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The Tell-Tale Heart
"The Tell-Tale Heart" is a story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1843. The narrator, the murderer, tells the story of when he murdered an old man with a "vulture eye", and insists that he is not insane. By the end of the story, the narrator confesses to the police of his crime due to strange sounds he hears that he believes is the heart of the murdered old man from under the floorboards. This category regards the story and any questions that its readers might have about it.
347 Questions
In The Tell-Tale Heart which element of the murder is the narrator most proud of?
-If I remember, he is most proud of his plan for concealing the body of his victim so that it will not be found.
-His sense of cunning
- The way he fooled other people
What best summarizes the narrator's argument in the third paragraph from The Tell-Tale Heart?
The metaphor was guilt. With the heart pounding above the man's head, it was a metahpor for gult.
There are multiple metaphors in A Tell Tale Heart. They are listed in order of the most significant
THE HEART
Well, it's listed in the title, so one can assume it must be pretty darn important. Our first key that it's a metaphor? THE THING KEEPS BEATING AFTER THE OLD MAN IS SUFFOCATED, DISMEMBERED AND THEN SHOVED UNDER SOME FLOOR BOARDS.
One way to see it, the heart represent's the narrators guilt for killing the old man. This theory works if you see the old man as simply an old man. If you view the old man as say, a reflection of the narrator himself (kinda like Voldemort and Harry Potter), then the heartbeat can represent the narrator's insanity.
THE EVIL EYE
Isn't it weird that the narrator didn't think the old man was evil, just the eye. That's because the eye is a metaphor. Again there can be debate over what exactly the metaphor is for, and there really is not right or wrong answer if the theory can be supported. The eye, as Poe himself includes in the story, it evil. So it's pretty safe to conclude that the eye is a metaphor for.... wait for it.... evil! If you want to dig deeper you could even go as far as to say it is the evilness which the narrator sees in himself. Eyes are the windows to the soul after all. That, too, is a metaphor.
THE WATCH
Okay, so the watch or time is mentioned like a bazillion times in the story. Whether it's a watch itself, a death watch in a wall, the seven days (I personally feel is a biblical reference), or a more abstract mention in one of the many times the narrator describes how very, very slowly he moved, time is important here. It represents the journey to death. The contemplation of death took over a week before he was finally able to do it. This can be taken as a metaphor itself. Maybe the week is years. Who knows?
THE LANTERN
It is mentioned less than the watch, however I think it's important to note that light is generally a counter to darkness. Darkness is usually associated with evil. SO if light fights dark and dark is evil then light is good? But then why does the narrator finally kill the old man once the light is fully shed upon the eye? Maybe because he has seen the full force of the eye. And as we've discussed earlier, the eye could stand for the narrator himself. SO when the narrator see's his true evil/insanity in the old man's eye he must destroy the eye
MIDNIGHT
When I first read the story I though the use of midnight was simply to enforce the tone of the story. Midnight can be thought of as the darkest hour, and hey, dark= evil. So of course the narrator is doing evil things at the evil hour. BUT once the old man was dead, and it was 4 o'clock but still dark as midnight, that was a pretty good indication that midnight wasn't just reflecting the evil of the actions but the evil of the narrator himself.
FINALLY
THE BELL
Okay, I might be grasping at strings here but I think the bell means something. The bell to me means the end. End of the old man, end of the narrators sanity, end of the narrators quest, I'm not positive. But Poe did also write a poem about bells- I believe it was titled such- and it was all about life and being young and growing old and dying. So I think the bell means something here.
There are multiple metaphors in A Tell Tale Heart. They are listed in order of the most significant
THE HEART
Well, it's listed in the title, so one can assume it must be pretty darn important. Our first key that it's a metaphor? THE THING KEEPS BEATING AFTER THE OLD MAN IS SUFFOCATED, DISMEMBERED AND THEN SHOVED UNDER SOME FLOOR BOARDS.
One way to see it, the heart represent's the narrators guilt for killing the old man. This theory works if you see the old man as simply an old man. If you view the old man as say, a reflection of the narrator himself (kinda like Voldemort and Harry Potter), then the heartbeat can represent the narrator's insanity.
THE EVIL EYE
Isn't it weird that the narrator didn't think the old man was evil, just the eye. That's because the eye is a metaphor. Again there can be debate over what exactly the metaphor is for, and there really is not right or wrong answer if the theory can be supported. The eye, as Poe himself includes in the story, it evil. So it's pretty safe to conclude that the eye is a metaphor for.... wait for it.... evil! If you want to dig deeper you could even go as far as to say it is the evilness which the narrator sees in himself. Eyes are the windows to the soul after all. That, too, is a metaphor.
THE WATCH
Okay, so the watch or time is mentioned like a bazillion times in the story. Whether it's a watch itself, a death watch in a wall, the seven days (I personally feel is a biblical reference), or a more abstract mention in one of the many times the narrator describes how very, very slowly he moved, time is important here. It represents the journey to death. The contemplation of death took over a week before he was finally able to do it. This can be taken as a metaphor itself. Maybe the week is years. Who knows?
THE LANTERN
It is mentioned less than the watch, however I think it's important to note that light is generally a counter to darkness. Darkness is usually associated with evil. SO if light fights dark and dark is evil then light is good? But then why does the narrator finally kill the old man once the light is fully shed upon the eye? Maybe because he has seen the full force of the eye. And as we've discussed earlier, the eye could stand for the narrator himself. SO when the narrator see's his true evil/insanity in the old man's eye he must destroy the eye
MIDNIGHT
When I first read the story I though the use of midnight was simply to enforce the tone of the story. Midnight can be thought of as the darkest hour, and hey, dark= evil. So of course the narrator is doing evil things at the evil hour. BUT once the old man was dead, and it was 4 o'clock but still dark as midnight, that was a pretty good indication that midnight wasn't just reflecting the evil of the actions but the evil of the narrator himself.
FINALLY
THE BELL
Okay, I might be grasping at strings here but I think the bell means something. The bell to me means the end. End of the old man, end of the narrators sanity, end of the narrators quest, I'm not positive. But Poe did also write a poem about bells- I believe it was titled such- and it was all about life and being young and growing old and dying. So I think the bell means something here.
Does the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart commit the perfect crime?
By seeming to be insane, the narrator convinces the reader that the murder could have been made for something as trivial as the landlord's eye; that the narrator could have cut up and hid the body and that he could have actually heard the sound of a dead heart beating under the floorboards. In other words, such strange and incredible occurrences were the result of a deranged mind.
What is the flashback in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?
The entire story is a flashback. He is sitting in front of the policeman telling him that he doesn't know what happened, but he hears the heart and remembers the eye. The eye that the lantern beam hit when it was open and looking at him. The eye that he killed.
What are some character traits for the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart?
Pride- He believes he is smart enough to get away with killing the old man. He also thinks that you have to be smart to sneak into the room.
Guilt- After he murdered the man and the police men where in his living room he believed that he heard the old mans heart beat just like he used to all though the man is already dead and under the floorboards.
Cruel- He killed the old man instead of moving out or asking him to cover eye.
Crazy- He thinks he can hear the old mans heartbeat and believes the eye is evil.
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when he wrote The Tell-Tale Heart?
Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, MA and passed away October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, MD. According to the dates this would have made him 40 years, 8 months, and 18 days old when he died. : )
What point of view is used in The Tell-Tale Heart?
That he is psychotic. The eye made him angry, and he let it get to him. Thusly, he killed the old man and buried him under the floorboards. Then, the beating of the heart (which was actually in his head) drove him to admitting the murder and foul play.
What does the old man's beating heart in The Tell-Tale Heart symbolize?
The true meaning of the beating heart beneath the floorboard is two fold. Firstly there was a slight touch of madness, however the majority of it was guilt for the old murder of the old man.
But the narrator comes in 8 nights and watches the old man, but on the dead of the hour on the 8th night, the narrator kills the old man. :) :p :D
guilt
Which word best describes the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart?
The word would be dependent on the prologue for which work you are referring to. A narrator can be speaking in the first, second, or third person; a narrator could be male or female, singular or plural.
You should ask your question again using the name of the story or narrative.
How many words in The Tell-Tale Heart?
The story has just over 2100 words. If the story were single-space typed on standard paper, it would take almost five pages.
Other than the title, The Telltale Head being a play on The Telltale Heart the similarities lie in The Telltale Heart having the narrator, who is presumably the murderer, being haunted by the sound of the victim's beating heart.
Bart, who is also the narrator of The Telltale Head briefly, is haunted by the voice of Jebidiah Springfield.
What are the tell tale heart notes?
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe does not have musical notes, as it is a short story and not a musical composition. It is a chilling tale of a narrator who is haunted by the sound of a beating heart after committing a murder. The story focuses on themes of guilt, paranoia, and the descent into madness.
What does the term vulture eye suggest?
The term "vulture eye" suggests something sinister or menacing, as vultures are often associated with death or scavenging. In literature, it can evoke feelings of unease, fear, or a sense of foreboding.
What is the Climax in the story of the knight's tale?
The climax of "The Knight's Tale" occurs when Palamon and Arcite, two knights in love with the same woman named Emily, are due to fight each other in a tournament for her hand. At this critical moment, the gods intervene and Emily prays to the goddess Diana to prevent the battle. Diana sends Theseus to make a decree that they should have a jousting tournament instead, leading to a resolution and reconciliation between the knights.
What did the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart mean when he said Dissemble no more?
Dissemble means to hide one's true feelings or beliefs so when the narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart yells, "dissemble no more," he basically meant, "don't pretend not to hear the heart."
Well, he assumed that they could hear the beating heart just as well as he could (in his crazed mind) and that they were mocking him by acting casually; pretending not to hear it. Thus, he was essentially saying: "Quit toying with me! I know you can hear it!"
The narrator seems observant and introspective, as indicated by their reflective tone and attention to detail. This contributes to a contemplative and thoughtful mood in the piece, inviting readers to engage with the narrator's insights and emotions on a deeper level.
What is flash forward in The Tell-Tale Heart?
In "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe, there is a flash forward when the narrator reveals his own sanity and his attempt to prove it to the reader. This technique gives readers a glimpse into the narrator's mindset and the consequences of his actions before the story concludes.
What is your first impression of the narrator from the book The Tell Tale Heart?
The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" comes across as unreliable, neurotic, and consumed by guilt and paranoia. His obsessive behavior and erratic thoughts create a sense of unease and tension for the reader.
What is the narrator's name in the man who did not believe in luck?
The narrator's name in "The Man Who Did Not Believe in Luck" is Anton Chekhov. He is a Russian writer who uses his storytelling to explore the theme of luck and its role in people's lives.
Why does Poe change the pace from slow to fast in The Tell-Tale Heart?
Poe changes the pace from slow to fast in "The Tell-Tale Heart" to create a sense of mounting tension and anxiety in the reader. The accelerating pace mirrors the narrator's increasing paranoia and guilt, heightening the story's suspense and dramatic impact. It also serves to emphasize the narrator's deteriorating mental state as the story progresses.
How does the narrator's opinion in The old chief mshlanga change about the natives?
In "The Old Chief Mshlanga" by Doris Lessing, the narrator's opinion about the natives evolves from an initial sense of pity and guilt towards a deeper understanding and respect for their culture and way of life. The narrator begins to see the natives not as inferior but as resilient and dignified people who have their own way of existence.
Effects of premeditation in The Tell-Tale Heart?
Premeditation in "The Tell-Tale Heart" showcases the calculated planning and deliberation of the narrator in committing the murder. It highlights the narrator's sanity as he carefully executes his plan to kill the old man and hide his crime. However, it also serves to reveal the narrator's growing paranoia and obsession with the old man's eye, leading to his eventual downfall.
This scenario is the plot of Georges Bizet's opera "Carmen." In the opera, the amoral philanderer Don José kills Carmen's former lover Escamillo in a fit of jealousy, and at the end, Carmen is murdered by Don José who is finally dragged down to hell by the ghost of Escamillo.
The tell tale heart what happens to his plan on the night of the murder?
In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator's plan to murder the old man is successful, but his guilt and paranoia intensify after the murder. He starts hearing the old man's heartbeat and becomes convinced that it's getting louder and louder, eventually leading to his confession of the crime due to the overwhelming guilt and fear.
