WorksheetsThe Tell-Tale Heart Unit Quiz 2024
Total questions: 23
Worksheet time: 13mins
"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 acute. 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.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture—a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees—very gradually—I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever" (Poe 1).
Based on the excerpt, how reliable is the narrator?
The narrator is reliable because he explains that he is not mad, just logically trying to solve a problem.
The narrator is unreliable because he has a disease, and his actions are motivated by this disease not logic.
The narrator is unreliable, claiming he is not mad when his actions clearly indicate that he cannot be trusted.
The narrator is somewhat reliable because he is aware of his own instability and solves a problem with a logical solution.
"Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution— with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him" (Poe 1).
What does the repetition of the phrase "with what" reveal about the narrator? Read the excerpt from "The Tell-Tale Heart." Then, answer the question.
It emphasizes that the narrator took care in committing his crime.
It emphasizes that the narrator hesitated in completing the murder.
It emphasizes that the narrator is mad and cannot think or speak clearly.
It emphasizes that the narrator feels guilty about the action he is about to take.
"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.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct:—it continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness—until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears" (Poe 5).
Which statement best provides an objective summary of the excerpt?
The police arrive, and the narrator fails to convince them that he did not commit a crime. Their suspicions are confirmed when all present hear a heartbeat under the floor.
The police arrive, and the narrator convinces them that no crime has been committed. As soon as the police officers leave, the narrator panics when he hears a heartbeat under the floor.
The police arrive, and the narrator convinces them that there is nothing to investigate. However, the narrator himself begins to hear noises, and he is unsure if it is in his mind or audible in the room.
The police arrive, and the narrator attempts to convince them that there is nothing to investigate. However, the police are unconvinced when all in the room begin to hear mysterious noises under the floorboards.
"If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.
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 anything 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!"
What is the meaning of the word concealment as it is used in the text?
burial
camouflage
dismembered
hiding
How does Poe's choice of telling the story from the point of view of an unreliable narrator create suspense?
It keeps the reader guessing about whether he will be able to appear sane enough to convince the police of his innocence.
It keeps the reader unsure about the events in the eight days leading to the murder.
It prompts the reader to question everything the narrator says, including his explanation of why he thinks he is crazy.
It keeps the reader on edge by focusing on the murder of the old man and the police investigation.
In "The Tell-Tale Heart," what does the sound of the beating heart symbolize?
The passage of time
The old man's last breaths
The narrator's guilt and fear
The policemen mocking the murderer
What is the central theme of "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
Guilt leads to self-destruction
Humans are instinctively violent
Police never seek the truth, only enforce the law
Love taken to extremes can become dangerous
What is the central idea of "The Allegory of the Cave"?
Men who allow their experience to be shaped by perceptions and shadows do not know a better life
A man must return to share the news of enlightenment with others who will not necessarily accept his good news
Most men live chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall and trying to guess the nature of objects reflected by a fire
A man freed from a cave comes to understand that the shadows are not reality; rather, he understands reality by his experience
9. What character traits are exhibited by the shackled prisoners that stayed in the cave?
Curiosity and bravery
Ignorance and fear
Intelligence and wisdom
Kindness and generosity
In the context of "The Allegory of the Cave," what does the word "enlightenment" mean? Mark only one oval.
A state of being intellectually or spiritually awakened.
A physical source of light.
A feeling of confusion or uncertainty.
A state of being ignorant.
What is the main theme of "The Allegory of the Cave"? Mark only one oval.
It is not our responsibility to educate others when misunderstandings arise.
It is our responsibility to pursue truth and knowledge.
Ignorance is bliss.
Friendship is an important part of the human experience.
"Thoughts about the sun: its nature and functions
SOCRATES: And having done all that, by this time he would also be able to gather the following about the sun: (1) that it is that which grants both the seasons and the years; (2) it is that which governs whatever there is in the now visible region of sunlight; and (3) that it is also the cause of all those things that the people dwelling in the cave have before [their] eyes in some way or other.
GLAUCON: It is obvious that he would get to these things -- the sun and whatever stands in its light -- after he had gone out
beyond those previous things, the merely reflections and shadows.
Thoughts about the cave
SOCRATES: And then what? If he again recalled his first dwelling, and the "knowing" that passes as the norm there, and the people with whom he once was chained, don't you think he would consider himself lucky because of the transformation that had happened and, by contrast, feel sorry for them?
GLAUCON: Very much so" (Plato 1).
What does this excerpt reveal about Plato's attitude towards perception and reality?
This excerpt reveals that perception and reality cause guilt and pity for those who were left behind, so it is better to be ignorant of the outside world.
This excerpt reveals that it is far better to have experienced reality and to understand the world as it is, having sharpened one's own perceptions to develop truth.
This excerpt reveals that it is neither better nor worse to experience reality, but to truly understand truth and perception one should just accept what is presented as reality.
This excerpt reveals that it is sometimes worth the struggle to understand true perception and reality, but other times one might gain no advantage from understanding the world as it is.
Which sentence best objectively summarizes "The Ransom of Red Chief"?
A father allows his son to be kidnapped because the son is ill behaved.
A father convinces two kidnappers to return his son because he is missed by the neighbors.
Two kidnappers take a child from a small town and have trouble with the child until they return the child at night.
Two kidnappers develop a scheme to take money from a small-town family, but they end up paying money to the father.
Which set of words and phrases best reveals the character of the kidnappers?
"scheme," "desperate," "spirit was broken"
"demanding," "never lost my nerve," "willing to take a chance"
"celebrated," "collaborated," "ought to commend itself to professional kidnappers"
"got him down in the bottom of the buggy," "troubled," "posted my letter surreptitiously"
What can be said about the reliability of the narrator in "The Ransom of Red Chief"?
The narrator is reliable, providing an accurate and unbiased account of the events.
The narrator's reliability is questionable, as he is a criminal and only tells his perspective of the events, which contributes to irony.
The narrator is unreliable, intentionally misleading the reader to create suspense.
The narrators are reliable, as they tell the story from multiple perspectives, so the reader is able to understand the reality of the story's events.
In "The Ransom of Red Chief," what does the character of Red Chief symbolize?
Innocence and mischief
Power and authority
Greed and deception
Timid and obedient
How does Red Chief's active imagination affect other characters in "The Ransom of Red Chief"?
Red Chief's unpredictable actions frighten Bill, one of the kidnappers.
Red Chief plays with his kidnappers and they appreciate the company.
Red Chief's refusal to go home increases the kidnappers’ excitement for ransom.
Red Chief spends his time waiting to be punished, which frustrates the kidnappers.
Which quotation from "The Ransom of Red Chief" best explains how the difference in the kidnapper's perspective regarding the value of Ebenezer Dorset's child contributes to the irony at the beginning of the story? Mark only one oval.
Bill and me figured that Ebenezer would melt down for a ransom of two thousand dollars to a cent.
‘Sam,’ says he, ‘What’s two hundred and fifty dollars, after all? We’ve got the money. One more night of this kid will send me to a bed in Bedlam.’
‘Enough,’ says Bill. ‘In ten minutes I shall cross the central, Southern and Middle Western States, and be legging it trippingly for the Canadian border.’
‘Perhaps,’ says I to myself, ‘it has not yet been discovered that the wolves have borne away the tender lambkin from the fold. Heaven help the wolves!’
Why does Ebenezer Dorset write, "You had better come at night, for the neighbors believe he is lost, and I couldn't be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back"?
The neighbors might punish Johnny for running away.
The neighbors might harm the kidnappers when they realize the kidnappers took Johnny.
The neighbors might punish Johnny and the kidnappers for making a scene in their quiet town.
The neighbors might harm the kidnappers for returning Johnny because Johnny terrorizes them as well.
What leads readers to predict that Bill will want to return the boy early?
The boy tries to scalp Bill.
Bill has to sleep near the boy.
Sam leaves Bill behind with the boy.
The boy asks the men many questions.
What is the central theme of "The Ransom of Red Chief"?
Friendship is an important part of the human experience.
Money can buy happiness.
Never underestimate the power of one's opponent.
Cheating your way through life will lead to success.
Based on context clues, what does the word "spasmodically" most likely mean in the quote, "Here and there through the city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms"?
Cautiously
Evenly
Occasionally
Quietly
Based on context clues, what does the word “gibber” most likely mean in the quote, “His teeth chattered, he began to gibber to himself, cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing everybody”?
speak rapidly out of joy
speak slowly and calmly
speak rapidly in mumbles out of fear
speak loudly to draw attention to oneself
