The Tell-Tale Heart is a short story that was written by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1843. It tells a short story about the narrator who kills an old man and hides his dismembered body under the floorboards. It is considered as one the best Gothic fiction ...Read More
The Tell-Tale Heart is a short story that was written by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1843. It tells a short story about the narrator who kills an old man and hides his dismembered body under the floorboards. It is considered as one the best Gothic fiction stories ever written. It gives a detailed and chilling narration of the narrator planned and executed a murder without any clear motive. Because it is one of Poe’s greatest works, students usually have to write work on The Tell-Tale Heart essay topics. Knowing how to start this essay can determine whether the essay will be a great one or not. Sample papers on The Tell-Tale Heart essay topics can be used to write an interesting outline of the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Hook Examples for "The Tell-Tale Heart" Essays
Opening Quote Hook
"True! Nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?" - Edgar Allan Poe, in his chilling tale, "The Tell-Tale Heart." This quote sets the eerie tone for our exploration of the narrator's descent into madness.
Character Analysis Hook
Enter the disturbed mind of the protagonist in "The Tell-Tale Heart." We'll dissect the intricate layers of his character, examining the psychological elements that drive him to commit an unthinkable act.
Setting Description Hook
Step into the old, dimly lit house where the events of "The Tell-Tale Heart" unfold. The setting itself becomes a character, shrouded in darkness and echoing with the beating heart of paranoia.
Mystery and Suspense Hook
Imagine a heartbeat, steadily growing louder, each thump intensifying the tension. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe masterfully weaves mystery and suspense into every paragraph. Let's uncover the secrets hidden within the story's pages.
Psychological Thriller Hook
Prepare yourself for a journey into the mind of madness. "The Tell-Tale Heart" is not just a story; it's a psychological thriller that explores the blurred lines between sanity and insanity.
Symbolism Hook
The "evil eye," a vulture-like eye, serves as a powerful symbol in Poe's tale. We'll delve into the symbolism behind this eye and its significance in the narrative.
Moral Dilemma Hook
Is the narrator justified in his actions, driven by an obsession with the old man's eye? Explore the moral and ethical dilemmas posed by "The Tell-Tale Heart," where right and wrong blur into madness.
Author's Influence Hook
Discover the life of Edgar Allan Poe and how his personal experiences may have influenced the creation of "The Tell-Tale Heart." The author's own struggles with mental health add depth to the story.
Comparative Analysis Hook
Compare "The Tell-Tale Heart" with other works by Edgar Allan Poe, such as "The Raven" or "The Fall of the House of Usher." Analyze common themes and literary techniques used by the author.
Legacy of Fear Hook
More than a century after its publication, "The Tell-Tale Heart" continues to haunt readers. Explore the lasting legacy of fear and fascination that this short story has left on the world of literature.
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The Narrator, The Old Man, the 3 Policemen, a neighbor
Based on
Inspired by the murder of Joseph White of Salem, Massachusetts.
Symbols/motives
Murder, horror, fear, criminal. The symbols also include The Eye, which represents an awareness, The Heart stands for intelligence, the Blue Eyes as the listener, and the House, which is the sense of guilt.
Influence
It is a classic horror story that tells about illustration, effective composition, and the power of the short story. It is also an example of confession and the state of madness. In a certain sense, it can be disputed regarding the sanity of the main protagonist, which even makes this short story even more influential.
Plot
The short story revolves around the man who wants to murder another person, yet strives for not getting caught or punished. It is the story of the perfect crime that fails. The killer in the story is never seen, yet only felt. It tells about the deranged border agent who wants to kill the landlord but not because of money or greed. It has a complex psychology dealing with the "evil eye", which also stands for the truth.
Interesting facts
It is unclear whether the old man is the father figure since we do not know if he and the killer are related.
This short story is considered a classic example of the Gothic fiction genre.
The reason behind this story's popularity is a great hook when a man confesses about planning a murder.
The story has not been considered a success when it has been first published.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has been particularly inspired by this story's writing style.
The Poe himself called his psychological torment style an "Arabesque".
The Tell-Tale heart also symbolizes the complex relationship between the guilt and innocence.
Quotes
"It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night."
"Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded—with what caution—with what foresight—with what dissimulation I went to work!"
"And this I did for seven long nights—every night just at midnight—but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye."
"It was open—wide, wide open—and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness—all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot."
"Almighty God!—no, no! They heard!—they suspected!—they knew!—they were making a mockery of my horror!—this I thought, and this I think."
Why is this topic important
It is the madness and the fear of punishment. The short story goes quite deep in terms of things that take place inside the criminal's mind, which is why it is a great analytical literary example. One can assume that we talk about disorganized schizophrenia, speaking of a mental disease.
Why should this topic be used
Since it has been one of the most popular criminal stories to ever grace the literary works written in English, this short story can be used as the essay topic dealing with the guilt, innocence, planning something bad, finding punishment, and seeking attention. It can also be used as the allegory for prejudice and anger. It is read in high school and colleges because it also has a great composition and suspense structure.
What is the conclusion?
The conclusion tells about complete insanity of the narrator as the description of the murder in detail is represented. The moral lesson is that one cannot hide from one's conscience.
References
1. Robinson, E. A. (1965). Poe's" The Tell-Tale Heart". Nineteenth-Century Fiction, 19(4), 369-378. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2932876)
2. Shen, D. (2008). Edgar Allan Poe's Aesthetic Theory, the Insanity Debate, and the Ethically Oriented Dynamics of “The Tell-Tale Heart”. Nineteenth-Century Literature, 63(3), 321-345. (https://online.ucpress.edu/ncl/article/63/3/321/67842/Edgar-Allan-Poe-s-Aesthetic-Theory-the-Insanity)
3. Pritchard, H. (2003). Poe's the Tell-Tale Heart. The Explicator, 61(3), 144-147. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00144940309597787?journalCode=vexp20)
4. Person, L. S. (2008). Queer Poe: The tell-tale heart of his fiction. Poe Studies, 41(1), 7-30. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/509582/summary)
5. Toikkanen, J. (2017). Auditory Images in Edgar Allan Poe's “The Tell-Tale Heart”. The Edgar Allan Poe Review, 18(1), 39-53. (https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/edgar-allan-poe/article-abstract/18/1/39/200624/Auditory-Images-in-Edgar-Allan-Poe-s-The-Tell-Tale)
6. Pitcher, E. W. (1979). The Physiognomical Meaning of Poe's" The Tell-Tale Heart". Studies in Short Fiction, 16(3), 231. (https://www.proquest.com/docview/1297934226?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true)
7. Bynum, P. M. (1989). Observe How Healthily—How Calmly I Can Tell You the Whole Story”: Moral Insanity and Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Tell-Tale Heart. Literature and Science as Modes of Expression, 141-152. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-009-2297-6_8)
8. Alsahafi, M. (2020). A Narrative Discourse Analysis of Poe's Short Story" The Tell-Tale Heart": Implications for Language Teaching. English Language Teaching, 13(1), 1-17. (https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1239146)
