172 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1

LITERARY FOCUS: NARRATOR

A narrator is a person who tells a story. A storys narrator may be a
character in the story. Another type of narrator is outside the story and
observes and reports on the action that takes place. We rely on a storys
narrator to let us know what is going on. But what if the narrator cant
be trusted? As you read The Tell-Tale Heart, decide whether or not its
narrator is truthfulor even sane.
IRONY: THE UNEXPECTED
Irony is a contrast between expectation and reality. Much of the horror
in The Tell-Tale Heart comes from Poes use of irony. Look for these
three basic kinds of irony as you read the story:
Verbal irony What is said is the opposite of what is meant.
Situational irony What happens is different from or even opposite
of what we expected.
Dramatic irony We know something a character doesnt know.
READING SKILLS: PREVIEWING
When you preview a selection, you look it over to see what lies ahead.
You might scan the title and skim a paragraph or two to get an idea of
the writers subject and style. Preview Poes story. What predictions can
you make?
My Predictions
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The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
Literary Skills
Understand
narrator;
understand
irony.
Reading Skills
Preview the
story.
Vocabulary
Skills
Identify
synonyms.
The Tell-Tale Heart 173
acute (kyt) adj.: sharp.
His nervousness increased his acute sense of
hearing.
vexed (vekst) v.: disturbed.
He was vexed by the old mans eye.
sagacity (sgast) n.: intelligence and
good judgment.
He was proud of his powers and of his sagacity.
refrained (rifrnd) v.: held back.
Though furious, he refrained from action.
wary (wer) adj.: cautious.
He was too wary to make a careless mistake.
suavity (swvt) n.: smooth manner;
smoothness.
The police showed perfect suavity.
audacity (dast) n.: boldness.
He was impressed with his own audacity.
vehemently (vmntl) adv.: forcefully.
He talked more vehemently, but he couldnt
drown out the sound.
gesticulations (jestikylnz) n.:
energetic gestures.
His violent gesticulations did not disturb the
police officers.
derision (dirin) n.: ridicule.
He hated the smiling derision of the police.
CLARIFYING WORD MEANINGS: SYNONYMS
A synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning
as another word. When you learn a new word, take note of its
synonyms. Knowing its synonyms will help you remember the new
words meaning.
In the sentences below, a synonym is provided in parentheses for each
boldface vocabulary word.
Above all was the sense of hearing acute (sharp).
It was not the old man who vexed (annoyed) me, but his Evil Eye.
I had been too wary (cautious) for that.
I talked more quicklymore vehemently (forcefully); but the noise
steadily increased.
Anything was more tolerable than this derision (ridicule)!
PREVIEW SELECTION VOCABULARY
Become familiar with these words before you read The Tell-Tale Heart.
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True!nervousvery, very dreadfully nervous I had been
and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease
had sharpened my sensesnot destroyednot dulled
them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. 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
healthilyhow calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my
brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.
Object
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there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the
old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given
me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his
eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a
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Edgar Allan Poe
Re-read lines 17. Circle what
the narrator says he is not.
Underline how he intends to
prove hes healthy.
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174 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1
1. object (bjikt) n.: purpose or goal.
How would you describe the
narrators reaction to the old
man (lines 817)? Underline
the idea that enters the
narrators brain.
acute (kyt) adj.: sharp;
sensitive; severe.
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vulturea pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it
fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degreesvery
graduallyI made up my mind to take the life of the old
man and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen
know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should
have seen how wisely I proceededwith what caution
with what foresightwith what dissimulation
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I went to
work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the
whole week before I killed him. And every night, about
midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it
oh, so gently! And then, when I had made an opening
sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed,
closed, so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my
head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly
I thrust it in! I moved it slowlyvery, very slowly, so that
I might not disturb the old mans sleep. It took me an hour
to place my whole head within the opening so far that I
could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! Would a madman
have been so wise as this? And then, when my head was
well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiouslyoh, so
cautiouslycautiously (for the hinges creaked)I undid
it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture
eye. And this I did for seven long nightsevery night just
at midnightbut I found the eye always closed; and so it
was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man
who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when
the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber and spoke
courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone
and inquiring how he had passed the night. So you see he
would have been a very profound
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old man, indeed, to
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The Tell-Tale Heart 175
2. dissimulation (disimyln) n.: disguising of intentions or feel-
ings. (Look for a similar word at the end of the story.)
3. profound (prfnd) adj.: deeply intellectual.
In lines 1833 the narrator
claims to have several quali-
ties that insane people dont
have. Circle the qualities that
he mentions. In your opinion,
does having those qualities
prove his sanityor not?
vexed (vekst) v.: disturbed;
annoyed.
Pause at line 40. Do you
think the narrator will kill
the old man? Tell what you
think will happen. Base your
prediction on the details you
already know.
suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon
him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious
in opening the door. A watchs minute hand moves more
quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the
extent of my own powersof my sagacity. I could scarcely
contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was,
opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream
of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea;
and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly,
as if startled. Now you may think that I drew backbut no.
His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness (for
the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers),
and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the
door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.
I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern,
when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old
man sprang up in the bed, crying outWhos there?
I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I
did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear
him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening
just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the
deathwatches
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in the wall.
Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the
groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of
griefoh, no!it was the low, stifled sound that arises
from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I
knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when
all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom,
deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted
me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and
pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had
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176 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1
4. deathwatches n.: beetles that burrow into wood and make tapping
sounds, which some people believe are a sign of approaching death.
Re-read lines 4759. Why
is it ironic that the old man
feared robbers? (What
should he have feared?)
Read the boxed passage at
least twice to appreciate the
authors unique stylethe
way he expresses himself.
Notice the kinds of words
and sentences he useslong,
short, simple, poetic, and
so on. As you read aloud,
change the pace of your
reading to reflect the narra-
tors words. Decide which
sentences you will read softly,
perhaps even in a whisper.
Pay special attention to Poes
use of italic type to show
emphasis, and dashes to show
abrupt changes in thought.
sagacity (sgast) n.: intel-
ligence and good judgment.
been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he
had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing
upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless but
could not. He had been saying to himselfIt is nothing
but the wind in the chimneyit is only a mouse crossing
the floor, or It is merely a cricket which has made a single
chirp. Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with
these suppositions; but he had found all in vain. All in vain;
because Death, in approaching him, had stalked with his
black shadow before him and enveloped the victim. And it
was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that
caused him to feelalthough he neither saw nor heardto
feel the presence of my head within the room.
When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without
hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a littlea very,
very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened ityou cannot
imagine how stealthily, stealthilyuntil, at length, a single
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The Tell-Tale Heart 177
Study the art on this page.
How well do you think it
brings to life the scene
described in lines 7683?
Explain.
Unperceived, in line 87, means
not seen or detected. Circle
the context clues that hint at
the words meaning.
This illustration and the illustration on page 180 are from a short movie
based on The Tell-Tale Heart.
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dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the
crevice and full upon the vulture eye.
It was openwide, wide openand I grew furious as
I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctnessall a dull
blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow
in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old mans
face or person, for I had directed the ray, as if by instinct,
precisely upon the damned spot.
And now have I not told you that what you mistake for
madness is but overacuteness of the senses?now, I say,
there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a
watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound
well too. It was the beating of the old mans heart. It
increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the
soldier into courage.
But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely
breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily
I could maintain the ray upon the eye. Meantime the hellish
tattoo
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of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker
and louder and louder every instant. The old mans terror
must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every
moment!do you mark me well? I have told you that I am
nervous: So I am. And now at the dead hour of the night,
amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a
noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet for some
minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating
grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And
now a new anxiety seized methe sound would be heard
by a neighbor! The old mans hour had come! With a loud
yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He
shrieked onceonce only. In an instant I dragged him to
the floor and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled
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178 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1
5. tattoo n.: steady beat.
Pause at line 108. What do
you think the narrator might
be hearing when he thinks
he hears the beating of the
old mans heart?
refrained (rifrnd) v.: held
back.
Re-read lines 90108. Under-
line three visual images,
details that help you picture
what is happening. Then,
circle three sound images,
details that help you hear
what is happening.
gaily to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes,
the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did
not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At
length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed
and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead.
I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many
minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His
eye would trouble me no more.
If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer
when I describe the wise precautions I took for the conceal-
ment of the body. The night waned,
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and I worked hastily
but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut
off the head and the arms and the legs.
I then took up three planks from the flooring of the
chamber and deposited all between the scantlings.
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I then
replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no
human eyenot even hiscould have detected anything
wrong. There was nothing to wash outno stain of any
kindno blood spot whatever. I had been too wary for
that. A tub had caught allha! ha!
When I had made an end of these labors, it was four
oclockstill dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the
hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down
to open it with a light heartfor what had I now to fear?
There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with
perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been
heard by a neighbor during the night; suspicion of foul play
had been aroused; information had been lodged at the
police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed
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to
search the premises.
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The Tell-Tale Heart 179
6. waned (wnd) v.: gradually drew to a close.
7. scantlings n.: small beams of wood.
8. deputed (dpytid) v.: appointed.
Pause at line 145. Whats one
example of something that
the narrator has saidor
doneor feltthat is evi-
dence that he is mad?
wary (wer) adj.: cautious.
suavity (swvt) n.:
smoothness; politeness.
Tell what happens on the
eighth night (lines 47133).
Be sure to include the reason
the narrators behavior
changes. Describe how he
commits the murder.
HR2PSE_G8_P1C5_170-203_.qxd 4/21/04 2:48 PM Page 179
I smiledfor what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen
welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The
old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my
visitors all over the house. I bade them searchsearch well.
I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his
treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my
confidence, I brought chairs into the room and desired them
here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild
audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon
the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced
them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered
cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt
myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached,
and I fancied a ringing in my ears; but still they sat and still
chatted. The ringing became more distinctit continued
and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of
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180 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1
Pause at line 166. The officers
seem satisfied that nothing
bad has happened in the
house. Will the narrator get
away with his crime? What
do you think will happen
next?
audacity (dast) n.:
boldness.
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the feeling: but it continued and gained definitivenessuntil,
at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt I now grew very palebut I talked more
fluently and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound
increasedand what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick
soundmuch such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped
in cotton. I gasped for breathand yet the officers heard it
not. I talked more quicklymore vehemently; but the noise
steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high
key and with violent gesticulations, but the noise steadily
increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor
to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the
observation of the menbut the noise steadily increased.
Oh God! what could I do? I foamedI ravedI swore! I
swung the chair upon which I had been sitting and grated
it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and contin-
ually increased. It grew louderlouderlouder! And still
the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they
heard not? Almighty God!no, no! They heard!they
suspected!they knew!they were making a mockery of
my horror!this I thought, and this I think. But anything
was better than this agony! 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!tear up the planks!here, here!it is the beating
of his hideous heart!
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The Tell-Tale Heart 181
What is happening to the
narrator (lines 175189)?
What does he think he
hears? Whats your explana-
tion for the sound he hears?
Poe once wrote that every
word in a story should create
a single, overwhelming
impression. In your opinion,
what impression was he try-
ing to create in this story?
vehemently (vmntl)
adv.: forcefully; passionately.
gesticulations
(jestikylnz) n.:
energetic gestures.
derision (dirin) n.:
contempt; ridicule.
182 Collection 5/ A Matter of Style Part 1
The Tell-Tale Heart
Narrator Evaluation Chart The narrator of The Tell-Tale Heart claims
that he is not mad. Do you agree? Fill out the graphic below by collecting
evidence from the story. Focus on the narrators thoughts, words, and
actions. Then, write whether or not you think the narrator is a reliable
source of information.
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Literary Skills
Analyze the
narrator.
Narrator
Sane
I believe the narrator is
Mad
The Tell-Tale Heart 183
Skills Review Skills Review
The Tell-Tale Heart
VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION
A. Synonyms Write the word from the Word Bank that best fits each
group of synonyms.
1. disturbed, annoyed, troubled
2. careful, cautious, leery
3. boldness, daring, brazenness
4. withheld, repressed, held back
5. forcefully, passionately, furiously
6. smoothness, politeness, fine manners
7. gestures, wild movements, spasms
8. scorn, ridicule, contempt
9. sharp, sensitive, severe
10. intelligence, smarts, good sense
B. Reading Comprehension Answer each question below.
1. Why does the narrator decide to kill the old man?
2. Why does the narrator think he is not mad?
3. Who arrives at the narrators door at night? Why have they come?
4. Why does the narrator finally confess to his crime?
acute
vexed
sagacity
refrained
wary
suavity
audacity
vehemently
gesticulations
derision
Word Bank Word Bank
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Vocabulary
Skills
Identify
synonyms.