The Tell-Tale Heart

​The Tell-Tale Heart

Join with your first name.

​Read the following paragraph.

Poe was born in Boston in 1809, the same year as Abraham Lincoln. He endured a very challenging young life. His mother died of tuberculosis, and his father left the family when he was very young. He was orphaned before he was 3 years old, at which point he went to live with John Allan, a miserly tobacco merchant in Virginia, and his wife, Frances (“Fanny”). That’s when Edgar Poe became Edgar “Allan” Poe. When he was taken in by the Allans, Poe was separated from his two siblings.

Multiple Choice

Where was Edgar Allan Poe born and in what year?

• Boston, 1809

• Richmond, 1808

• Baltimore, 1810

• Philadelphia, 1812

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is true about Poe’s early childhood?

• Both of his parents lived to see him graduate from college.

• He grew up with his two siblings in Virginia.

• His father raised him alone after his mother died.

• He was orphaned before age 3 and sent to live with the Allan family.

Multiple Choice

How did Edgar Poe get the middle name “Allan”?

• It was his mother's last name.

• He adopted it after being taken in by John Allan and his wife, Frances.

• He chose it when he became a published author.

• It was his biological father’s middle name.

Multiple Choice

What challenge did Poe face when he joined the Allan family?

• He was separated from his two siblings.

• He had to work in the tobacco business from a young age.

• He was sent immediately to college in Boston.

• He was forced to change his name.

​Read the following paragraph.

A number of other difficult things happened to Edgar when he was just a young man. He was forced to drop out of college. He began to drink and gamble. Then, Frances Allan, who believed in young Edgar and was kind to him, died of a lingering illness. Poe and his adopted father argued repeatedly, and John Allan eventually disowned Poe. Even Poe’s attempt to get himself back on track by entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point did not work out. He was expelled when he was 20.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following happened to Poe as a young adult?

• He graduated from college with honors.

• He moved to Europe to study literature.

• He became a successful tobacco merchant like John Allan.

• He was forced to drop out of college.

Multiple Choice

Which habit did Poe develop during his young adulthood?

• Painting and sculpting

• Writing dark literature

• Drinking and gambling

• Traveling extensively

Multiple Choice

What happened to Frances Allan, who had been kind to Poe?

• She died of long-term illness.

• She disowned Poe.

• She left her husband.

• She kicked Poe out of the house.

Multiple Choice

What was the outcome of Poe’s time at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point?

• He failed all of his classes.

• He was forced to drop out.

• He retired early with honors.

• He was expelled.

​Read the following paragraph.

After Edgar was expelled from West Point, he went to live in Baltimore with his aunt and her daughter, Virginia. Eventually, Poe married young Virginia, who was just 13. He was 25. Marriage seemed to bring him some stability, and during his late 20s and early 30s, he began to hit his stride. In New York City and Philadelphia in the 1830s, he became a newspaper editor, a poet, and a published short-story writer. He also became a literary critic. His most famous stories date from the 1840s, among them “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, and “The Cask of Amontillado”. Among his famous poems are “The Bells”, “Annabel Lee”, and “The Raven”. Tragically, in 1847, Edgar lost his wife, Virginia; her death left him bereft. Poe died in 1849. The cause of his death is still unknown.

Multiple Choice

Why did Poe move to Baltimore after leaving West Point?

• To live with relatives who could provide some stability

• To enroll in another military school

• To start a business with John Allan

• To write stories based on his life

Multiple Choice

How old was Virginia when she married Poe, and what was significant about their ages?

• 18; they were close in age

• 13; she was very young compared to Poe’s 25 years

• 16; she was a bit younger than Poe

• 20; it was a typical marriage age

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT written by Poe?

• "Ode to a Nightingale"

• “Annabel Lee”

• "The Raven"

• "The Pit and the Pendulum"

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was NOT written by Poe?

• "The Bells"

• “Annabel Lee”

• "The Cask of Amontillado"

• "The Road Not Taken"

​Read the following paragraph.

TRUE!—nervous—very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses—not destroyed—not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? hearken! and observe how healthily—how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

Multiple Choice

What does the narrator’s claim that his senses are “sharpened” mainly suggest about his state of mind?

• He believes his heightened awareness proves he is mad.

• He admits his senses are weaker than before, but still does not believe that he has not gone mad.

• He thinks other people also hear supernatural sounds just like he does.

• He thinks that his sharp sense of hearing proves that he is completely sane.

Multiple Choice

What can the reader infer about the narrator’s reliability based on this excerpt?

• He is reliable because he calmly presents each event with clear evidence.

• He is honest because he admits he is suffering from a common illness.

• He may not be trustworthy because his descriptions of hearing things from “hell” seem unrealistic.

• He may be exaggerating but still provides a completely accurate account.

Multiple Choice

Why does the narrator describe himself as “calm” while telling the story?

• To reassure the reader that he is in control, even though his statements suggest otherwise.

• To show that he is confused about how to begin the story.

• To prove that he has forgotten the frightening events.

• To explain that he no longer feels the strong emotions he once did.

Open Ended

In one sentence, explain why the narrator plots to kill the old man.

​Read the following paragraph.

(13) I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye—not even his—could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out—no stain of any kind—no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all—ha! ha!

Multiple Choice

Which word BEST describes the narrator’s actions in this paragraph?

• Reckless

• Careless

• Shrewd

• Hesitant

​Read the following paragraph.

(15) I smiled,—for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search—search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

Multiple Choice

Why does the narrator feel confident and smile when the officers arrive?

• He knows the old man is hiding somewhere else and cannot be harmed

• He believes the thoroughness of his concealment and his own composure will prevent suspicion

• He plans to mislead them with supernatural explanations

• He expects the officers to leave without searching the house

Multiple Choice

What does the phrase “wild audacity of my perfect triumph” imply about the narrator’s attitude toward the crime?

• He is nervous and unsure of what to do next

• He is indifferent to the outcome of the crime

• He takes pride in his cleverness and feels superior to the officers

• He regrets his actions but is trying to hide it

Multiple Choice

Why is it significant that the narrator sits directly above the corpse while the officers are present?

• It demonstrates his extreme overconfidence and psychological thrill in deceiving the authorities

• It shows he is careless and likely to be discovered

• It indicates he wants to protect the corpse from being disturbed

• It is a tactic to intimidate the officers

Open Ended

In one sentence, explain why the narrator is an unreliable story-teller.

Open Ended

In one sentence, explain why the narrator would be considered "sane" in a court of law.

Multiple Choice

What does the narrator's action of hiding the body show the reader?

• It shows that he planned the murder because of the eye.

• It shows that he knew the murder was wrong.

• It shows that he did not know the quality of the crime he committed.

• It shows that he is confused about what is right and wrong.

Open Ended

In one sentence, explain in your own words what the narrator thought the police were doing while hearing the heartbeat and why.

​Read the following paragraph.

(17) No doubt I now grew very pale;—but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased—and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound—much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath—and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men—but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed—I raved—I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder—louder—louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God!—no, no! They heard!—they suspected!—they knew!—they were making a mockery of my horror!—this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die!— and now—again!—hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!—

(18) "Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed!—tear up the planks!—here, here!—it is the beating of his hideous heart!"

Multiple Choice

What is the narrator mainly struggling with in this passage?

• He is overwhelmed by a growing sound that he believes is the old man’s heartbeat.

• He is nervous because the officers keep asking difficult questions.

• He cannot decide whether he wants to tell the officers about his deed or not.

• He is worried the officers will fall asleep while he talks.

Multiple Choice

Why does the narrator begin talking more loudly and moving around the room?

• He is worried the officers will see the body under the floor boards.

• He is celebrating because he believes he has gotten away with everything.

• He wants to distract the officers from searching the house.

• He is trying to drown out the sound that is growing louder in his ears.

Open Ended

In one sentence, describe why the narrator eventually tells the police what he did.

Open Ended

FULL PARAGRAPH ANSWER WITH TEXT EVIDENCE.

In paragraph 12–13, the narrator describes how he hides the body. What does his detailed explanation show about his state of mind? Why would he be considered "sane" in a court of law?

Use lots of explanation along with a QUOTE FROM THE TEXT!!

Open Ended

FULL PARAGRAPH ANSWER WITH TEXT EVIDENCE.

Why does the narrator confess in paragraph 18? Use details from the passage to explain what finally pushes him to admit the truth.

Use lots of explanation along with a QUOTE FROM THE TEXT!!