The Tell-Tale Heart Reviewed

What is the main idea of the story?

• The story is about a heart, an eye and a curse.

• The story is about police officers who arrest a criminal.

• The story is about a man who commits a crime and is driven to confession.

• The story is about a man who has a heart problem.

What motivates the narrator's actions throughout the story?

Check all relevant answers

• The narrator is confused by the old man.

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

• The narrator's fury and anger sparks his confession.

• The narrator is satisfied with his current situation.

What is the setting of the story?

• The old man's bedroom in his house in the country.

• The old man's basement at midnight.

• The old man's attic at midnight.

• The old man's house, in his bedroom at midnight.

What setting elements create the terrifying mood/atmosphere of the story?

Check all relevant answers

• dark setting

• wooden house

• midnight

• the city

What are some character traits of the narrator? (positive and negative)

Check all that apply

• insane

• patient

• optimistic

• sagacious

How does the narrator's mood change from the beginning to the end of the story?

• confident to horrified

• fearful to happy

• satisfied to discontented

• angry to calm

What does the title mean?

• The old man is telling a tale.

• The old man's beating heart gives the narrator away.

• The narrator blames the old man's heart for giving him away.

• The old man's eye causes the narrator to tell a tale.

Why does the narrator confess his crime?

• The narrator confesses because he feels the officers are mocking him.

• The narrator confesses because he knows the heart will give him away.

• The narrator confesses because he cannot stand listening to the old man's heart.

• The narrator confesses because the officers knew the crime that had been committed.

Identify the theme of the story.

Check all relevant answers.

• Dark and eerie

• Fear and terror

• Obsession

• Choice and consequence

The narrator reveals his power of concentration through his _______________.

• creativity

• patience

• acute hearing

• insanity