The Pit and the Pendulum

You can infer that the narrator is frightened about being in the dark because —

• he has always been afraid of the dark

• he knows exactly what torture awaits him

• the unseen is more terrifying than the seen

• he can hear the bats and rats but not see them

The prisoner frees himself when he —

• waits until the pendulum cuts the bonds and quickly rolls out of the way

• screams and screams until they release him

• pays a great deal of money and is released

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

What new dangers does the narrator face after he gets free from the ropes/straps? (choose 2 options)

• The walls are on fire

• The pit gets bigger

• The room gets smaller

• The pit is on fire

During what historical time period does "The Pit and the Pendulum" take place?

• The French Revolution

• The American Revolution

• The Spanish Inquisition

• WWI

What effect does the slow drop of the pendulum have in the story?

• It shows that the jailers didn't know how to make a faster pendulum.

• It heightens the tension of the situation.

• It helps to make the story longer.

• It shows that the protagonist is indeed guilty.

Which is the best explanation for why the reader never learns what the narrator did to end up in jail?

• to show the unfairness of the law during that time period

• to show that people can feel guilty about things they didn't do

• to show that torture is wrong

• to show that life is mysterious

Why is the protagonist so terrified when he first wakes up in his cell?

• He had fainted when he received his death sentence.

• He immediately sees the pendulum.

• He misses his family.

• He is repenting for his crimes.

What is the primary theme of 'The Pit and the Pendulum'?

• Fear and suspense

• Love and betrayal

• Friendship and loyalty

• Adventure and discovery

Which literary device is predominantly used in 'The Pit and the Pendulum' to create tension?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Foreshadowing

• Personification

What does the pendulum symbolize in the story?

• The inevitability of death

• The passage of time

• The power of nature

• The strength of the human spirit