Character Motivation
What motivates the narrator in A Tell-Tale Heart to kill the old man?
His obsession with the old man’s “vulture eye.”
What is conflict in a story?
The struggle between opposing forces that drives the plot.
What are context clues?
Words or phrases around an unfamiliar word that help you figure out its meaning.
What is tone?
The author’s attitude toward the subject.
What is denotation?
The dictionary definition of a word.
Why does the narrator insist he is not mad (crazy)?
He wants to convince the reader he is sane and in control.
A character can’t decide whether to tell the truth. What type of conflict is this?
Internal – character vs. self.
“The room was frigid, so she grabbed a blanket.” What does frigid mean?
Very cold.
If an author uses words like “giggle,” “bright,” and “cheerful,” what is the tone?
Happy / joyful.
What is connotation?
The feelings or emotions a word suggests.
What motivates the narrator to be kind to the old man each morning?
To hide his true intentions and avoid suspicion.
A hero must defeat a dragon. What type of conflict is this?
External – character vs. nature/supernatural.
“He sprinted to class because he didn’t want to be late.” What does sprinted mean?
Ran very fast.
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” what tone is created by the narrator’s repeated claim that he is “not mad”?
Nervous or unstable.
The word “home” has a denotation of a place you live. What is its positive connotation?
Warmth, comfort, family.
Why does the narrator confess to the police in the end?
He believes he hears the beating heart and can’t handle the guilt.
Explain one way conflict helps develop a character.
It shows how the character reacts under pressure or grows.
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the room is described as “black as pitch.” What can pitch mean?
Something extremely dark.
If an author uses words like “dark,” “howling,” and “crept,” the tone is likely…
Spooky / eerie.
In “The Tell-Tale Heart,” what is the negative connotation of “vulture”?
Creepy