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 creates horror through his settings. In 'The Fall of the House of Usher', the decaying mansion is like a character itself. The dark, damp, and crumbling walls set a spooky mood. His use of the unknown and the supernatural also adds to the horror. In 'The Masque of the Red Death', the Red Death is this mysterious and unstoppable force. And the way he builds up tension, like in 'The Pit and the Pendulum' with the slow approach of the pendulum, terrifies readers.
One way is through his exploration of human nature. In many of his stories, the characters have dark secrets or are driven by extreme emotions like revenge or jealousy. This makes the readers feel a sense of unease. In 'The Cask of Amontillado', Montresor's cold - blooded revenge is both shocking and horrifying. He also uses sound and rhythm in his writing. The repeated phrases in 'The Tell - Tale Heart' add to the sense of madness and horror.
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.
Through the narrator's actions. His cruel treatment of the cat, like gouging out its eye, is really horrifying.
His characters often have psychological problems. In 'The Tell - Tale Heart', the narrator's madness and his obsession with the old man's eye create an unnerving feeling. It makes the reader feel on edge as we follow his deranged thoughts.
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.
His stories are full of psychological depth. In 'The Oval Portrait', Poe delves into the relationship between art and the artist, and how the artist's obsession can have unexpected and somewhat disturbing consequences. He makes the reader think about the human psyche and its complex nature.
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.
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.