“The Tell-Tale Heart” Discussion and Analysis Questions

1. Which point of view does the author use?

The author uses the first point of view
How does that affect the story?
It shows us directly what is in his mind and what he feels exactly
Why do you think the author chose that particular point of view?
I think the author uses the first point of view because he wants us to understand the narrator more
and knows what’s going on in his mind.
2. What do you think the “vulture eye” symbolizes?
I think it symbolizes the weirdom of the narrators
Why do you think the author used this comparison?
He uses it to make us think the old man's eyes have a problem.
3. What does the “beating heart” symbolize? Why do you think the author repeated this idea?
I think the beating heart symbolizes the narrator is not normal, to remind us that the narrator isn’t
a normal person, but rather crazy.
4. Both “Lamb to the Slaughter” and “Tell-Tale Heart” are about a murder. Compare and
contrast the two stories.
What similarities do they have?
In the Lamb to the slaughter, the main character both murder someone and tries to hide it.
What differences do they have?
In the Lamb to the slaughter, She didn’t get caught murdering and she killed her husband for a
reason and not just crazy. In the tell tale heart, the narrator kills the men just because he has
different eyes than the other.
5. Do you think the narrator is reliable or trustworthy?
I think its neither of those because the narrator is crazy so can’t be trusted and also he doesn't
have any humanity.
6. The narrator tries to convince the reader that he isn’t mad.
How does he attempt to do so?
He does it by telling us it's some sort of superpower that normal people won’t have.
Is he successful?
No, because he killed an old man just because his eye is different.
How are his attempts an example of irony?
When he kills the man already and still hears his heartbeat.

7. Give examples of imagery the author includes. How does it help the reader to understand
the point of view of the narrator?
The heart beat, it helps us understand that he is crazy.