Definitions
In the story, what does the word "mad" refer to?
being crazy or insane
Why did Poe want to kill the old man?
He hated the look of his blind eye. He felt that it was the eye of a vulture.
Whose heart do you think the narrator actually hears during the murder?
His own.
DOUBLE POINTS IF YOU CAN TELL ME HOW YOU KNOW THAT.
Define: Scantlings
a small piece of lumber that is used in a cross section
What is the tone of this piece?
Dark, gothic, morbid
In the story, what does the word "acute" mean?
sharp, very good. Poe refers to his hearing as being acute.
Why did the narrator spend so much time checking on the old man?
To see his habits, and to make it look like it was normal for him to go to visit the old man.
What do you think the heart represents?
His own conscious and fear of others finding out what he did.
Define: Sagacity
Wisdom
What does this writing tell you about Poe? How do you think he is in real life?
That he has his own demons. Maybe he has his own madness.
What does Poe mean by "You FANCY me mad?"
Fancy in this instance means that we are fantasizing he is mad. Or we think he is, but he believes he is not.
What is the irony of the line "His room was as black as pitch with think darkness (for the shutters were closed fastened, through fear of robbers)"?
The old man had lived in the dark because of his fear of robbers coming in, when the man who wanted to kill him was allowed to come through the front door.
What facts from the text would you use to support that the narrator is in fact mad?
(several answers correct from the text)
DEFINE: dissimulation
concealing one's thoughts feelings or character
How does fear drive the narrator's actions?
It begins and ends with him fearing something. he fears the eye. So he kills the old man. He fears the neighbors will hear him kill the old man. he fears the police will find out and he will be held accountable for his actions.
In the text, what does the word "mortal" as in "mortal terror" mean?
In fear of one's life.
What does the line "I chuckled at heart" tell us about the narrator?
He is callous. He hears the fear of the old man. He has experienced fear himself and laughs at the idea that the old man is afraid for his life.
What do you think the heart represents throughout the text?
The narrators guilt getting worse and worse.
How does the narrator use dissimulation before he kills the old man?
He goes to visit him. He says in the text that he loves the old man.
The narrator says he is not mad. "Madmen know nothing" Explain how you think this does prove he is mad supported by text.
He goes through the entire story not realizing it is his own madness that is causing all of his trouble.
What does "Audacity" mean in this story?
daring and unafraid
Why do you think that the heartbeat sound stops and then returns when the officers come to the home?
The Narrarator calms down after the murder. When the officers come in he is confident but, as they remain in the home he becomes afraid of them finding the body. So his anxiousness makes his own heart beat in his ears.
What is the major theme of the story?
People cannot escape their bad deeds.
DEFINE: suppositions
uncertain beliefs
supposing something
Do you think that the narrator was actually as acute and cautious as he said? Or do you feel it may have been all in his head?
multiple right answers