Cornell Notes for The Tell-Tale Heart

Transcription

1 Cornell Notes for The Tell-Tale Heart Key Points/Questions Notes What disease does the narrator admit he has? How does the disease affect him? (paragraph 1) The narrator says he has a disease that has sharpened his senses, and that his sense of hearing was the most acute. The narrator says that he hears all things in heaven and hell. What idea does the narrator conceive? What does he hope to accomplish? (paragraph 2) He makes up his mind to kill the old man because of his eye. His eye resembled that of a vulture - a pale, blue eye with a film over it and made his blood run cold. What does the narrator do each night? (paragraph 3) Each night, the narrator creeps into the old man s bedroom and watches him as he sleeps. He shines light from his lantern to try to see the old man s eye, but the man s eye is always closed. Summary Grade 8: Tell-Tale Heart

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3 What does the old man do when the narrator enters on the eighth night? (paragraph 4-5) The old man is startled awake and asks, Who s there? According to the narrator, how does the old man feel? Use text evidence to support your answer. (paragraph 7) The narrator tells us that the old man is fearful and trying to convince himself that everything is okay. I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief oh, no! it was the low, stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless but could not. He had been saying to himself It is nothing but the wind in the chimney it is only a mouse crossing the floor, or It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp. Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions; but he had found all in vain. Summary Grade 8: Tell-Tale Heart

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5 Key Points/Questions Notes How does the narrator describe the old man s eye and its effect on him? What is the impact of the sensory language? (paragraph 7-8) He describes it as a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones. By using words by hideous and chilled the marrow in my bones, he helps readers picture the grotesque eye and how deeply it impacts him. What does the narrator hear? (paragraph 10) He thinks that he hears the old man s heart beating. Summary Grade 8: Tell-Tale Heart

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7 What does the narrator do with the old man s body? (paragraphs 12-13) The narrator dismembers his body, tears up the boards on the floor, and buries the man under the floor. The sensory language emphasizes the gruesome, finality of the murder and the way in which the narrator dismembers him. Why do police arrive? (paragraph 14) A shriek had been heard by the neighbors who called the police because they feared foul play. How does the narrator react to the police? (paragraphs 14-15) He smiles at them and tries to act cool. He tells them that the shriek was from a bad dream that he had, and then he invites them inside to inspect the place as a way to demonstrate nothing happened, since someone who was guilty of a crime would not invite the police inside. Summary Grade 8: Tell-Tale Heart

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9 What does the narrator hear - or think he hears? The narrator thinks he hears the old man s heart beating through the floorboards. What does he do? The narrator starts pacing and getting very nervous. He says that he swore, foamed, and raved. He then shrieks and tells the police that he is guilty and that they should tear up the blanks and find the body. What is the effect of the sensory language used by the narrator? The sensory language shows the internal panic of the narrator in a way that helps demonstrate his insanity. The descriptive phrases and words like foamed, and raved build suspense and heighten the tension until the final moments of the text when he admits the murder. Villains! I shrieked, dissemble no more! I admit the deed! tear up the planks! here, here! it is the beating of his hideous heart! Summary Grade 8: Tell-Tale Heart

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