The Tell-Tale Heart Topics for Further Study

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Topics for Further Study

(Short Stories for Students)

Research the illnesses of schizophrenia and paranoia. Do you think the protagonist suffers from either of these conditions? Why or why not?
Research how Manifest Destiny was a pervasive ideology in mid-nineteenth century America. How does ‘‘The Tell-Tale Heart’’ challenge the rationalism and optimism of a young nation?
"‘The Tell-Tale Heart’’ was written more than 150 years ago. Why do you think it is still widely read today? What are some elements of the story which make it timeless? What makes a classic literary or artistic work?

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In what way is Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' told differently from many other narratives?

In order to see the difference between this short story and other narratives, it would be helpful to consider the how a typical narrative is written. By nature, narratives are meant to tell a...
What is the theme for "The Tell-Tale Heart?"

The thematic subject may be guilt, but the theme is that the human heart cannot endure the burden of guilt, especially in the case of murder. The guilty must confess somehow or be consumed by...
In "The Tell-Tale Heart," is the narrator considered reliable or unreliable?

The narrator is a classic example of an unreliable narrator, because he is telling the entire story himself and there is no objective narration to back up his assertions. The first lines of the...
What does the beating heart symbolize in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

That's an excellent question, and one which has plagued readers of Poe's story since its publication. Frankly, there are a number of ways we can understanding what the beating heart symbolizes in...
What are three examples of irony in the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe?

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe uses irony to help develop suspense. Much of this irony is dramatic irony--situations in which characters are unaware of information to which the reader is privy....