The Premature Burial

“There are certain themes of which the interest is all-absorbing, but which are too entirely horrible for the purposes of legitimate fiction.”

The opening line of the story is ironic; the narrator attempts to demonstrate that the theme of premature burial is horrible because it is not fictional, but this occurs within a fictional story. In a sense, Poe says the opposite of what is claimed by the narrator: Fiction and the imagination are precisely what create the greatest sense of horror.

“It is the fact—it is the reality—it is the history which excites. As inventions, we should regard them with simple abhorrence.”

The end of the opening paragraph introduces The Line Between Truth and Fiction. The narrator attempts to persuade that reality is scarier than fiction. The use of repetition in “it is the fact—it is the reality—it is the history” is used for persuasive effect and emphasizes that the events being described are based on real events and have a weight of truth to them.

“The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?”

This quote exemplifies some of the story’s main themes. It uses rhetorical questions to create a sense of mystery and wonder. Additionally, the use of metaphorical language such as “boundaries which divide Life from Death” creates a sense of contrast between the two states and uses physical attributes to concretize abstract ideas. Lastly, the use of the word “shadowy” uses imagery to create a sense of uncertainty and