The Premature Burial

Summary

Edgar Allan Poe's "A Premature Burial" is a chilling tale of a man's intense fear of being buried alive. The narrator, haunted by the possibility of waking up entombed, becomes obsessed with the idea of being buried prematurely.

After a series of near-death experiences, the narrator's fear intensifies. He devises elaborate precautions to prevent such a fate, including a secret bell system connected to his bed and a will stipulating that his body be kept in a specially constructed vault for three days after his apparent death.

Despite his precautions, the narrator's worst nightmare comes true. He is mistakenly declared dead and buried. Trapped in a coffin, he must fight for his survival against the encroaching darkness, the cold, and the terrifying realization that he may never escape.