Tell-Tale Heart: Court Lesson Plan

Theodore Canter, Athens College Gymnasium, 2023

In The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe gives us the perspective of the narrator, his account of
the killing, and his (tepid) defense. Using your literary understanding of Poe’s protagonist, it is
time to get into character and put yourself in the shoes of the world of the story. You will be
putting the killer on trial.
The text of the story is the defendant’s statement.
Based on the evidence that Poe’s narrator gives us, could one make the case that our killer is
insane, and therefore not fit to bear the consequences of his actions in the highest degree?
Or does one prove that “with malice aforethought”, he plotted and carried out a cold-blooded
murder, and subsequently confessed to it as well. You decide! Does the narrator deserve the
insanity plea?
After a defendant makes this plea, he/she is usually sent to a state mental health facility, a
county mental health evaluation and treatment facility or another mental health facility for up
to 30 days.
You can consider the text as evidence, but you also have at your disposal all of your
imaginations. Build the world you’re in.
Get into character! You are no longer students in 2023 Athens but common villagers of
Victorian era America.
Think – who are you? What is your name? Age? Life story? This is all up to you. The key is to
know who you are. Write these down and commit to your character. Don’t forget to dress for
court!
Be prepared, no matter your role, to explain why you made the choices you did. Take risks!
The proper administering of justice is in your hands. Above all, have fun!
Narrator (Killer):
Use the text of the story as your testimony, but also analyze and explain the narrator's actions
and motivations beyond literal words. (Use the same analytical tools you might use in an essay!)
Consider the narrator’s obsession with the old man's eye, justifications and explanations for
each step in the story, and how their paranoia and guilt evolve throughout.
Formulate an argument that demonstrates an understanding of the narrator's mental state and
motives.

Prosecutors (2):
Provide a clear summary of the evidence against the Narrator as it appears in the story.
However, go beyond a simple recounting of events. Analyze the narrator's actions and speech
patterns for evidence of sanity or admissible signs of guilt.
Use specific passages to support your arguments, back them up with your own analysis and
explanations.

Defense Lawyers (2):

In your opening statement, focus on presenting the Narrator as potentially legally insane,
referencing specific passages from the text to highlight moments of irrationality or obsession.
Additionally, analyze the narrator's internal struggles and emotional state, making a compelling
case for possible insanity.
Remember, you are not claiming your client didn’t kill the neighbor—you are claiming that your
client cannot be legally responsible due to insanity.

Court Psychiatrist:
Analyze the narrator's mental state as presented in the story.
Cite specific passages to support your expert opinion on whether the Narrator was legally
insane during the events. Consider delving into the character's thought processes, emotional
turmoil, and any possible mental disorders based on their actions and speech.
Summarize and refer back to the court standard for insanity, although remember you are not a
lawyer for either side.

Police (2):
Present evidence from the text that describes the investigation at the crime scene. Use specific
textual references to describe the crime scene and the evidence against the Narrator. Also,
provide your interpretation of the evidence, focusing on elements that suggest guilt or
innocence, and assess the Narrator's sanity.
Neighbor:
Describe the events leading up to and following the murder, using specific textual references.
Testify about any unusual behavior or sounds you may have heard from the Narrator's house,
drawing on the text for support. Analyze the neighbor's role in the story's events. Analyze your
interactions with the Narrator and any subtle clues in the text that hint at the Narrator's mental
state or motives. Consider whether their observations indicate the Narrator's guilt or possible
insanity. Draw independent conclusions based on the story's nuances.

Narrator's Friend:
Testify about your relationship with the Narrator, drawing from the story and analyzing the
interactions beyond the surface. Using what the narrator describes of his life, how he views the
world, how that might impact his relationships with friends?
Offer insights into the Narrator's emotional and psychological state, emphasizing any signs of
potential insanity or motives. You can go beyond the text itself but be realistic, stay on task, and
justify your choices with textual evidence.

Narrator's Family:
Provide information about the Narrator's background and family dynamics as revealed in the
text. Analyze the Narrator's relationship with their family and any possible familial influences on
their mental state. Formulate opinions about the Narrator's behavior and sanity based on these
dynamics.

Jurors (5-7):

Your job is to study the cases below.

During the trial, hear the arguments, evidence, claims. After listening to all these fairly, it is your
job to decide a verdict: guilty or not guilty.
You should take careful notes during the process, being sure to notice your own reactions to
these claims.
Each of you will have to write on your own an explanation for your decision using evidence
from the text and from the court.
HELPFUL NOTES:

There have been several real-life court-established precedents related to pleading insanity as a
defense. Here are a few notable cases:
M'Naghten's Case (1843):
A defendant could be found not guilty by reason of insanity if they didn't know the nature and
quality of their act or didn't know that it was wrong due to a mental disorder.

Durham v. United States (1954):

This decision in the United States broadened the criteria for insanity.
It stated that a person is not criminally responsible if the unlawful act was the product of a
mental disease or defect.

Parsons v. State (1887)/ Irresistible Impulse Test:

A defendant can be found legally insane if they were unable to control their actions due to a
mental disorder, even if they understood the wrongfulness of their act.

American Law Institute (ALI) Model Penal Code:

A defendant is considered insane if, due to a diagnosed mental disease or defect, they lack
substantial capacity to conform their behavior to the requirements of the law.
Roles:
Narrator (killer)

Prosecutor

Defendant

Jury (5 or 7)

Court psychiatrist

Police

Character witness for victim

Neighbor

Witness

Narrator’s friend

Narrator’s family