Edgar Allan Poe uses three elements, which make the mystifying atmosphere in the "Oblong Box". He uses nature, mystery, and a deep romantic love. First, one element is nature. Nature builds itself up throughout the story. At the beginning, they had to put off the trip for a week because of the weather. On the day before the ship was originally scheduled to set sail Mr. Wyatt's wife died. Poe points that the first three …showed first 75 words of 563 total…

…showed last 75 words of 563 total…his mental condition deteriorated. When everyone abandoned the ship he refused to leave the side of the woman he loved, and died so that he could be with her always. Edgar Allan Poe recognized the use of atmosphere as a useful tool in developing a plot. In the "Oblong Box" he creates three forms of atmosphere. Nature, mystery, and love build the story up and bring it down, and make it engrossing for the reader.