Task One: READ ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’
This is an extract from a short story. The narrator has murdered an old man and hidden his body under the floorboards. The Tell-Tale Heart: Edgar Allan Poe I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all of the body. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye – not even his – could have detected anything wrong. There was nothing to wash out – no stain of any kind – no blood-spot whatever. I had been too careful for that. When I had finished this task, it was four o’clock – still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it without fear, for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been told to the police, and they (the officers) had been sent to search the premises. I smiled, for what had I to fear? I welcomed the gentlemen to my home. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I said, was absent in the
countryside. I took my visitors all over the house. I told them to search thoroughly. I led them to his bedroom. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the
room and invited them to rest from their work, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own above the very spot where the corpse of the victim was. The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I relaxed. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted about familiar things. But, before long, I felt myself getting pale and wished they would leave. My head ached, and I imagined a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: it continued and became louder: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and became even louder – until I thought that the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt I now grew very pale; but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased – and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound – like the sound as a watch makes. I gasped for breath – and yet the officers did not hear it. I talked more quickly; but the noise steadily increased. I got up and argued about small things, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not
leave? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides and still the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed – I shouted – I swore! I moved the chair upon which I had been sitting, and dragged it on the floorboards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder – louder – louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they could not hear it? Almighty God! – no, no! They heard! – they suspected! – they knew! – they were making a mockery of my horror! But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this mocking! I could not stand their fake smiles any longer. I felt that I must scream or die! and now – again! louder! louder! louder! louder!
“Villains!” I shrieked, “wait no more! I admit the deed! – tear up the planks! here, here! – It is the beating of his hideous heart!”
ANSWER these questions about the text
To prove your understanding, answer these questions about the text in your
notebook.
1. Where does the narrator hide the old man’s body?
2. What time did the officers arrive?
3. Was the narrator nervous at first?
4. Did the officers suspect anything after they’d been shown around the
house?
5. Where was the noise coming from?
6. Does the noise get louder or quieter?
7. What does the narrator do at the end of the story?
8. Can the other people in the room really hear the noise?
