The Tell Tale HeartThe Tell Tale Heart

By Edgar Allan PoeBy Edgar Allan Poe

Power Point PresentationPower Point Presentationonon

The Tell Tale Heart The Tell Tale Heart asas

Presented byPresented by Rita Higgins, Instructor Rita Higgins, Instructor

Humanities DivisionHumanities DivisionEssex County CollegeEssex County College

Bonaparte or Poe?Bonaparte or Poe?

How Does the Nervous System How Does the Nervous System Relate to the Story?Relate to the Story?

““Do You Think I’m Mad?”Do You Think I’m Mad?”Who is Speaking Here?Who is Speaking Here?

Is The Protagonist Male or Female?Is The Protagonist Male or Female?

Harken! And observe how Harken! And observe how healthily – how calmly I can…healthily – how calmly I can…

Do You Ear What I Ear?Do You Ear What I Ear?

Connect This Picture to the Story!Connect This Picture to the Story!

Can You Guess the Subject?Can You Guess the Subject?Can You Guess the Artist?Can You Guess the Artist?

How are Michelangelo and How are Michelangelo and Poe’s Works Combined in This Poe’s Works Combined in This

Painting?Painting?

How Does Van Gogh’s Picture Relate to How Does Van Gogh’s Picture Relate to the Story?the Story?

How Does This Picture How Does This Picture Relate?Relate?

A eye with a _____________over ItA eye with a _____________over It

How Does This Picture Relate To The How Does This Picture Relate To The Story?Story?

Perry Mason, “And Precisely Perry Mason, “And Precisely What Time Did the Protagonist What Time Did the Protagonist

Enter the Old Man’s Room Enter the Old Man’s Room Every Night?Every Night?

Enter Exhibit A: What is this Enter Exhibit A: What is this and what part does it play in and what part does it play in

the story?the story?

How Does This Picture Relate?How Does This Picture Relate?How does it not Relate?How does it not Relate?

Remember, You’re Under Oath!Remember, You’re Under Oath!

What Are These Witnesses What Are These Witnesses Reenacting? What’s the Reenacting? What’s the

Symbolism?Symbolism?

Enter Exhibit B: How Does This Enter Exhibit B: How Does This Picture Relate to the Story?Picture Relate to the Story?

Your Honor, I enter exhibit C. Your Honor, I enter exhibit C. Discuss if this evidence is relevant Discuss if this evidence is relevant

to the story. to the story.

One Witness Testified that he One Witness Testified that he heard the protagonist scream, heard the protagonist scream,

“Tear up the…“Tear up the…

What Did The Protagonist What Did The Protagonist Think The Police Would Find? Think The Police Would Find?

Why?Why?

DefenseDefense

Let’s not be too hasty in condemning the Let’s not be too hasty in condemning the protagonist. Actually, The Tell Tale Heart protagonist. Actually, The Tell Tale Heart has been researched for facts based on has been researched for facts based on historical data. Critical analysis of the historical data. Critical analysis of the story raises an interesting question. The story raises an interesting question. The murderer was afraid of the old man’s murderer was afraid of the old man’s eye, but why? Look at the next picture eye, but why? Look at the next picture and see if you can guess the commonly and see if you can guess the commonly held belief that was popular in Poe’s held belief that was popular in Poe’s time. time.

An Ancient Argument in the An Ancient Argument in the Protagonist’s Defense – Can you Guess Protagonist’s Defense – Can you Guess

What it is?What it is?

Exhibit B in Defendant’s Exhibit B in Defendant’s ArgumentArgument

A Universal SuperstitionA Universal Superstition

Remember our Protagonist Who Is on Remember our Protagonist Who Is on Trial?Trial?

Remember he claimed to have Loved Remember he claimed to have Loved the old man? Do you buy his story? the old man? Do you buy his story?

Why or why not?Why or why not?

Remember that while the old Remember that while the old man was indeed old…man was indeed old…

He Still Had A Life!He Still Had A Life!

92 year old 92 year old girlfriend, girlfriend, Betty.Betty.

One good eye One good eye in sound in sound working working condition.condition.

Motor bike Motor bike enthusiast.enthusiast.

The Prosecutor’s ArgumentThe Prosecutor’s Argument

Perry Mason is incensed that the Perry Mason is incensed that the defending attorney would use the defending attorney would use the old, “It’s okay to kill someone if you old, “It’s okay to kill someone if you are superstitious” trick.are superstitious” trick.

Based on moral argument, Mason Based on moral argument, Mason shows the jury alternatives the shows the jury alternatives the defendant could have taken. Let’s defendant could have taken. Let’s see if you can guess what they are…see if you can guess what they are…

I submit to the jury, that if the defendant did I submit to the jury, that if the defendant did indeed love the old man as he claimed, then indeed love the old man as he claimed, then why didn’t he show it by taking an alternate why didn’t he show it by taking an alternate

route to murder?route to murder?

Let’s Get Some AssistanceLet’s Get Some Assistance

My English 088 Class thought of the My English 088 Class thought of the following two alternatives. Let’s see following two alternatives. Let’s see if you can guess what they are based if you can guess what they are based on the following slides…on the following slides…

The Prosecution Argues: The Prosecution Argues: Alternative To Murder – Hint 1Alternative To Murder – Hint 1

Alternative #2 Alternative #2 Small HintSmall Hint

Okay, Bigger HintOkay, Bigger Hint

Biggest HintBiggest HintWhat could the defendant have done What could the defendant have done

instead of killing the oldinstead of killing the old man?man?

Correct!Correct!

He could He could have have forced forced the old the old man to man to becombecome a e a cowbocowboy.y.

Strike the last file from the records for Strike the last file from the records for being____ topic.being____ topic. The alternative is obvious, The alternative is obvious, ladies and gentlemen…PIRATISM…aargh!ladies and gentlemen…PIRATISM…aargh!

But the defendant considered But the defendant considered no other alternatives.no other alternatives.

Hummmm…Hummmm…

Let’s consider some of the Let’s consider some of the alternatives proposed by my creative alternatives proposed by my creative writing students…writing students…

Can you guess what they proposed Can you guess what they proposed as an alternative to killing the old as an alternative to killing the old man?man?

Alternative To Murder – Hint Alternative To Murder – Hint 33

Alternative To Murder – Hint Alternative To Murder – Hint 44

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I submit to you, two apple corers and submit to you, two apple corers and

one lemon zester!one lemon zester!

By Reason of _______, The JuryBy Reason of _______, The JuryFinds the DefendantFinds the Defendant

To be Vincent Price?To be Vincent Price?

Bette Davis?Bette Davis?

The Verdict?The Verdict?

Most people would find the Most people would find the defendant to be something. Based defendant to be something. Based on what you know about our on what you know about our collective culture and society in collective culture and society in general, what do you believe the general, what do you believe the probable verdict would be based on probable verdict would be based on the evidence?the evidence?

The Defense’s Final Plea: Can You guess by The Defense’s Final Plea: Can You guess by the picture what it is?the picture what it is?

The Defendant’s Aberrant The Defendant’s Aberrant BrainBrain

We The Jury, Find the We The Jury, Find the Defendant to be Criminally Defendant to be Criminally

____________!____________!

The Tell Tale Heart The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poeby Edgar Allan Poe

asasPresented byPresented by

Rita Higgins, Instructor Rita Higgins, InstructorHumanities DivisionHumanities Division

Essex County CollegeEssex County CollegeThank YouThank You