3. The Tell-Tale Heart Before Reading Short story – fiction What does the title suggest to you? What does “Tell-Tale” mean? revealing, giving a signal or clue We say “there was a tell-tale sign” How might a heart be revealing? Author: Edgar Allan Poe American, lived in the 1800s, known for writing “dark” stories and poems
4. The Tell-Tale Heart After Reading Briefly: Think about the title again. How does it relate to the story? Whose heart does it refer to? How does it reveal, give a signal, give a clue?
5. The Tell-Tale Heart In-class Activity /10 (Will not count – FYI only) NO DICTIONARIES ALLOWED!!! 1. complete the following questions on the handout: Understanding the Words in the Story (Multiple Choice) /5 Check-up (Multiple Choice) /5 2. Refer to the Story to help you answer the questions. You have 30 minutes to work on this. If you finish early, let me know. We will go over the answers together. Each question is worth half a mark (.5).
6. The Tell-Tale Heart Understanding the Words in the Story (Multiple Choice) acute (adj.) b. sharp 2. conceived (v.) imagined 3. thrust (v.) b. poked (peeked, pushed) vexed (v.) b. irritated (annoyed) profound (adj.) b. highly intelligent
7. The Tell-Tale Heart 6. stifled (v.) a. smothered 7. awe (n.) c. wonder and fear 8. well up (v. – phrasal verb) come OR c. rise 9. distracted (v.) c. frightened 10. causeless (adj.) b. unfounded (without foundation, reason or cause)
8. The Tell-Tale Heart Check-up (Multiple Choice) 1. c. hearing 2. b. nervous 3. c. to get rid of an obsession 4. a. cleverness 5. b. fury 6. c. the beating of a human heart 7. a. the old man’s room 8. a. loud shriek 9. c. completely confident 10. c. hypocrisy
9. Homework Write a paragraph using the following words from the story “The Tell-Tale Heart”: distracted (v.) , awe (n.), stifled (v. ), acute (adj.), thrust (v.) Your paragraph must use the correct form (n., v., adj., adv.), and show the meaning of the word fully For examples, review how the word is used in the story, look at samples sentences in a dictionary (but do not use them in your paragraph!), or look at the sample sentences on the next two slides.
10. Sample Sentences distracted (v.) (past tense of distract) (usually takes an object) Ex: I tried to study but I was distracted by the students at the next table who were talking loudly. Please don’t distract me from what I am doing. I am very distracted right now. 2. awe (n.) Ex: We were so in awe of the amazing sunset that we had to stay and watch until the sun was completely gone. They were filled with awe . . . I was full of awe . . .
11. Sample Sentences 3. stifled (v. ) (past tense of stifle) (usually takes a direct object) Ex: I was very tired, but I didn’t want to appear rude so I stifled a yawn. The dictatorship used violence to stifle dissent. Stifle your anger and focus on what you have to do. 4. acute (adj.) Ex: Her eyesight is acute; she can read highway signs when they are still far in the distance. He had an acute understanding of middle east issues. 5. thrust (v.) (usually takes an object) Ex: He thrust his foot intothe aisle, tripping his classmate. She thrust her unwanted opinions on her friends. They were thrust into a new life without any preparation.
13. Intro to Short Stories Usually contain a limited number of characters Focus on one main character, or protagonist, who faces one or more conflicts The plot (events) occurs during a short period of time. The outcome or resolution usually has a positive or negative impact on the main character.
14. Intro to Short Stories The outcome or resolution usually has a positive or negative impact on the main character. As a result the character may undergo a change in how they see themselves or the world. The author’s theme is usually related to his or her attitude towards the characters and what happens to them.
15. Intro to Short Stories Some simplified definitions of some the terms we will be using setting – time and location of the story narrator – the person telling the story point of view – how the narrator tells the story First Person – the main character tells the story using “I” Third Person – another character or an outside observer tells the story using he/she/they
16. Intro to Short Stories character(s) – who is involved in the story protagonist – main character flat/round – these terms describe how much we know about the character static/dynamic – these terms describe whether or not the character changes as a result of the story events
17. Intro to Short Stories conflict – the struggle that creates the drama internal conflict – chracter vs. him/her self (struggle within a character) external conflict – character vs. an outside force: (another character, nature, or society) plot – the key events of the story theme – the writer’s general message about people and/or the world
18. Homework For Monday – online grammar and read textbook p. 84-88 For Wednesday Re-read “The Tell-Tale Heart” again on your own. Now, you may use a dictionary to aid your understanding. Make brief notes on the handout “Reviewing Story Elements” and be prepared to discuss the story in more detail on Wednesday. Write a paragraph using the following words from the story “The Tell-Tale Heart”: distracted (v.) , awe (n.), stifled (v. ), acute (adj.), thrust (v.) Your paragraph must use the correct form (n., v., adj., adv.), and show the meaning of the word fully For examples, review how the word is used in the story, look at samples sentences in a dictionary (but do not use them in your paragraph!), or look at the sample sentences on the next two slides. Check forum for place to ask questions about vocab or stories
