Narrator Reliability
What does it mean if a narrator is unreliable?
The narrator’s account cannot be fully trusted because they may lie, exaggerate, or be confused.
What tone does the phrase “vulture eye” suggest?
A disturbing, ominous, or threatening tone.
Define “crevice” using context clues from the story.
A small narrow opening or crack.
Who is the narrator in The Tell-Tale Heart?
An unnamed character who tells the story from his point of view.
Give one example of a contradiction from the narrator.
The narrator claims to be sane but obsessively plans and commits murder.
Give an example of a phrase that shows obsessive behavior.
“Very, very slowly” repeated to emphasize careful, nervous actions.
What does “dissemble” mean, and how does the narrator do this?
To hide true feelings or intentions; the narrator pretends to be kind while planning murder.
What motivates the narrator to commit murder?
His obsession and fear of the old man’s “vulture eye.”
Why does the narrator insist he is sane?
He wants to convince others (and himself) that his actions are reasonable despite his behavior.
How does repetition like “very, very slowly” affect mood?
It creates suspense and shows the narrator’s nervous obsession.
Use “sagacity” in a sentence about the narrator.
The narrator believed he had great sagacity, or wisdom, as he carefully planned the crime.
What is the main conflict in the story?
The narrator’s struggle with his obsession and his plan to kill the old man.
How does the narrator’s confession reveal his mental state?
It shows he is overwhelmed by guilt and possibly madness, causing him to lose control.
Why is the narrator’s tone important for understanding the story?
It reveals his emotions and mental state, helping readers interpret his reliability.
Explain how “hypocritical” describes the police officers’ smiles.
Their smiles are insincere or false because they don’t suspect the narrator but pretend otherwise.
How is the problem resolved?
The narrator kills the old man but confesses due to guilt and madness.
Explain how contradictions affect your trust in the narrator.
Contradictions make the narrator seem unreliable because they show inconsistency and possible delusion.
Analyze how tone and word choice together reveal the narrator’s emotions.
The tone of nervousness, combined with words like “vulture eye” and repetition, shows fear, obsession, and guilt.
Write a complex sentence using “vehemently” related to the story.
Although he vehemently denied his guilt, his nervous behavior revealed the truth to the officers.
What theme does the narrator’s guilt highlight?
That guilt can destroy a person’s mind and lead to self-destruction.