotesque and menacing. Also, his characters often had psychological problems, like the narrator in 'The Black Cat' who descends into madness.
Poe often uses the psychological state of his characters to create fear. For example, in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's own guilt and paranoia are what drive the horror. His mind plays tricks on him, and we as readers are drawn into his unstable mental state.