The Tell-Tale Heart Activities
“The Tell-Tale Heart” Comprehension and Style Activities
I. PLOT QUESTIONS FOR “THE TELL-TALE HEART”
1. Title: Based on the title, predict what the story will be about. 2. First paragraph: From whose point of view is this story told? 3. First paragraph: To whom do you think the narrator is speaking to? 4. First paragraph: Why does he say, “But why will you say that I am mad?” 5. Second paragraph: What is the narrator’s problem (Conflict)? 6. Third paragraph: Write down what you think the author means by “I went to work.” 7. Third paragraph: Why does the narrator treat the old man so well in the mornings? 8. Sixth paragraph: Why doesn’t the narrator leave when he realizes the old man is awake? 9. Seventh paragraph: What is the sound the narrator hears? 10. Tenth paragraph: Whose heart do you think the narrator is hearing? 11. Fourteenth Paragraph: Who is at the door?
By EDGAR ALLAN POE
12. Paragraph sixteen and seventeen: What is the noise? 13. Paragraphs sixteen and seventeen: What is the narrator feeling right now? 14. Paragraph (s): How do/does the paragraph(s) end?
K. Shafer; one of interview options and retelling of scene adapted from J. Dube; some of activities adapted from Holt
II. Irony – Listen to story again and track different types of irony. Find at least 1 kind of each type of irony.
Verbal Irony
-occurs when there is a difference between what a character says and what another character understands Ex. Scar says, “It’s to die for.” Example from Tell-Tale Heart: (Hint: what does the narrator say about himself?)
Situational Irony
-when the opposite of what one would expect to happen actually happens Ex. My dog Lucky was hit by a car. Example from Tell-Tale Heart:
Dramatic Irony
-when the reader/audience knows something that a character doesn’t Ex. Example from Tell-Tale Heart:
What is the effect of this irony on the reader?
III. Literary Elements
1. Mood, or atmosphere, is the overall feeling in the story. How would you
I. PLOT QUESTIONS FOR “THE TELL-TALE HEART”
1. Title: Based on the title, predict what the story will be about. 2. First paragraph: From whose point of view is this story told? 3. First paragraph: To whom do you think the narrator is speaking to? 4. First paragraph: Why does he say, “But why will you say that I am mad?” 5. Second paragraph: What is the narrator’s problem (Conflict)? 6. Third paragraph: Write down what you think the author means by “I went to work.” 7. Third paragraph: Why does the narrator treat the old man so well in the mornings? 8. Sixth paragraph: Why doesn’t the narrator leave when he realizes the old man is awake? 9. Seventh paragraph: What is the sound the narrator hears? 10. Tenth paragraph: Whose heart do you think the narrator is hearing? 11. Fourteenth Paragraph: Who is at the door?
By EDGAR ALLAN POE
12. Paragraph sixteen and seventeen: What is the noise? 13. Paragraphs sixteen and seventeen: What is the narrator feeling right now? 14. Paragraph (s): How do/does the paragraph(s) end?
K. Shafer; one of interview options and retelling of scene adapted from J. Dube; some of activities adapted from Holt
II. Irony – Listen to story again and track different types of irony. Find at least 1 kind of each type of irony.
Verbal Irony
-occurs when there is a difference between what a character says and what another character understands Ex. Scar says, “It’s to die for.” Example from Tell-Tale Heart: (Hint: what does the narrator say about himself?)
Situational Irony
-when the opposite of what one would expect to happen actually happens Ex. My dog Lucky was hit by a car. Example from Tell-Tale Heart:
Dramatic Irony
-when the reader/audience knows something that a character doesn’t Ex. Example from Tell-Tale Heart:
What is the effect of this irony on the reader?
III. Literary Elements
1. Mood, or atmosphere, is the overall feeling in the story. How would you