Two Stories by Edgar Allan Poe

werful friends. But it managed to get inside his castle, and it quickly kills everyone inside, people who only minutes earlier were enjoying a festive party. Is Poe saying here that death in any form can strike suddenly, even when least expected?

Death plays a central role in "Tell-Tale Heart" as well. The protagonist believes himself to have the power of life and death---at least over the old man---and he believes he cab get away with exercising that power