Poe's The Tell Tale Heart

What is happening to the narrator in this passage? What is inferred by the growing sound of a beating heart that the narrator hears?

“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 observation 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!”

• The story’s title is basically saying the beating heart he hears is a tattletale.

• The title implies that the “tell” is the beating heart, likely the narrator’s own heartbeat that is telling the true “tale.”

• “The Tell Tale Heart” title indicates that the heart always tells the true story.

• The title implies that the tale is being told not about the Old Man’s evil eye, but by the narrator’s heart; his guilt and his heart beating so loudly he hears nothing else.

What evidence from the text most strongly supports the claim that the narrator felt guilt and remorse after committing the murder?

• The narrator's admission that he heard the old man's heart beating even after he was dead.

• The narrator’s lack of caring about the crime he committed.

• The narrator's detailed description of how he carefully planned the murder.

• The narrator's expression of joy and triumph immediately after the murder.

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," what evidence does not support the claim that the narrator is not reliable due to his mental state?

• The narrator repeatedly states that he is not mad.

• The narrator is obsessed with the old man's eye.

• The narrator welcomes the police in to the house.

• The narrator's claim that he can hear all things in heaven and earth.

The main theme of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is guilt and the psychological effects of a guilty conscience. What evidence from the texts supports this?

• The narrator's belief that he is not mad.

• The narrator's cautiousness in opening the door.

•  The narrator's obsession with the old man's eye.

• The narrator's confession of his crime due to his overwhelming guilt.

The gender of the narrator is not revealed in the story, although many people assume it is a man. If the narrator were a woman, would this change your interpretation of the story?

• No, it has to be a man as only a man would be strong enough to dismember a person and then remove the floorboards, quietly and carefully, so as to not leave evidence that they had been disturbed.

• It’s a woman, as a woman would be more likely to be unnerved by someone’s unusual appearance (the Old Man’s eye) and take action to eliminate what was described as evil.

• If the narrator were a woman it’s likely the narrator would have noted more about the Old Man’s appearance and his home, as women typically pay attention to those types of details.

• It makes no difference if the narrator is a man or a woman as the actions described in the story, both the physical and mental actions could be done by either sex.