March 9, 2011

Literature: Finish “The Tell-Tale Heart”

New Story: “All Summer in a Day”

Housekeeping

• Hand in vocab paragraph

“The Tell-Tale Heart” Literary Elements Activity

You will need:

• “The Tell Tale Heart” Story and Questions

• Handout: “Reviewing Story Elements”

• Handout: “Fiction Terms”

“The Tell-Tale Heart” Literary Elements Activity

• In your assigned group, work through the questions on “Reviewing Story Elements.” (Not for marks; for study purposes)– Discuss how each element applies to the story “The Tell-

Tale Heart.” – Refer to the “Fiction Terms” handout as needed.– Refer to the information on Point of View on the bottom

of p. 143 of “The Tell Tale Heart” questions handout.– Ask me for help/clarification as needed.– If you disagree with your group, make note on your sheet

and we will discuss

• Time: 30 minutes

Class Review of Literary Elements

Point of View (POV )• First person point of view, probably male• We know the narrrator/character’s thoughts and

feelings directly.• We can only take his word for it that the events are true• he is an “unreliable narrator” – a narrator whose

version of the story details may be misleading • we don’t have any description about him, we don’t

know what he looks like, or any background information about him or the setting

Class Review of Literary Elements

Setting • in the bedroom of the old man, in a house• probably North America• probably early 20th or late 19th century (he uses a non-

electric lamp)• It could happen anywhere because it is about the

mind of the narrator• But it needs to take place where the two men live

together or near each other so that the narrator has easy access to the old man’s room

Class Review (Cont’d.)

Characters - is the narrator round or flat?• evidence for round – we have lots of info: we know

everything in his mind over lots of time – you feel that you know the character- understand how he/she feels and can predict what he tries to do next – first person pov helps to know him

• evidence for flat – all we know is that he is crazy – he’s focused on killing the old man – obsessed about that one thing. - his main quality is his selfishness and arrogance

Class Review (Cont’d.)

Characters Dynamic vs. Static• Evidence for Dynamic – confesses his secret to

the police - due to his increasing madness more than guilt

• Evidence for Static – he wanted to commit the murder and he did it; he doesn’t regret it – he would probably do it again; he is proud of himself and what he has done; he doesn’t think he did anything wrong; his insanity made him confess

Class Review (Cont’d.)Conflict • internal conflict – character vs. himself

– narrator vs. his mental condition (to kill or not, to keep his secret or not)– narrator vs. his feelings/decision toward the old man (attraction vs. anger)

• external conflict = character vs. character – narrator vs. eye/old man– narrator vs. policeman

Foreshadowing – “I can tell you how calmly” –this suggests he will tell us something that

would normally be difficult to do calmly– he makes several similar statements about the way he does things

Class Review (Cont’d.)Outcome • Negative

– he got caught – he didn’t get away with his crime

• Positve– his confession relieved him of his mental pain– He got rid of the pressure of the eye; he was satisfied with his actions

Theme

• Sometimes we can harm others without an acceptable reason.• It is difficult to live with your crimes, sooner or later they will emerge.

(Other themes are possible, but they must be based on the details and overall meaning of the story)

In-class Activity: For Discussion, p. 143

• Complete Question 2 and 4 and on your own. (5 marks each = /10 marks)

• Title your work “The Tell-Tale Heart” – For Discussion.

• Write your name on the top right hand corner.• Time: 30 minutes

Homework

For Wednesday, March 16 - “All Summer in a Day”

1. Read the story on your own to get the overall meaning. Then re-read it, looking up new words and paying attention to details and looking up words you cannot figure out on your own.

2. Complete “Reviewing Story Elements” sheet by making point-form notes in response to each question. Be prepared to discuss your ideas in class.