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- 1. Multiple Choice
Foreshadowing occurs when a writer provides hints that suggest future events in a story, and it can help create suspense.
How does the narrator’s mention of his acute hearing in paragraph 1 foreshadow the old man’s death?
It foreshadows the point when the old man’s heartbeat drives the narrator to kill him.
It foreshadows his ability to hear the police coming when they respond to the old man’s murder.
It foreshadows his decision to murder the old man because he was tired of listening to him.
It foreshadows the moment when the old man hears the narrator at the door and wakes up.
- 2. Multiple Choice
The use of a first-person narrator in the story —
allows readers to understand each character’s point of view
helps to explain how the characters are related to each other
gives readers insight into the narrator’s mental instability
illustrates how the old man treats the narrator every day
- 3. Multiple Choice
Choose the two lines from the story that best support the following idea:
The narrator cannot escape his guilty conscience.
I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observation of men—but the noise steadily increased.
Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me.
. . . . I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work. . . . .
. . . . I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness— until at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.
- 4. Multiple Choice
Choose the two lines from the story that best support the following idea:
The murder does not have a traditional motive.
I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observation of men—but the noise steadily increased.
Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me.
. . . . I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work. . . . .
. . . . I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness— until at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.
- 5. Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes a major theme of the story?
Honesty can relieve you of your guilt and help you feel better.
Fear can shape how we see things and how we act.
Our sanity is determined by how we react to different situations.
The truth is a matter of personal perception and beliefs.
- 6. Multiple Choice
Which of the following quotes provides the best support for the following theme/main idea:
Fear can shape how we see things and how we act.
“Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees — very gradually — I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever.” (Paragraph 2)
“Yes, he has been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions; but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him, had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim.” (Paragraph 7)
“As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, — for what had I now to fear?” (Paragraph 14)
“I gasped for breath — and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly — more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased.” (Paragraph 17)
- 7. Multiple Choice
In the story, what causes the conflict between the narrator and the old man?
The narrator and the old man resent having to live together because of the narrator’s disease, and so the narrator decides to murder the old man.
The narrator is driven mad by the sound of a heart beating beneath the floorboards, and this causes him to kill the old man.
The narrator watches the old man sleep, and when the terrified old man discovers this, the narrator kills him to keep his madness hidden.
The narrator is terrified of the old man’s blue eye and overwhelmed by the sound of his heartbeat, so the narrator kills the old man.
- 8. Multiple Choice
Which of the following quotes best illustrates the following conflict:
The narrator is terrified of the old man’s blue eye and overwhelmed by the sound of his heartbeat, so the narrator kills the old man.
“The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell.” (Paragraph 1)
“I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him.” (Paragraph 7)
“But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me — the sound would be heard by a neighbor! The old man’s hour had come!” (Paragraph 11)
“‘Villains!’ I shrieked, ‘dissemble no more! I admit the deed! — tear up the planks! — here, here! — it is the beating of his hideous heart!’” (Paragraph 18)
- 9. Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the significance of the beating heart throughout the story?
It represents the narrator’s own death, like the old man’s, drawing near as he faces punishment for his crime.
It shows there is something supernatural happening to the narrator, for the ghost of the old man is haunting him.
It represents the narrator’s guilt and worsening sanity, for the beating heart serves as a reminder of his crime.
It signifies the narrator’s anxiety about not burying the old man respectfully after killing him.
- 10. Multiple Choice
At the end of the story, why does the narrator tell the officers to “tear up the planks” and therefore unveil the corpse?
because he wants them to stop smiling at him and punish him
because he believes they hear the heartbeat and are mocking him
because he wanted to be caught for the crime all along
because he knew that they would find the evidence eventually
- 11. Multiple Choice
Why does the narrator seat himself and the officers in the room where the body is buried?
He thinks it is the only way to keep the cops from finding the body.
He is boastful of how well he hid the body.
He is worried he will give away the body’s location otherwise.
He is going mad and wants to torture himself with guilt.
- 12. Multiple Choice
Which excerpt from the story illustrates the mood of paranoia?
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain.
I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult.
Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! - no, no! They heard! They suspected! They knew!
I smiled, -- for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome.
- 13. Multiple Choice
In the line "There came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes hen enveloped in cotton," what does "enveloped in cotton" try to make the reader feel?
alive
trapped
threatened
serious
- 14. Multiple Choice
What tone is represented in the line "You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution - with what foresight -- with what dissimulation I went to work"?
focused
furious
grieving
apathetic
- 15. Multiple Choice
Which detail about the narrator's personality ironically makes him appear the most psychotic?
He hears imaginary heartbeats.
He is so careful to hide everything he does.
He kills the old man.
He tries to convince the reader of his sanity.
- 16. Multiple ChoiceFrom what POV is "The Tale-Tell Heart" written?first personsecond personthird person limitedthird person unreliable
- 17. Multiple ChoiceWhat is it about the old man that bothers the narrator?His personalityHis faceHis homeHis eye
- 18. Multiple ChoiceHow does the narrator describe the eye?He says it is beautiful.He says it is very focused.He says it is the eye of a vulture.He says it is all-seeing.
- 19. Multiple ChoiceDoes the narrator hate the old man?yesno
- 20. Multiple ChoiceWhat does the narrator do each night?He sneaks out of the house.He watches the old man while he sleeps.He hides in the attic.He stares out the window.
- 21. Multiple ChoiceHow does the narrator act towards the old man during the day?He is rude to him.He is abusive to him.He ignores him.He is friendly and kind.
- 22. Multiple ChoiceWhat happens at the climax of the story?The narrator kills the old man.The narrator welcomes the police into the house.The narrator confesses his crime.The narrator watches the old man while he sleeps.
- 23. Multiple ChoiceWhy doesn't the narrator fear being caught?He is actually a police officer himself.He flees the scene of the crime.He didn't actually do it.He is sure he hid the body well.
- 24. Multiple ChoiceWe can infer that the narrator confessed becausethe police already knew.he saw blood on the floor.he felt guilty.the body smelled.
- 25. Multiple Choice
The author builds suspense by--
not revealing what the crime will be
having the narrator watch the sleeping victim for seven nights in a row.
having the narrator explain how clever he is
describing what is done with the victim's body
- 26. Multiple Choice
What is the central message of "The Tell-Tale Heart"?
From love comes sacrifice
Guilt can drive you mad.
With murder comes joy.
Do not trust your elders.
- 27. Multiple Choice
By telling this story from the murderer's point of view, the author helps the reader
recognize the narrator's insanity
understand the old man's thoughts
compare both of the character's thoughts
understand why the police have come
- 28. Multiple Choice
The author describes the sound that narrator hears beneath the floorboards as a heartbeat. This is a symbol of what human emotion?
Happiness
Anger
Despair
Guilt
- 29. Multiple Choice
The author most likely used the following expression to--- ?
“One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture –.”
Convey the importance of the heartbeat sound.
To compare the eye to something associated with death – the vulture.
Personifies the eye so that it becomes a human character.
Exaggerates the ugliness of the eye to influence the reader.
- 30. Multiple Choice
What appears to be the narrator's claim throughout the selection?
That he did not kill the old man
That he should not be sent to jail
That he is not mad
That the old man had o die
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