Comprehension
Why did the narrator want to kill the old man?
Because his eye resembled that of a vulture.
In your own words, define the word cunningly.
"characterized by wiliness and trickery"
-Merriam Webster
Who is the narrator
The murderer
The narrator begins the story by stating that he feels what emotion?
Nervous
Who is the author of Tell-Tale Heart?
Edgar Allan Poe
Why did the narrator confess his guilt?
Because he could hear the old man's heart beating from beneath the floor.
What is a gesticulation?
"the act of making gestures"
-Merriam Webster
Who is murdered?
The old man
What is the last emotion the old man ever felt?
Fear
How old was Edgar Allan Poe when he became an orphan?
He was three years old.
After killing the old man, the narrator describes him as "__ dead." Fill in the blank.
What does it mean to hearken?
"to give respectful attention"
-Merriam Webster
Who arrives at the house at 4 in the morning?
Three officers
What emotion is depicted when the narrator describes death approaching the old man?
Fear and vulnerability
Who was Edgar Allan Poe's wife?
His cousin, Virginia Poe
For how many nights did the narrator look at the old man while he slept before killing him?
Eight nights (he killed him on the eighth night), but it was seven nights of just looking at the man and not killing him. (Either answer is acceptable)
What does it mean if something is suave?
It is "smooth in texture, performance, or style."
-Merriam Webster
How many characters appear in the story in total? Please name them all.
There are 5 characters that appear in the story. The narrator, the old man, and the three officers.
How does the narrator feel at first when the officers show up?
Proud
What did Edgar Allan Poe's parents do for a living?
They were traveling actors.
How was the narrator's physical appearance impacted by his guilt?
He grew paler.
Define sagacity.
"The quality of being sagacious." The word sagacious means "of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment : discerning."
-Merriam Webster
Who is mentioned in the story but never makes an appearance?
The neighbor who heard a shriek from the old man and called the officers
Before the narrator becomes flustered by the sound of the old man's heart beating, how does he describe how he feels and how the officers feel?
He feels "singularly at ease" and the officers are "satisfied."
What was the cause of Edgar Allan Poe's death?
"Acute congestion of the brain"