The Tell-Tale srdce 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.

Často Kladené Otázky o The Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allan Poe

Kto je hlavnou postavou „The Tell-Tale Heart“?

Rozprávač príbehu a hlavná postava nie sú nikdy úplne identifikovaní. Jeho naliehanie na ich vlastný zdravý rozum a ich precízny, až obsedantný opis zločinu, ktorý spáchali, ho odlišuje. Študenti sa môžu viac zamerať na zmýšľanie a osobnosť rozprávača, než na jeho fyzický vzhľad a pozadie, aby pochopili svoje motivácie a ciele.

Aký konflikt je jadrom „The Tell-Tale Heart“?

Bitka, ktorú rozprávač vedie vo vnútri, je hlavným konfliktom v románe. Medzi jeho potrebou demonštrovať zdravý rozum a ľútosťou nad zločinom, ktorý spáchal, je rozdelený. Študenti môžu diskutovať o sociopatických tendenciách rozprávača a dôvodoch, pre ktoré bojuje sám so sebou.

Prečo chce rozprávač „The Tell-Tale Heart“ zavraždiť staršieho muža?

Starcovo supovité oko je stredobodom pozornosti rozprávača, čo považuje za odporné a interpretuje to ako znak starcovho skazenosti. Nakoniec ich jeho fixácia privedie k vražde.