Exploring The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

The narrator, driven by an obsession with an old man's vulture-like eye, meticulously plans and executes the murder of the old man. He conceals the body under the floorboards, feeling triumphant. However, when the police arrive to investigate, the narrator's guilt manifests as a hallucination of the old man's beating heart, leading him to confess to the crime.

What does the narrator claim about his mental state at the beginning of the story?

• He is slightly mad.

• He is completely sane.

• He is unsure of his sanity.

• He is completely mad.

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

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What sense does the narrator claim has become particularly acute due to his condition?

• Sight

• Hearing

• Smell

• Touch

What is the main reason the narrator decides to kill the old man?

• The old man's vulture-like eye

• The old man's wealth

• The old man's house

• The old man's insults

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

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How does the narrator describe his actions towards the old man in the week leading up to the murder?

• He was indifferent.

• He was cruel and distant.

• He avoided the old man.

• He was kinder than ever.

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

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What time of night does the narrator visit the old man's room?

• 2 AM

• Midnight

• 10 PM

• 3 AM

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CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.6.6

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What sound ultimately drives the narrator to commit the murder?

• The creaking of the door

• The ticking of a clock

• The old man's groan

• The beating of the old man's heart

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

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How does the narrator dispose of the old man's body?

• He throws it in the river.

• He buries it in the garden.

• He burns it.

• He dismembers it and hides it under the floorboards.

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CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

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What explanation does the narrator give the police for the noise heard by the neighbor?

• It was a loud wind.

• It was the old man having a nightmare.

• It was a cat.

• It was his own scream in a dream.

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.5.6

What causes the narrator to finally confess to the murder?

• The police find the body.

• He feels guilty.

• He hears the old man's heart beating.

• The police threaten him.

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CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

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How do the police react to the narrator's behavior during their visit?

• They are convinced of his innocence.

• They are suspicious.

• They arrest him immediately.

• They ignore him.