The Tell-Tale Heart Irony

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

English 12

Open Ended

​What do we know about Edgar Allan Poe?

​Edgar Allan Poe and the Unreliable Narrator

​In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” we are examining how Edgar Allan Poe adds suspense to the story. One of the ways he does this is by utilizing a particular point of view for his narrator. We know that it is written in first person, but there is something special about this first person narrator. We cannot fully trust what our narrator is saying because he has a DISTORTED PERCEPTION OF REALITY. What does that mean? He may not be fully trusted to tell the events, actions of others, and even his own actions, because essentially, his mind is messed up.

Open Ended

What is an unreliable narrator? What are some characteristics?

​Unreliable Narrator

​DEFINITION: A NARRATOR IN LITERATURE, FILM, OR THEATER WHO CANNOT BE FULLY TRUSTED DUE TO LYING, MADNESS, OR IGNORANCE.

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Note that in ignorance, they may or may not be intentionally lying – a great example is a novel told from the perspective of a young person who is simply naïve to situations around him/her. Ask for examples of unreliable narrators they themselves have read/seen in the past.

​We will now read "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Open Ended

How is the narrator of “The Tell-Tale Heart” unreliable and how does that impact the telling of the story?

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​English 12 Benchmark Window 2 is available until February 7th

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