One of the most impressive aspects of Edgar Allan Poe's storytelling is his ability to enhance the mood and tone with the use of repetitious sound. Examples of his auditory excellence shine through in two of his most famous works: "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Poe brings to the reader's attention the character of the infamous Raven through the rapping and tapping of the chamber door. Sound not only introduces this antagonist, but is also the vehicle that drives the plot. In the poem, the Raven speaks only one word "nevermore" to the love-sick narrator who tries to gain some comfort about losing his beloved Lenore. The repetition of "nevermore" is so effective in creating tension that by the end of the poem the reader can assume the narrator is driven mad. But by who? Certainly, the sound of "nevermore" as an answer to every single question must have contributed!

Insanity is a welcomed state of mind for characters' of Poe. Much like The Raven's narrator, the sound of a heart beating incessantly is the means that drives an already insane protagonist to confession in, "The Tell-Tale Heart." This narrator describes how two policemen make a mockery of his explanation of late night noises, by ignoring the sound of a thumping heart growing louder and louder by the minute. Finally, the narrator explains that he is driven to admit his crime because he just can't believe the policemen's audacity in letting him continue with his story despite the "obvious" loud thumping below their feet. Once again, Poe creates brilliant tension from beginning to end by using the sound of a heart as a device and an antagonist.

Up for a little challenge? These aren't the only examples of Poe's ingenious employment of sound. Deep in the dark recesses of his library are the echoes of other inanimate insanity-driving antagonists. Can you uncover them?

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Our dear friend Edgar Allan Poe was nicknamed the master of macabre, which translates to the master of all things ghoulish, ghastly, grisly, gruesome, horrid, morbid, and deathly. I'm not too sure that's a reputation I would be comfortable with, but for Edgar and many other writers, it's exciting to focus on the dark side of life. Nowadays,  people say not to be so negative. Stay positive and you will bring positive things into your life. Does that mean Poe's obsession with the shadows was a negative force? Certainly not! Death is as much a part of life as birth. 200 years ago, people were much more comfortable with the idea of death. Employing this theme into poetry and prose can be a very positive and healthy activity.

To master the macabre like Poe did, it's essential to take stock of symbols that represent what's come to pass. A few categories to consider are plants and animals, colors, environment, and psychology.

We can begin by looking at Poe's famous raven, the black and unpleasant sounding bird. There's also the crow, which was used in a very dark movie in the 1990's aptly named, "The Crow." Other dark symbolic animals are black cats, rats, spiders, and bats and even amphibians like frogs and toads that thrive in wet and slimy creeks. Anytime these animals are included in a writing piece, a very dim atmosphere is created for the characters. Deep forests, vines and twisty, knotty trees can also enhance this effect.

Black isn't the only "color" that supports deathly themes but sticking to dark shades when describing character's clothing is a good idea. However, red, the color of blood, is also a decent choice. One exception is the innocent, naive character. He or she can be adorned in powdery blues, whites or anything that acts as a stark contrast to the cold and shadowy backdrop. Speaking of setting, some classic environments include thick, wintry wooded areas that encase log cabins as in "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Eerie animals, muted colors and scary, cold unwelcoming environments all set tone for macabre characters that are usually very close to death. Sometimes, they have just lost a loved one, like the precious Lenore or maybe they themselves are fighting a dark force that wishes them gone. But if it's real depth you're looking for, be sure to include a character that may be a little bit insane. Nothing is scarier than losing your mind! So, don't be afraid! Get out there and write some good and healthy death stories!