“tell-tale heart” by edgar allan poe (1809-1849)

““Tell-Tale Heart”Tell-Tale Heart”

By Edgar Allan PoeBy Edgar Allan Poe

(1809-1849)(1809-1849)

““Tell-Tale Heart”Tell-Tale Heart”by Edgar Allan Poeby Edgar Allan Poe

I. Short StoryI. Short StoryA. Theme of story: A. Theme of story: Imagination many times exaggerates what you see or Imagination many times exaggerates what you see or hear, to seem more than it is. Suspense and mystery add to simple, strange hear, to seem more than it is. Suspense and mystery add to simple, strange doings!doings!

B. Narrator: B. Narrator: speaker or character who tells the story speaker or character who tells the storyC. Narrator of story: C. Narrator of story: the man who murdered, who suffers from the man who murdered, who suffers from “overacuteness of the senses” and claims NOT to be mad or insane is the “overacuteness of the senses” and claims NOT to be mad or insane is the narrator. He is unnerving and peculiar.narrator. He is unnerving and peculiar.

C. Setting of story: C. Setting of story: an old house on a dark night, in the bedroom of an old an old house on a dark night, in the bedroom of an old man with a funny eyeman with a funny eye

D. Protagonist: D. Protagonist: the main character in a literary work (the murderer/narrator) the main character in a literary work (the murderer/narrator)

E. Antagonist: E. Antagonist: the force in conflict with the main character (the old man) the force in conflict with the main character (the old man)


F. Characterization: F. Characterization: the art of creating or developing a the art of creating or developing a charactercharacterG. Characterization of story: G. Characterization of story:

1. Narrator/murderer = mad, insane, unnerving, peculiar1. Narrator/murderer = mad, insane, unnerving, peculiar2. hates the “vulture eye”, obsessed, 2. hates the “vulture eye”, obsessed,

3. dangerous, controlled, instability, proud, 3. dangerous, controlled, instability, proud, overconfident (direct characterization)overconfident (direct characterization)

H. direct characterization: H. direct characterization: the writer or poet states the the writer or poet states the character’s traitscharacter’s traits

I. mood or atmosphere of story: I. mood or atmosphere of story: talk of murder, horror, talk of murder, horror, eerie, eerie, unsettlingunsettling

J. suspense: J. suspense: the feelings of anxious uncertainty of the the feelings of anxious uncertainty of the outcomeoutcome


K. suspense of story: K. suspense of story: 1. p. 542 Poe comes out and tells the reader of a murder, 1. p. 542 Poe comes out and tells the reader of a murder,

but keeps suspense in describing how it occurred.but keeps suspense in describing how it occurred.

2. The old man heard something that last night (p. 544) 2. The old man heard something that last night (p. 544) and Poe creates much suspense in the and Poe creates much suspense in the

moment by moment by moment terror that the old man must be moment terror that the old man must be experiencing, as the narrator sees:experiencing, as the narrator sees:

a. Personifying death: (giving human qualities to non-a. Personifying death: (giving human qualities to non-human tings)human tings)

b. Vocabulary: stalking, black shadow, mournful, b. Vocabulary: stalking, black shadow, mournful, victimvictim

3. Poe’s description of sight, and sound help readers feel 3. Poe’s description of sight, and sound help readers feel the emotion—key elements in creating suspense.the emotion—key elements in creating suspense.

4. Showing, yet hiding details to create suspense, such as, 4. Showing, yet hiding details to create suspense, such as, whywhy does the murderer shine the light into the old does the murderer shine the light into the old

man’s eye?man’s eye?


II. More Terms:II. More Terms:A. Conflict: A. Conflict: a struggle between two opposing forcesa struggle between two opposing forcesB. Conflict of story: B. Conflict of story: the narrator vs. the old man’s eye (internal) the narrator vs. the old man’s eye (internal)

C. Climax: C. Climax: the peak or high point of interest in a storythe peak or high point of interest in a storyD. Climax of story: D. Climax of story: the narrator killed the old man by pulling the the narrator killed the old man by pulling the

heavy bed over on him and killing himheavy bed over on him and killing him

E. Resolution: E. Resolution: the solving of the conflict the solving of the conflictF. Resolution of story: F. Resolution of story: the narrator kept hearing heartbeats (the old the narrator kept hearing heartbeats (the old

man’s or his, in his guilt?) and confessed to the crimeman’s or his, in his guilt?) and confessed to the crime

G. Point of view: G. Point of view: the perspective or angle from which the story is told the perspective or angle from which the story is toldH. Point of view of story: H. Point of view of story: this story is told in the this story is told in the First PersonFirst Person point point

of view by the narratorof view by the narrator


III. More terms:III. More terms:A. Predictions and Outcomes:A. Predictions and Outcomes:

1. p. 542 The title “tell-tale” allows readers to predict 1. p. 542 The title “tell-tale” allows readers to predict that that something is revealed that is meant to be something is revealed that is meant to be

kept secretkept secret2. p. 545 The old man’s heart was beating/or the murderer’s 2. p. 545 The old man’s heart was beating/or the murderer’s

own, own, and the reader may predict that the killer will get and the reader may predict that the killer will get caught by caught by a sound—perhaps himself!a sound—perhaps himself!

3. p. 546 The killer’s madness will get him, not any 3. p. 546 The killer’s madness will get him, not any wonderful wonderful police work!police work!

IV. Notes:IV. Notes:A. Poe creates suspense by having the narrator confess his crimes right A. Poe creates suspense by having the narrator confess his crimes right

away, but giving a slow, detailed account of the crime. away, but giving a slow, detailed account of the crime. B. He also leaves the reader wondering about the sanity of the narrator, and B. He also leaves the reader wondering about the sanity of the narrator, and

whether or not he’ll be caught!whether or not he’ll be caught!

Poetry: Unit IVPoetry: Unit IV

““Silver”Silver”by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)by Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)

I. Poetry terms:I. Poetry terms:A. Theme of poem: A. Theme of poem: The poem speaks as a friend, telling something The poem speaks as a friend, telling something secret secret or surprising, like a secret language, to evoke a sense of or surprising, like a secret language, to evoke a sense of peacefulness or peacefulness or mystery.mystery.

B. Speaker of poem: B. Speaker of poem: the poet, Walter de la Mare is trying to the poet, Walter de la Mare is trying to express express his feelings about the beauty of the nighthis feelings about the beauty of the night

C.C. Sound Devices: Sound Devices: used to create musical effects in poems used to create musical effects in poems

D. Alliteration: D. Alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds to draw attention to repetition of initial consonant sounds to draw attention to words, ideas, to create musical effectswords, ideas, to create musical effects

E. Alliteration of poem: E. Alliteration of poem: 1. “slowly, silently, silver, shoon, she, silver, silver” lines 1-41. “slowly, silently, silver, shoon, she, silver, silver” lines 1-42. “casements, catch, couched, kennel” lines 5-82. “casements, catch, couched, kennel” lines 5-8 The poet uses alliteration to make the reader feel the same thingsThe poet uses alliteration to make the reader feel the same things


F. Repetition: F. Repetition: the use of more than one of any element of language, the use of more than one of any element of language, a word, phrase repeateda word, phrase repeated

G. Repetition of poem: G. Repetition of poem: 9 repeated uses of the word “silver” 9 repeated uses of the word “silver” throughout the poemthroughout the poem

H. Stanza of poem: H. Stanza of poem: one stanza, one division of 14 lines one stanza, one division of 14 lines

I. Rhyme scheme of poem: I. Rhyme scheme of poem: aabbccddeeffgg aabbccddeeffgg

J. Imagery of poem: J. Imagery of poem: use of sight words with “silver” to create a use of sight words with “silver” to create a magical image of the moonlight on the trees, dog, doves etc.magical image of the moonlight on the trees, dog, doves etc.

K. Personification: K. Personification: giving human qualities to non-human things giving human qualities to non-human thingsL. Personification of poem: L. Personification of poem:

1. the moon “walks” line 11. the moon “walks” line 12. the moon “peers” line 32. the moon “peers” line 3


II. More Poetry Terms:II. More Poetry Terms:A. simile: A. simile: comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”B. simile of poem: B. simile of poem: “…dog, couched in his kennel, like a “…dog, couched in his kennel, like a

log”log”

III. Notes:III. Notes:A. The use of the word “silver” is associated with silver, the A. The use of the word “silver” is associated with silver, the

precious metal. The poet describes a moonlit night precious metal. The poet describes a moonlit night as as the moon casts its silvery light on the earth—how the moon casts its silvery light on the earth—how

precious a sight, how lovely, how beautiful, and he precious a sight, how lovely, how beautiful, and he shares this!shares this!

B. The repetition of “silver” creates the special silver of B. The repetition of “silver” creates the special silver of nature, the magical landscape, gleaming as special nature, the magical landscape, gleaming as special things do.things do.

““Forgotten Language”Forgotten Language”by Shel Silverstein (1932-200?by Shel Silverstein (1932-200?

I. Poetry Terms:I. Poetry Terms:A. Theme of poem: A. Theme of poem: The reader is reminded of the limitless The reader is reminded of the limitless possibilities of possibilities of a world when it is seen through the eyes of a small a world when it is seen through the eyes of a small child—a secret or child—a secret or surprise that we’ve forgotten, and now want to surprise that we’ve forgotten, and now want to share!share!

B. Speaker: B. Speaker: the imaginary voice assumed by the writer, and usually the imaginary voice assumed by the writer, and usually a a character who tells the poemcharacter who tells the poemC. Speaker of poem: C. Speaker of poem: the poet, Shel Silverstein is the speakerthe poet, Shel Silverstein is the speaker

D. Stanza of poem: D. Stanza of poem: a division of a seven-line poem called a a division of a seven-line poem called a heptastichheptastich that ends with a two-line poem called a that ends with a two-line poem called a couplet.couplet.

E. Repetition of poem: E. Repetition of poem: 1. “Once I…” is repeated four times (lines 1,2,3,5,7)1. “Once I…” is repeated four times (lines 1,2,3,5,7)2. “How did it go?” repeated in lines 8-92. “How did it go?” repeated in lines 8-9

****repetition emphasizes that these things happened long ago, and ****repetition emphasizes that these things happened long ago, and it’s hard to remember—it’s the unspoken language of the heart!it’s hard to remember—it’s the unspoken language of the heart!

““Forgotten Language”Forgotten Language”by Shel Silverstein (19-----by Shel Silverstein (19-----

II. More Terms:II. More Terms:A. Alliteration of poem: A. Alliteration of poem:

1. “…smiled in secret…” line 31. “…smiled in secret…” line 32. “questions of the crickets” line 52. “questions of the crickets” line 53. “falling dying flake of snow” line 63. “falling dying flake of snow” line 6

B. rhyme scheme of poem: B. rhyme scheme of poem: abcbdefggabcbdefgg

C. Inferences: C. Inferences: drawing conclusions based on information drawing conclusions based on information givengiven

D. Inferences of poem: D. Inferences of poem: the last two lines infer that now the last two lines infer that now that the speaker has grown, he’s lost the ability to that the speaker has grown, he’s lost the ability to communicate with nature.communicate with nature.

““Drum Song”Drum Song”by Wendy Rose (1948 - )by Wendy Rose (1948 - )

I. Poetry Terms:I. Poetry Terms:A. Theme of poem: A. Theme of poem: Set to the beating of an imaginary drum, this Set to the beating of an imaginary drum, this poem poem expresses the relationship of animals and humans to nature, and that expresses the relationship of animals and humans to nature, and that they must follow they must follow nature’s rhythms in order to survive. nature’s rhythms in order to survive. Rhythms and Rhythms and patterns in life are important patterns in life are important for understanding.for understanding.

B. Speaker of poem: B. Speaker of poem: the poet, Wendy Rose the poet, Wendy Rose

C. Stanza of poem: C. Stanza of poem: a division of a seven-line poem called a heptastich ending a division of a seven-line poem called a heptastich ending with a with a nine-line stanza.nine-line stanza.

D. Repetition of poem: D. Repetition of poem: 1. 1. “Listen” is repeated (line 1,8,14, 21) at the beginning of each stanza “Listen” is repeated (line 1,8,14, 21) at the beginning of each stanza

to emphasize the reader to listen for the rhythm of life described to emphasize the reader to listen for the rhythm of life described in each stanzain each stanza

2. it emphasizes the importance of the message2. it emphasizes the importance of the message

E. Alliteration of poem: E. Alliteration of poem: 1. “go slow, go steady” line 41. “go slow, go steady” line 4

2. “bush to burrow” line 172. “bush to burrow” line 173. “mesa to mesa” line 243. “mesa to mesa” line 24

““Drum Song”Drum Song”by Wendy Rose (1948 - )by Wendy Rose (1948 - )

F. rhythm of poem: F. rhythm of poem: the drum is the pulse of daily the drum is the pulse of daily rhythms and how daily living things go about rhythms and how daily living things go about their daily business “from rock to water to their daily business “from rock to water to

land land to rock to water”; “mesa to mesa”to rock to water”; “mesa to mesa”

G. metaphor: G. metaphor: comparing two unlike things NOT comparing two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as”using “like” or “as”

H. metaphor of poem: H. metaphor of poem: the drum beating is the the drum beating is the pulse of life (extended) throughout the poempulse of life (extended) throughout the poem

i. rhymes scheme of poem: i. rhymes scheme of poem: no pattern set no pattern set

““If I Can Stop one Heart If I Can Stop one Heart from Breaking”from Breaking”by Emily Dickenson (1830-1886)by Emily Dickenson (1830-1886)

I. Poetry Terms:I. Poetry Terms:A. Theme of poem: A. Theme of poem: The poetry was meant to touch the lives of The poetry was meant to touch the lives of others and help others and help them, and by her (Dickinson’s) example, offers the them, and by her (Dickinson’s) example, offers the reader ways to reach out to reader ways to reach out to others in positive ways, and life will others in positive ways, and life will never be “in vain” or “a waste”.never be “in vain” or “a waste”.

B. Speaker of poem: B. Speaker of poem: the poet, Emily Dickinson, is the speaker the poet, Emily Dickinson, is the speaker

C. Stanza of poem: C. Stanza of poem: the formal division of a four-line stanza called a the formal division of a four-line stanza called a quatrainquatrain followed followed by a three-line stanza called a by a three-line stanza called a tercet.tercet.

D. Rhyme scheme of poem: D. Rhyme scheme of poem: abababababbabb

E. repetition of poem: E. repetition of poem: 1. “If I…..” repeated lines 1,31. “If I…..” repeated lines 1,32. “I shall…..in vain” repeated line 2, 72. “I shall…..in vain” repeated line 2, 7

*****this repetition tells the reader that this is important, and the poet wanted her life *****this repetition tells the reader that this is important, and the poet wanted her life to mean something, to make a differenceto mean something, to make a difference

“tell-tale heart” by edgar allan poe (1809-1849)

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