Edgar Allan Poe – The Tell Tale Heart analysis
Recall questions
1. What ‘disease’ does the narrator of the story have? What has this ‘madness’ caused and use examples from the text
to support that this person is mad.
2. Describe the setting and how it creates a scary feeling for the reader.
3. Describe the relationship between the old man and the narrator.
3. How did the narrator kill the old man and what happened to the body?
Deeper meaning
4. Is the conflict in this story external or internal? Could it be both? Give evidence from the story to support your
answer.
5. Why does the narrator wait 8 nights to commit his crime?? EXPLAIN using the story to support your answer.
6. What does the story's title mean?
Mood
7. What words does Poe use to establish a mood in the story? List 10 words and then explain your word of choice that
you chose for the mood of the story.
Huh?
8. Many suggest that the narrator is of ambiguous gender. If the narrator was a woman, would this impact your
interpretation of the story? If so, how?
Imagery
9. What words does Poe use to appeal to your senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell)? List 7 examples and HOW Poe
uses them to make you feel uneasy/grossed out.
Repetition
10. Poe uses repetition several times in the story to emphasize certain things. List 2 examples and explain why they are
used and the effect on the story.
Author’s purpose
11. At the end of the story, the narrator, screaming in frustration from hearing the beating of a heart “low, dull, quick
sound…”, pulls up the planks in the room and exposes his victim. Whose heart does he hear? Why? EXPLAIN!