The Old Man
The narrator claims he has absolutely nothing against the old man expect for this specific physical feature.
What is his pale blue, vulture-like eye?
The narrator suffocates the old man by pulling this heavy object over him.
What is the bed/bedding?
This is the exact number of police officers who arrive at the house to investigate.
What is three?
"True! —nervous —very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?"
Who is the narrator?
The narrator compares the film or growth covering the old man's eye to this specific scavenger bird.
What is a vulture?
To hide the evidence, the narrator dismembers the body in this specific location so no blood spills.
What is the bathtub?
The police show up in the middle of the night because a neighbor reported hearing this loud noise.
What is a shriek/scream?
"Who's there?"
Who is the old man?
This is the exact number of nights the narrator sneaks into the old man's room to spy on him before committing the crime.
What is seven nights?
The body is hidden underneath the loose planks of this part of the bedroom floor.
What are the floorboards?
The narrator falsely tells the police that the old man is away doing this activity in the country.
What is traveling/visiting?
"Villains! ... dissemble no more! I admit the deed! —tear up the planks!"
Who is the narrator?
On the eighth night, the narrator's thumb slips on the tin fastening of this object, waking the old man up.
What is the lantern?
This is the exact hour of the night when the narrator finally finishes hiding the body and hears the clock strike.
What is 4AM?
As the narrator's guilt grows, he hears a dull, quick sound that he compares to a watch enveloped in this material.
What is cotton?
The narrator claims that his disease has actually sharpened his senses, especially this specific sense.
What is the sense of hearing?
To make sure the old man is completely dead, the narrator places his hand over this organ for many minutes to feel for a pulse.
What is the heart?
To show his complete confidence and lack of fear, the narrator places his own chair directly over this exact spot when the police arrive.
What is the spot where the body is buried/under the floorboards?
The narrator starts pacing the floor and scraping his chair against the boards because he believes the police officers are doing this cruel act.
What is mocking him?
The narrator describes the old man's cry of terror on the eighth night as the low, stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with this emotion.
What is awe/terror?