Think you’ve got your head wrapped around The Purloined Letter? Put your knowledge to
the test. Good luck — the Stickman is counting on you!
Q. How is the setting anti-gothic?
All the kids who read it wear white.
It did not make it into the Big Book of Gothic Stories.
People talking, thinking, and smoking pipes in a library seems stable, calm, and not very scary or creepy.
There are no castles.
Q. How does the narrator’s dissemination of information influence the story?
He's deciding what to tell us and what to hold back.
The narrator tells too much information and overwhelms readers.
The creepy tone gives readers chills.
The narrator seems lost and vague.
Q. How does mystery influence the story?
The characters are inspired by the mystery team in Scooby Doo
Mystery drives the adventure, creates the creepy Gothic mood, fuels the psychological mind games, and provides the suspense.
It makes us want to know the answer right away.
Mystery does not influence the story.
Q. What does the fact that the narrator does not comment much on what is said in the story suggest?
He does not trust that both Dupin and G— are telling the truth about things.
He trusts that that the readers are smart enough to decide for themselves.
He trusts that they are going to have a marvelous adventure in wonderland.
He does not believe in the story enough to let it speak for itself.
Q. What is the style of "The Purloined Letter"?
Wordy and complicated
Poetic
Short and sweet
Stream-of-consciousness