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Worksheets"The Tell-Tale Heart"
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 11mins
Which of the following best expresses the narrator's perspective on his state of mind?
"dreadfully nervous, I had been and I am."
"This disease had sharpened my senses-not destroyed-not dulled them."
"Why will you say that I am mad?"
"Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold."
What does the word "acute" mean as it is used in paragraph 17?
Very small
An angle less than 90 degrees
Very good and sharp
Very poor
Which phrase best expresses the narrator's motivation?
"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."
"I heard all things in heaven and earth."
"It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain."
"I made up my mind to take the life of the old man."
Which of the following best describes the narrator based on the first three paragraphs?
Disbelieving that he has been caught.
Arrogant and insane.
Arrogant and sane.
Guilty and sad.
Which of the following is an example of verbal irony?
"I found the eye always closed."
"it was not the old man that vexed me, but his Evil Eye."
"I looked in upon him while he slept."
"I went boldly into his chamber, and spoke courageously to him, and inquiring how he passed the night."
What is ironic about the following phrase: "for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers"?
The old man is killed by someone INSIDE the house.
Robbery was not common in the area.
Despite the precautions, a robber still came in and stole from him.
He claims that they closed the shutters, but they actually left them open.
How does the following phrase affect the reader's perception of the narrator:
"the terrors that distracted me"?
It lets the reader know that the narrator is justified in his action.
It lets the reader know that narrator is very troubled and possibly insane.
It lets the reader know that the narrator was normal until he snapped on night.
It gives the reader sympathy for the narrator.
What does the word "supposition" mean as it is used in paragraph 7?
a belief of idea
a fact
a guess
a dream
How does the following line affect tone?
"At length, a single dim ray, like the thread of a spider, shot out from the crevice."
absurd
optimistic
outraged
frightening
I skipped question 10, but needed a place holder. So pick "yes."
yes
no
maybe
never
What emotion is the narrator feeling in the underlined portion of paragraph 11?
Terror
Excitement
Worry
Happiness
How does paragraph 13 further develop the narrator's character?
It furthers the idea that the narrator feels extreme guilt.
It furthers the idea that the narrator is conflicted.
It furthers the idea that the narrator is arrogant.
It furthers the idea that the narrator snapped and didn't mean to kill the old man.
What aspect of the the story does the following simile affect:
"it was dark as midnight-still dark as midnight"?
Characterization
Plot
Setting
Theme
How does the underlined portion of paragraph 15 affect the reader's understanding of the narrator?
"placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim"
It shows his disturbing overconfidence and lack of remorse.
It shows his compassion, showing that he feels sorry for his victim.
It shows his growing fear of being caught.
It shows his strong sense of guilt.
Look at the underlined words in paragraph 17. This metaphor was first introduced in paragraph 10. How does the repetition of the metaphor influece the reader's perception of the narrator's mental state?
It demonstrates the narrator's increasing calmness, as he reassures himself that the sound is not important.
It shows that the narrator is gaining clarity, as he begins to understand the source of the noise.
It suggests that the narrator is becoming more rational, as he logically connects the sound to his surroundings.
It emphasizes the narrator's spiraling paranoia, as his obsession with the sound reflects his deteriorating mental state.
Which of the following is the best summary for "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
An old man wanted to escape the torment of his caretaker, but he couldn't avoid his fate, so he tried to hide, then was discovered by the police.
The narrator wanted to rid himself of a man with a "vulture eye," but his guilt led to him growing increasingly paranoid, so he confessed to his crime, then claimed he was not insane.
A cunning detective wanted to solve a mysterious murder, but the evidence was scarce, so he devised a clever plan, then caught the perpetrator.
A desperate man wanted to escape from his own guilt, but the haunting memories kept him trapped, so he fled the scene, then vanished into the night.
