The Tell-Tale Heart od Edgar Allan Poe

A Quick Synopsis of “The Tell-Tale Heart” (Contains Plot Spoilers)

The story begins with the unnamed narrator wanting to prove his sanity to the readers. He lived in the same building as an old man with a “vulture eye”. As the story progresses, the reader learns that the narrator has become upset by the old man’s eye, which is a piercing blue color, with a white film over it. Tension builds as the narrator describes how his obsession has taken over, and he plots to kill the old man to get rid of the eye's gaze. Each night, the narrator goes into the old man’s room as he sleeps, intending to kill him. He cannot do it when the man is asleep, because his eyes are shut, and he looks peaceful. One night, the narrator creeps in and startles the old man, who screams. As the narrator glares at the eye, he finally musters the strength to rid himself of the eye and smothers the old man with his mattress. The narrator meticulously hides the body under the floorboards.

Soon after, the police arrive because a neighbor heard a scream. The narrator covers up the incident by saying the old man is out of town, and that the scream came from him. As the police are looking around, the narrator begins to hear a peculiar ticking sound; he quickly becomes mad as the sound grows fiercer in his mind. To the narrator, he believes he is hearing the sound of the old man’s heart still beating, finally leading him to confess in a moment of insanity.

Essential Questions for “The Tell-Tale Heart”

1. What are ways that an author can build suspense?
2. How do effective writers create mood in their short stories?

Other Lesson Plan Ideas

1. Use storyboards to specifically show cause and effect in "The Tell-Tale Heart".
2. Create a storyboard just depicting the rising action to demonstrate how the author built suspense.
3. Add a presentation to any storyboard project.

Često Postavljana Pitanja o The Tell-Tale Heart Edgara Allana Poea

Tko je glavni lik "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

Pripovjedač priče i glavni lik nikada nisu identificirani u cijelosti. Njegovo inzistiranje na njihovom vlastitom zdravom razumu i njihov pedantan, čak opsesivan, prikaz zločina koji su počinili izdvajaju ga. Učenici se mogu više usredotočiti na način razmišljanja i osobnost pripovjedača umjesto na njihov fizički izgled i pozadinu kako bi razumjeli njihove motivacije i ciljeve.

Koji je sukob u srcu "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

Bitka koju pripovjedač vodi iznutra glavni je sukob u romanu. Podijeljen je između svoje potrebe da pokaže svoj razum i kajanja za zločin koji je počinio. Učenici mogu raspravljati o sociopatskim sklonostima pripovjedača i razlozima zbog kojih se on bori sam sa sobom.

Zašto pripovjedač "The Tell-Tale Heart" želi ubiti starca?

Starčevo supovo oko u središtu je pozornosti pripovjedača, što on doživljava odvratno i tumači kao znak starčeve izopačenosti. Na kraju ih njegova fiksacija odvede do ubojstva.