Edgar Allan Poe's The Premature Burial is a classic horror story that tells the story of a man whose fear of being buried alive causes him to face his greatest fear--being buried alive. Written in 1844, this short story provides a haunting view of the fears that plagued people in Poe's time. Not only does it explore the psychological effects of such fears, but it also questions societal conventions regarding death and burial rituals. As readers, we are presented with a cautionary tale exploring mortality and our own anxieties about life and death.