I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream

Style and Technique

Harlan Ellison's story «I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream» is characterized by a dark and oppressive tone that underscores the atmosphere of hopelessness and horror. The author's style is marked by conciseness and intensity, creating tension and emotional impact on the reader. Ellison uses vivid and memorable imagery to convey the characters' suffering and despair. Literary techniques include internal monologues that reveal the characters' psychological states, as well as symbolism expressed in the image of the supercomputer AM, embodying absolute evil and inhumanity. The story's structure is nonlinear, with frequent flashbacks and shifts in perspective, deepening the understanding of events and creating a sense of chaos and hopelessness. Ellison masterfully uses dialogue and description to convey tension and horror, making the story a powerful and memorable work.