Transcript
Page 1: The Tell-Tale Heart  by Edgar Alan Poe

The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart byby

Edgar Alan PoeEdgar Alan Poe

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““tell-tale”: tell-tale”: 暴露秘密的;掩飾不住的暴露秘密的;掩飾不住的

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Genre Introduction: Genre Introduction: What Is “Short Story”What Is “Short Story”

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Fiction

Novel

Short Story

Fable

Parable

Tales

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plot

Narrative point of view

Setting

Characterization

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Point of ViewPoint of View

Definition: The perspective from which aDefinition: The perspective from which a story is told.story is told. Types: Types:

A. The narrator a participantA. The narrator a participant(writing in first person “I”)(writing in first person “I”)

B. The narrator a nonparticipantB. The narrator a nonparticipant(writing in the third-person)(writing in the third-person)

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A. The Participant NarratorA. The Participant Narrator

1. A major character1. A major character

2. A minor character2. A minor character

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B. The Nonparticipant NarratorB. The Nonparticipant Narrator

1. all-knowing (or omniscient): seeing into any1. all-knowing (or omniscient): seeing into any

of the charactersof the characters 2. seeing into one major character2. seeing into one major character 3. seeing into one minor character3. seeing into one minor character 4. objective: not seeing into any characters 4. objective: not seeing into any characters

(Ex. Ernest Hemingway’s works)(Ex. Ernest Hemingway’s works)

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The Unreliable NarratorThe Unreliable Narrator

Definition: Definition: the story told from the point of view of a persothe story told from the point of view of a person who, we perceive, is deceptive n who, we perceive, is deceptive (( 欺瞞的欺瞞的 )), self-de, self-deceptive ceptive (( 自欺的自欺的 )), deluded , deluded (( 迷惑的迷惑的 )), or deranged , or deranged (( 錯亂的錯亂的 ))..

Why the use of an unreliable narrator:Why the use of an unreliable narrator:to create a lively conflict between what we are to create a lively conflict between what we are told and what, apparently, we are meant to belitold and what, apparently, we are meant to believe (eve ( 敘事者不等於作者敘事者不等於作者 ))

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Association Association ((相關聯結相關聯結 ))

The non-participant narrator in “The Midnight The non-participant narrator in “The Midnight Visitor”: seeing into one minor characterVisitor”: seeing into one minor character

The ironical point of view in “The Midnight The ironical point of view in “The Midnight Visitor” Visitor” There is a gap between the author’s There is a gap between the author’s perception of espionage and that of Fowler, the perception of espionage and that of Fowler, the young writer. young writer.

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Some Names that You May KnowSome Names that You May Know

Stephen KingStephen King Freddy KruegerFreddy Krueger La LloronaLa Llorona Bela LugosiBela Lugosi Bram StokerBram Stoker The Addams FamilyThe Addams Family Boris KarloffBoris Karloff Yuki OnnaYuki Onna Mary ShelleyMary Shelley

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Who These People Are 1Who These People Are 1

Stephen King: writer of horror novelsStephen King: writer of horror novels

------ex.ex. Misery Misery ( ( 戰慄遊戲戰慄遊戲 )) Freddy Kruger: character in Freddy Kruger: character in Nightmare on Elm Nightmare on Elm

StreetStreet ( ( 半夜鬼上床半夜鬼上床 )) La Llorona: Mexican folklore (weeping womaLa Llorona: Mexican folklore (weeping woma

n)n) Bela Lugosi: actor; playing Count DraculaBela Lugosi: actor; playing Count Dracula

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Who These People Are 2Who These People Are 2

Bram Stoker: author of Bram Stoker: author of DraculaDracula ( ( 德古拉德古拉 )) The Addams Family The Addams Family 阿達一族阿達一族 Mary Shelley: author of Mary Shelley: author of FrankensteinFrankenstein Boris Karloff: actor; playing Frankenstein (Boris Karloff: actor; playing Frankenstein ( 科科

學怪人學怪人 )) Yuki Onna: Yuki Onna: 雪女雪女 Japanese folkloreJapanese folklore

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Thriller 1Thriller 1

Why are horror movies (thrillers) so popular?Why are horror movies (thrillers) so popular?

Do you believe in or will you influenced by Do you believe in or will you influenced by the scenes described in the thrillers?the scenes described in the thrillers?

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Thriller 2Thriller 2

Function 1: to distract your mind from your Function 1: to distract your mind from your real life pressure?real life pressure?

Function 2: to enjoy the excitement invoked Function 2: to enjoy the excitement invoked by the imagination of the weird or gruesome?by the imagination of the weird or gruesome?

Function 3: to release some of our deep fears Function 3: to release some of our deep fears in an environment in which there is no worry in an environment in which there is no worry of our safety?of our safety?

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Thriller 3Thriller 3

The unconscious in human psychology (Freud) The unconscious in human psychology (Freud) vs. the Enlightenment exaltation of reasonvs. the Enlightenment exaltation of reason

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Freud (Freud ( 佛洛伊德佛洛伊德 ) 1) 1

Three major elements in the constitution of huThree major elements in the constitution of human subject:man subject:

-----superego (civilization; morality; education)-----superego (civilization; morality; education)-----ego (man’s basic biological need and pursuit)-----ego (man’s basic biological need and pursuit)-----id (the dark, beastly impulses in human-----id (the dark, beastly impulses in human psychology)psychology) Ex. Ex. Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeMr. Hyde ( ( 《化身博士》《化身博士》 ; ;

1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson 1886) by Robert Louis Stevenson

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Freud (Freud ( 佛洛伊德佛洛伊德 ) 2) 2

reality principle vs. pleasure principlereality principle vs. pleasure principle The extreme performance of pleasure principle The extreme performance of pleasure principle

will be destructionwill be destruction

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Paranoia (Paranoia ( 偏執狂,妄想症偏執狂,妄想症 ))

ParanoiaParanoia is a thought process believed to be h is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by eavily influenced by anxiety or fearanxiety or fear, often to th, often to the point of e point of irrationality and delusion irrationality and delusion (( 妄想;錯覺妄想;錯覺 )). P. Paranoid thinking typically includes persecutory aranoid thinking typically includes persecutory beliefs concerning a perceived threat towards obeliefs concerning a perceived threat towards oneself. Historically, this characterization was uneself. Historically, this characterization was used to describe any delusional state. (from sed to describe any delusional state. (from WikWikipediaipedia))

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alter ego alter ego 他我 他我 (( 另一個自我另一個自我 ))

An An alter egoalter ego (Latin, "the other I") is a (Latin, "the other I") is a second second selfself, which is believed to be distinct from a per, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. son's normal or original personality.

It is a concept indicating that good and evil exiIt is a concept indicating that good and evil exist within one person, constantly at war. st within one person, constantly at war.

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alter ego alter ego 他我 他我 (( 另一個自我另一個自我 ))

The title characters in Robert Louis StevensoThe title characters in Robert Louis Stevenson's thriller n's thriller Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeHyde (1886) represents a typical case of alter e(1886) represents a typical case of alter ego. go.

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The Wretched Life of The Wretched Life of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Orphaned child of traveling actorsOrphaned child of traveling actors The heavy gambling debt and the conflict with The heavy gambling debt and the conflict with

the well-off foster parents the well-off foster parents The subsequent disownment The subsequent disownment A successful editorA successful editor The marriage with his 13-year-old cousinThe marriage with his 13-year-old cousin The mysterious deathThe mysterious death Father of modern detective story Father of modern detective story

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Poe’s exploration of human Poe’s exploration of human psychologypsychology

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Further Associations:Further Associations:Multi-Person Point of ViewMulti-Person Point of View

Have you ever heard of the filmHave you ever heard of the film 《羅生門》 《羅生門》 (directed by(directed by 黑澤明黑澤明 )?)?

Do you have any idea of’ “Do you have any idea of’ “ 《雪山飛狐》 《雪山飛狐》 by by 金庸金庸 ??

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The textThe text

Poe’s vivid imagination of a psycho’s mind:Poe’s vivid imagination of a psycho’s mind:

-----The simultaneous awareness and denial of-----The simultaneous awareness and denial of

his illnesshis illness the weird fantasies the weird fantasies

-----The obsessive fear of the old man’s-----The obsessive fear of the old man’s

gazegaze

-----The extreme composure -----The extreme composure (( 沉著沉著 )) and and

discretion discretion (( 謹慎謹慎 )) in planning and execution in planning and execution

-----The panic or loss of control when things go wrong -----The panic or loss of control when things go wrong

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The narrator’s simultaneous The narrator’s simultaneous awareness and denial of his illnessawareness and denial of his illness

““TRUE! --nervous --very, very dreadfully TRUE! --nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am say that I am madmad? The disease had sharpened ? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I I heard all things in the heaven and in the earthheard all things in the heaven and in the earth. . I heard many things in hellI heard many things in hell. How, then, am I . How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.” how calmly I can tell you the whole story.” (1)(1)

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The narrator’s simultaneous The narrator’s simultaneous awareness and denial of his illnessawareness and denial of his illness

““You fancy me mad. You fancy me mad. MadmenMadmen know nothing. know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! . . . . Ha! would dissimulation I went to work! . . . . Ha! would a a madmanmadman have been so wise as this . . . .” have been so wise as this . . . .” (2)(2)

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The narrator’s simultaneous The narrator’s simultaneous awareness and denial of his illnessawareness and denial of his illness

““Never before that night had I felt the extent of Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers --of mymy own powers --of my sagacity sagacity.” .” (4)(4)

““And now have I not told you that what you And now have I not told you that what you mistake for mistake for madnessmadness is but over-acuteness of is but over-acuteness of the sense?” the sense?” (10)(10)

““If still you think me If still you think me madmad, you will think so no , you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body.” took for the concealment of the body.” (12)(12)

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CompulsionCompulsion

It seems the narrator compulsively It seems the narrator compulsively (( 不由自主地不由自主地 )) stre stresses the discretion and precaution of his action sses the discretion and precaution of his action over and over again to prove his sanity. over and over again to prove his sanity.

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The narrator’s obsessive fear of the The narrator’s obsessive fear of the old man’s gazeold man’s gaze

““I think it was his I think it was his eye eye (( 眼神眼神 )) ! yes, it was this! H! yes, it was this! He had e had the eye of a vulturethe eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, wit --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my h a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradublood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the ally --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” ” (2)(2)

無所遁形無所遁形 ??

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The narrator’s obsessive fear of the The narrator’s obsessive fear of the old man’s gazeold man’s gaze

““And this I did for seven long nights --every And this I did for seven long nights --every night just at midnight --but I found night just at midnight --but I found the eye the eye always closedalways closed; and so it was impossible to do ; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his vexed me, but his Evil EyeEvil Eye.” .” (3)(3)

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The narrator’s obsessive fear of the The narrator’s obsessive fear of the old man’s gazeold man’s gaze

The narrator’s fear of the old man’s eye is The narrator’s fear of the old man’s eye is actually actually the fear of the inner dark side of the fear of the inner dark side of himselfhimself and his desire to kill the eye is his hard and his desire to kill the eye is his hard try try to kill the dark force in himto kill the dark force in him..

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The fear of the old man’s eye or the The fear of the old man’s eye or the fear of himself?fear of himself?

““I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew I knew what the old man feltwhat the old man felt, and pitied him, although , and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart.” I chuckled at heart.” (8)(8)

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The old man as the narrator’s alter The old man as the narrator’s alter egoego

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The extreme composure The extreme composure ((沉著沉著 )) and and discretion discretion ((謹慎謹慎 )) in planning and executi in planning and executi

onon ““You should have seen how wisely I proceedeYou should have seen how wisely I proceede

d --with what caution --with what foresight --d --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation with what dissimulation (( 掩飾掩飾 )) I went to work! . . I went to work! . . . Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunn. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, veingly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old mry slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep. It took me an hour to place my wholan's sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed.” e him as he lay upon his bed.” (3)(3)

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The panic or loss of control when The panic or loss of control when things go wrongthings go wrong

““It was It was the beating of the old man's heartthe beating of the old man's heart. It . It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.” stimulates the soldier into courage.” (10)(10)

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The panic or loss of control when The panic or loss of control when things go wrongthings go wrong

““It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cosound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers tton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. …"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissembheard it not. …"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planle no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous ks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!" heart!" (17-18)(17-18)

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The narrator’s confessionThe narrator’s confession

The narrator finally breaks down when he fails The narrator finally breaks down when he fails in his try to conquer the fear in him. in his try to conquer the fear in him.

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QuestionsQuestions

What do you think is the sound the narrator What do you think is the sound the narrator hears when he is going to kill the old man?hears when he is going to kill the old man?

What do you think is the sound the narrator What do you think is the sound the narrator takes as the old man’s heart beat even though takes as the old man’s heart beat even though he knows clearly that the latter is already he knows clearly that the latter is already dead?dead?

Why Poe chooses to employ the first-person Why Poe chooses to employ the first-person point of view to narrate this story?point of view to narrate this story?

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An Extra NoteAn Extra Note

Our journalists’ poor performance by asking thOur journalists’ poor performance by asking the perpetrator e perpetrator (( 犯案者犯案者 )) : “Do you regret of doing s : “Do you regret of doing so?” o?”

The detective’s imitation (imagination) of the The detective’s imitation (imagination) of the perpetrator’s psychological condition in his/heperpetrator’s psychological condition in his/her effort to solve the crime. r effort to solve the crime.

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Further Associations:Further Associations:Other Short Stories by PoeOther Short Stories by Poe

““The Cask of Amontillado”The Cask of Amontillado” 《阿蒙地拉多桶《阿蒙地拉多桶酒酒 》》

““The Purloined Letter”The Purloined Letter” 《失竊的信》 《失竊的信》

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Further Associations: Further Associations:

British film director Alfred Hitchcock (British film director Alfred Hitchcock ( 希區希區考克考克 ; 1899 –1980 ) and his film ; 1899 –1980 ) and his film PsychoPsycho (( 驚魂驚魂記記 ))

based on the 1959 novel of the same name by based on the 1959 novel of the same name by Robert Bloch loosely inspired by the crimes of Robert Bloch loosely inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein.Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed Gein.

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PsychoPsycho ((驚魂記驚魂記 ))

The film centers on the encounter between a seThe film centers on the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who ends up at cretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who ends up at a secluded motel after embezzling money from a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel‘s disturbed her employer, and the motel‘s disturbed (( 有精神障有精神障

礙的礙的 )) owner-manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), owner-manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and its aftermath. and its aftermath.

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Association: Association: The Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the Lambs

a 1991 American thriller film (a 1991 American thriller film ( 沉默的羔羊沉默的羔羊 ) t) that blends elements of the crime and horror gehat blends elements of the crime and horror genres nres

The film is based on Thomas Harris 1988 noveThe film is based on Thomas Harris 1988 novel of the same name, his second to feature Hannl of the same name, his second to feature Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. istic serial killer.

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Association: Association: The Silence of the LambsThe Silence of the Lambs

Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring JodiDirected by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn.e Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn.

In the film, Clarice Starling, a young U.S. FBI In the film, Clarice Starling, a young U.S. FBI trainee, seeks the advice of the imprisoned Dr. trainee, seeks the advice of the imprisoned Dr. Lecter to apprehend another serial killer, knowLecter to apprehend another serial killer, known only as "Buffalo Bill". n only as "Buffalo Bill".

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Thank You


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