Insanity vs.

Obsessed Claim - The Tell Tale Heart

Directions: Choose whether you believe the Narrator was insane or obsessed. Then,

identify the line(s) that best support him as either obsessed and insane. Next, explain why
you chose the quote(s) and how it relates to perception vs. reality. NO I when writing an
argumentative paper!

Claim Statement
Assert whether you believe the narrator is
obsessed or insane.

Background Information
Explain the basic plot of the story - pretend
like your reader hasnt read this story.
Provide information to show what was
happening before you introduce your text
evidence & give context for your examples.

Text Example #1
Choose evidence from the text to support
the narrator as obsessed or insane.

Explanation
Why does this example support the
narrator as obsessed or insane?

Text Example #2
Choose evidence from the text to support
the narrator as obsessed or insane.

Claim: In the storyTell-Tale Heart by

Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator is clearly
insane due to his need to be sure the old
man and his eye were never to be seen
again.

Background Info: In the short story the

narrator could not stand the old mans evil
eye as he called it. It bothered him so much
that he set off to kill the man so he never
saw the eye again.

Quote: He had never wronged me. He had

never given me insult He had the eye of a
vulture.. I made up my mind to take the life
of the old man, and thus rid myself of the
eye forever.
Paragraph #: 2
Explanation: This quote shows the narrator
is insane because any normal person would
avoid the old man if they had a problem
with their eye. Or maybe move away if it
bothered them that much. Only a
completely insane human being would kill
someone who had never wronged them, just
because they didn't like their eye.
Quote: 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. I then replaced
the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no
human eye no stain of any kind --no
blood-spot whatever A tub had caught all

Insanity vs. Obsessed Claim - The Tell Tale Heart

--ha! ha!
Paragraph #: 12 & 13

Explanation
Why does this example support the
narrator as obsessed or insane?

Conclusion
Wrap up your paragraph by restating your
claim in a new way and summarizing why
you believe the narrator is obsessed or
insane.

Explanation: The quote means that the

narrator is insane because if he was just
obsessed with killing the old man and his
evil eye, he would have not ripped apart his
and hid his body, and drained his blood. He
did this just for a laugh, the old man was
already dead. Only an insane person would
do that.
Conclusion: All in all the narrator in
Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, is
extremely insane because he wanted to kill
a man just because he his likes his eye, and
did many extra things for fun to the already
dead old man.

Lastly, you will write a paragraph that has your claim statement as a topic sentence, setting
up your quote with background information from the story, and lastly supporting details for
the quote. Explain why you chose these quotes (do not use I) and how it supports insanity or
obsession, with a connection of our theme of perception vs. reality.

Write your paragraph below: In the story Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, the
narrator is clearly insane due to his need to be sure the old man and his eye were never to be
seen again. In the short story the narrator could not stand the old mans evil eye as he
called it. It bothered him so much that he set off to kill the man so he never saw the eye again.
This is what the text states when the narrator decides to kill the old man, He had never
wronged me. He had never given me insult He had the eye of a vulture.. I made up my mind
to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever (2). This quote shows
the narrator is insane because any normal person would avoid the old man if they had a
problem with their eye. Or maybe move away if it bothered them that much. Only a
completely insane human being would kill someone who had never wronged them, just
because they didn't like their eye. Once the narrator killed the old man the story states he,
`

Insanity vs. Obsessed Claim - The Tell Tale Heart

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. I then replaced the boards so
cleverly no stain of any kind --no blood-spot whatever A tub had caught all --ha! Ha!
(12-13). The quote means that the narrator is insane because if he was just obsessed with
killing the old man and his evil eye, he would have not ripped apart his and hid the old mans
body, and drained his blood, once he was already dead. Only an insane person would do that
just for a laugh. All in all, the narrator in Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, is extremely
insane because he wanted to kill a man just because he his dislikes his eye, and did many
extra things for fun to the already dead old man.

RUBRIC
W.8.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.

Not Yet Meeting (1)

Approaching Standard (2)

Meeting Standard (3)

Exceeding Standard (4)

Introduced the claim(s).

Provided evidence that
was not relevant or
logical or was from
sources that were not
credible. Struggled to
maintain a formal style.
Provided a conclusion
that related to the
arguments.

Introduced the claim(s)..

Provided evidence that was
sometimes relevant, logical,
and credible. Writing was
mostly formal and clear.
Provided a conclusion that
followed the arguments.

Introduced the claim(s).

Organized the reasons
and evidence clearly and
logically. Used evidence
that was logical, relevant,
and credible. Writing was
formal and clear. Provided
a conclusion that followed
and supported the
arguments presented.

Introduced the claim(s) in

a way that was very clear..
Used very logical
reasoning and highly
credible sources. Showed
a deep understanding of
the topic. Writing was
formal, clear, and
engaging. Conclusion
could lead the reader to
take action.