WorksheetsThe Tell Tale Heart - Poe
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 34mins
Draw a picture of one detail that formed in your mind as you read. Some details to draw are the eye, the lantern, the head poking out through the door, or any detail that you visualized from the story.
In paragraph 1, the narrator says that one of his senses is especially sharp. Which sense is it?
Taste
Hearing
Touch
Vision
In paragraph 2, the narrator says he forms his plan because _________.
he wants the old man's gold
the old man insults him
he can't stand the old man's eye
the old man wrongs him
After reading paragraph 3, which three words do you think the narrator might use to describe his preparations for his crime?
Quick
smart
careful
careless
patient
In the middle of paragraph 3, what does the narrator mean by a "dark lantern"?
one that is not lit
a lantern that does not work
one that is lit but covered up
a lantern with a black light bulb
In paragraph 5, the narrator says,
"I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in the bed, crying out - "Who's there?" (5)
This suggests that the old man most likely cried out because_________.
he heard the doors open
the narrator shown the light from the lantern
the narrator makes a noise with the lantern
he hears the narrator speak
What is the mood of the narrator at the beginning of paragraph 16, while he is talking to the police?
calm and confident
sad and gloomy
quiet and sleepy
tense and terrible
As he continues talking to the police in paragraph 16, in what way does the narrator start to feel odd?
his head aches
he feels himself "getting pale"
he hears a ringing in his ears
all of the above
In paragraph 17, when the ringing becomes a different sound and seems to be getting louder, what does the narrator do?
he tries to encourage the police to listen to it
he apologizes for the interruption
he tries to make sure the police won't hear it
he asks if anyone else hears it
I paragraph 17, the narrator says,
"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"
Here, the narrator seems to think that the police are _____.
completely fooled
unable to hear the noise
not interested
making fun of him
The narrator's final outburst to the police is to _______.
confess to the crime
ask them to leave
bed them for mercy
tell them to be quiet
What sound does the narrator hear right before he murders the old man?
(a)
Where did the narrator hide the old man's body?
The body is in the closet
The body is under the bed
The body is in the attic
The body is in the floor
In paragraph 14-15, how does the narrator act when the police arrive?
like he is sure they will soon arrest him
surprised and angry
like he is sure they will not suspect him
fearful and guilty
In paragraph 10, the narrator compares the beating of the old man's heart to the sound made by ______.
a covered up clock chiming
a closing door
a bird calling
a watch wrapped in cotton
What does the narrator say the loud beating of the old man's heart is causing?
his own increase in fury and uncontrollable terror
the old man's death from a heart attack
his own fear of death and his hatred of the old man
the old man falling from the bed onto the floor
The M'Naghten Rule says that in a court case, jurors should assume a man is sane unless _____.
". the jurors ought to be told in all cases that every man is to be presumed to be sane, and to possess a sufficient degree of reason to be responsible for his crimes, until the contrary be proved to their satisfaction; and that to establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or, if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.”
—M’Naghten Rule (from Queen v. M’Naghten), 1843
he is proven innocent
he commits another crime
he is proven not to be
" . the jurors ought to be told in all cases that every man is to be presumed to be sane, and to possess a sufficient degree of reason to be responsible for his crimes, until the contrary be proved to their satisfaction; and that to establish a defence on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that, at the time of the committing of the act, the party accused was labouring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or, if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.”
—M’Naghten Rule (from Queen v. M’Naghten), 1843
According the the M'Naghten Rule, which 2 conditions would be sufficient to prove someone insane?
did not know the nature of what he was doing
was not able to remember the day of the crime
did not now what he did was wrong
was being treated for illness as the time of the crime
Which phrase BEST completes the statement based on the M'Naghten Rule:
According to this rule, a jury should accept that a man is not responsible for his crime only if ________.
his insanity has been proven or established
his guilt has been proven or established
In paragraph 1, the narrator insists that he is not "mad". What is the definition of this word?
excited
angry
insane
nervous
