The Tell-Tale Heart
Kuvakäsikirjoitus Teksti
- EXPOSITION: The narrator is introduced and he try to prove his sanity while explains why he killed the old man
- 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 calmly I can tell you the whole story (Poe 835).Tone: Placate, Authoritative,
- ...I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever (Poe 836). Tone: Contemplative, thoughtful
- CONFLICT:Man vs Man Man vs Self
- RISING ACTION: Over the next 7-8 nights the narrator plots killing the old man to get rid of the eye and each night the narrator enters the old man's room waiting to see his eye open.
- Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night, had I felt the extent of my own powers of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph (Poe 836).Tone: Maniatic, creepy
- ...The old man's hour had come! with a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once- once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him (Poe 839). Tone: Lunatic, frenetic
- CLIMAX: One night the old man wakes up with fear because he hears something and the narrator sees his eye. He waited a little but he could hear the heart of the old man beating louder and louder until finally the narrator attacked the old man and killed him.
- RESOLUTION: The narrator hears a ticking noise that grows louder and louder and believes that it is the sound of the old man's heart. He can't tolerate it and finally confess killing the old man.
- Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! - and now- again!- hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!- 'villains!' I shrieked, 'dissemble' no more! I admit the deed! (Poe 841). Tone:Paranoiac, anxious
- FALLING ACTION: The police arrive at the house because the old man's neighbor heard a shriek. They wanted to search the house to see if anything was wrong and the narrator invited them to come and sit down. I smiled- for what I had to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream... I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues (Poe 840).Tone: Persuasive, eloquent
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