Vocabulary
a transparent, usually portable, case for enclosing a light and protecting it from the wind or rain.
lantern
As the story opens, the narrator is saying:
A. he is not insane.
B. the old man was cruel to him.
C. he is insane.
D. he is very confused.
A. he is not insane.
What “haunted” the narrator?
The idea of killing another man haunts him.
How does the narrator distinguish himself from “madmen”?
The narrator sets up a contrast between himself and madmen.
movable joints or mechanism on which a door or lid swings as it opens and closes.
hinges
What does Poe’s use of punctuation in the first sentence reveal about the narrator?
Poe uses punctuation to show how nervous or excited the narrator is.
Why does the narrator decide to “take the life of the old man”?
Because he wants to rid himself “of the eye forever.”
How does the narrator demonstrate his foresight?
The narrator “was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before” the murder.
knowledge of what will be needed in the future
foresight
As the narrator enters the old man's room on the eighth night,
A. the old man continues sleeping.
B. dogs begin to howl.
C. the old man wakes up.
D. the wind begins to moan.
C. the old man wakes up.
How does the narrator feel about the old man?
The narrator says that he loves the old man and has no reason to kill him.
Where does the narrator go “every night, about midnight”? What does the narrator see?
The narrator goes to the old man’s bedroom. He sees the old man “as he lay upon his bed.”
cleverly or skillfully
cunningly
During what part of the action does Poe begin his story?
The story begins after the action of the story has occurred. The narrator has already committed the murder and now he is going to tell the story of how it happened
How does the narrator describe the old man’s eye?
He describes the eye as “the eye of a vulture” “—a pale blue eye, with a film over it.”
What is “the work”? Why is it “impossible” for the narrator to “do the work”?
The work is the murder of the old man. The narrator cannot kill him because the man’s eye is always closed.
annoyed
vexed
What is the effect of Poe’s choice to begin the story after the action has taken place?
Starting the story in the middle creates suspense or anticipation
How does the eye affect the narrator?
It makes him want to kill the old man because he wants to rid himself of the eye.
How does the narrator describe his actions during the day?
The narrator went “boldly” into the old man’s room, and “spoke courageously” to him “in a hearty tone.”