Purpose
What was Nelly Bly's main purpose in Chapter 1?
To expose the mistreatment of women labeled as insane
What type of evidence was used in the courtroom to determine Bly’s mental state?
Witness testimony and her unusual behavior
What theme is revealed in Chapters 1 and 4?
The ease with which women could be silenced or institutionalized
What is a magistrate best described as?
A judge or local court official
What does Feigned mean?
Pretended or faked
Why does Bly believe her mission is dangerous?
She worries she might never be released once declared insane
Who presides over Bly’s hearing?
A magistrate/judge
How does Bly’s narration affect the reader’s view of the injustice?
Her first-person point of view highlights the unfairness of the process
If someone is condemned, they are…
Declared guilty or sentenced to punishment
What injustice does Bly highlight about how women could be sent to asylums?
They could be declared insane without fair investigation or proof
How did Bly describe her feelings before beginning her undercover role in Chapter 1?
Excited but nervous about being discovered
What is the narrator’s main purpose in Bly’s text compared to Poe’s?
Bly seeks to expose injustice, while Poe tries to entertain and create suspense.
Which character shows the most authority in Chapter 4’s courtroom?
The magistrate/judge
Which theme connects both works? Options: The dangers of unchecked power and society’s treatment of mental illness, The growth of cities in the 1800s, The importance of romantic love and loyalty, The role of wealth in shaping identity
The dangers of unchecked power and society’s treatment of mental illness
How did the magistrate react to Bly’s behavior during the trial?
He took her behavior as proof she was insane
How did the doctors contribute during Bly’s trial?
They gave brief opinions without thorough evaluation
How do the narrators’ mental states affect their stories?
Bly pretends to be insane but is clear and logical in her narration; Poe’s narrator insists on sanity but reveals instability through his words.
How does Bly pretend to be insane in chapter 1?
She pretended to forget her name and acted confused
What injustice is revealed in Chapter 4 about the legal process?
Women could be institutionalized based on quick judgments and little evidence
Which group in the courtroom seemed entertained by Bly’s case?
Spectators and Children
What final decision does the court make about Bly in Chapter 4?
She is pronounced insane and sent to the asylum
What character plays a key role in reinforcing the court’s decision?
A doctor who gave shallow testimony about her condition
Why is Bly’s first-person narration powerful in exposing injustice?
It puts the reader directly inside her experience of unfair treatment
Difference in narration between Bly’s Ten Days in a Mad-House and Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart?
Both narrate in first person, but Bly reports real experiences while Poe’s narrator describes imagined events.