The Pit and the Pendulum

Front

What does the prisoner do to free himself?

Back

He smears meat on the bonds that hold him, and the rats chew through them.

Front

What is the central idea of 'The Pit and the Pendulum'?

Back

The struggle for survival.

Front

From whose point of view is the story told?

Back

First-person view of the prisoner.

Front

What happens to the candles in the story?

Back

The narrator is hallucinating.

Front

What is the pendulum described as?

Back

A scythe.

Front

What does the term 'inquisitor' refer to in the story?

Back

A person who conducts an inquisition, often associated with torture and interrogation.

Front

What is the setting of 'The Pit and the Pendulum'?

Back

A dark, oppressive prison during the Spanish Inquisition.

Front

What does the pendulum symbolize in the story?

Back

The passage of time and the inevitability of death.

Front

How does the prisoner feel throughout the story?

Back

He feels fear, despair, and a strong will to survive.

Front

What role do the rats play in the story?

Back

They represent both a threat and a means of escape for the prisoner.