Uncovering Theme in The Tell-Tale Heart
aligned to 2. determine Two Or More Themes Or Central Ideas Of A Text And Analyze Their Development Over The Course Of The Text, Including How They Interact And Build On One Another To Produce A Complex Account; Provide An Objective Summary Of The Text.
Learning Objective
I can determine a theme in "The Tell-Tale Heart" and analyze how it develops throughout the story.
Lesson Flow
Watch Video
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe -- Short Story Film -- 1971 [B/W]
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Guided Notes
Key concepts students will learn:
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The narrator insists he is not mad, but rather that his senses have been sharpened.
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The narrator is driven to murder the old man because of his evil eye, not out of hatred or greed.
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The narrator confesses to the crime because he is driven mad by the sound of the old man's heartbeat, which grows louder and louder until he can no longer bear it.
Practice
3 questions • Multiple choice & Short answer
Exit Ticket
“What is one theme present in "The Tell-Tale Heart"? Explain how the narrator's actions and thoughts throughout the story develop this theme.”
Teacher Guide
Get the complete package:
- Answer keys for all questions
- Differentiation strategies
- Extension activities
- Printable student handouts
