"A Predicament" is a humorous short story by Edgar Allan Poe, usually combined with its companion piece "How to Write a Blackwood Article." It was originally titled "The Scythe of Time". The paired stories parody the Gothic sensation tale, popular in England and America since the early 19th century

2. Born on January 19, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts,
writer, poet, critic, and editor Edgar Allan Poe's tales
of mystery and horror gave birth to the modern
detective story and many of his works, including ¨a
predicament ¨ “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Fall of
the House of Usher,” became literary classics. "The
Raven," which he published in 1845, is considered
among the best-known poems in American literature.
Edgar Allan Poe

7. Analysis of some sections
 While going up to the belfry she said:
-Why did I rush upon my fate? I was seized with an
uncontrollable desire to ascend the giddy pinnacle,
and then survey the immense extent of the city. The
door of the cathedral stood invitingly open. My
destiny prevailed. I entered the ominous archway.
Where then was my guardian angel? if indeed
such angels there be.

8.  -Upon one such little step in the great
staircase of human life how vast a sum
of human happiness or misery
depends! I thought of myself, then of
Pompey, and then of the mysterious
and inexplicable destiny which
surrounded us.

9.  when Zenobia´s head was about to be cut off by the
minute hand of the giant clock, she said:
There was, I knew, not a second to be lost. I pulled
back at once -- but it was too late. There was no
chance of forcing my head through the mouth of that
terrible trap
Down, down, down it came, closer and yet closer. Thus
I had no relief to expect from my associates.
I fully perceived my lamentable situation.
indeed! The bar had buried itself two inches in my
neck. I was aroused to a sense of exquisite pain. I
prayed for death.

10. Zenobia continues talking
to her servant after being
decapitated.

12.  Characters:
 Signora Psyche Zenobia:, narrator of the story, rich
and arrogant Women (direct characterization)
Pompey: Signora Psyche Zenobia's slave, He is
three feet tall and 70 or 80 years old. (direct
characterization)
Diana: Signora Psyche Zenobia's pet poodle,
described as having a small body and a head the size
of the body. (direct characterization)

13.  Settings:
 The setting of the story is in the town of Edina.
 The country is not mentioned.
 Most of the story takes place at the cathedral,.

14.  Plot summary:
 Exposition: Signora Psyche Zenobia enters the town
 Rising Action: Signora Psyche Zenobia walking up the stairs of the
cathedral
 Climax: Signora Psyche Zenobia gets her head caught in the clock
 Falling Action: Signora Psyche Zenobia's eyes fall out and head gets
cut off
 Resolution: The death of Signora Psyche Zenobia

15.  Point of view:
 This story is told in the fist person
point of view.
The Narrator of this story is Signora
Psyche Zenobia

16.  Themes:
 The theme of this story is What goes around comes around.

Genre:
 "A Predicament" is to be described as Gothic and also a
Burlesque short story.
Adaptations
 "A Predicament" was adapted in 2000 for National Public Radio
by the Radio Tales series, under the name "Edgar Allan Poe's
Predicament".
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