"The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe are typically dark pieces of literature by the great American author. Poe's use of mystery and darkness in both poems sets the tone for what will lead to a horrific ending for both main characters in each of his works. Despite the fact that "Cask of Amontillado" is a short story and "The Raven" is a poem, the imagery used in each is quite similar. The chief difference in the style of writing is the presence of a rhyme scheme in "The Raven." The diction in each work is where these two poems contrast.
             In both "Cask of Amontillado" and "The Raven," Poe uses darkness and loneliness to create a mysterious setting. Most of "Cask of Amontillado" is set in the catacombs which are located underground in Italy while "The Raven" is set in an old mansion with one lonely, haunted man. Poe creates a horrific setting using a journey through these dark catacombs, which serve as a burial ground for Italian families who could afford it. Its dampness lends itself to an effective place for wine storage as well. As Fortunato and the narrator walk through the catacombs, they notice bones and bodies on the floor and chained to the walls. He mentions the darkness and dampness of the vault numerous times. In a similar fashion, Poe sets the stage for mystery from the beginning of "The Raven." The very first line reads "Once upon a midnight dreary." In just these simple five words, Poe lets the reader know that the setting is going to be dark and scary. Some other words and phrases Poe uses to enhance this effect in the poem include, "bleak December," "dying ember," and "horror haunted." In "Cask of Amontillado," they pass "piles of bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling."
             The diction and the way Poe achieves the suspense in these works are what separates these two pieces. In "The Raven," Poe uses a strict rhyme scheme and repetition to push the poem long at a frantic pace.
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