The Tell Tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

Power Point Presentation on The Tell Tale Heart as Presented by Rita Higgins, Instructor Humanities Division Essex County College

Bonaparte or Poe?

How Does the Nervous System Relate to the Story?

“Do You Think I’m Mad? ” Who is Speaking Here?

Is The Protagonist Male or Female?

Harken! And observe how healthily – how calmly I can…

Do You Ear What I Ear?

Connect This Picture to the Story!

Can You Guess the Subject? Can You Guess the Artist?

How are Michelangelo and Poe’s Works Combined in This Painting?

How Does Van Gogh’s Picture Relate to the Story?

How Does This Picture Relate?

A eye with a _______over It

How Does This Picture Relate To The Story?

Perry Mason, “And Precisely What Time Did the Protagonist Enter the Old Man’s Room Every Night?

Enter Exhibit A: What is this and what part does it play in the story?

How Does This Picture Relate? How does it not Relate? Remember, You’re Under Oath!

What Are These Witnesses Reenacting? What’s the Symbolism?

Enter Exhibit B: How Does This Picture Relate to the Story?

Your Honor, I enter exhibit C. Discuss if this evidence is relevant to the story.

One Witness Testified that he heard the protagonist scream, “Tear up the…

What Did The Protagonist Think The Police Would Find? Why?

Defense n Let’s not be too hasty in condemning the protagonist. Actually, The Tell Tale Heart has been researched for facts based on historical data. Critical analysis of the story raises an interesting question. The murderer was afraid of the old man’s eye, but why? Look at the next picture and see if you can guess the commonly held belief that was popular in Poe’s time.

An Ancient Argument in the Protagonist’s Defense – Can you Guess What it is?

Exhibit B in Defendant’s Argument

A Universal Superstition

Remember our Protagonist Who Is on Trial?

Remember he claimed to have Loved the old man? Do you buy his story? Why or why not?

Remember that while the old man was indeed old…

He Still Had A Life! n 92 year old girlfriend, Betty. n One good eye in sound working condition. n Motor bike enthusiast.

The Prosecutor’s Argument n Perry Mason is incensed that the defending attorney would use the old, “It’s okay to kill someone if you are superstitious” trick. n Based on moral argument, Mason shows the jury alternatives the defendant could have taken. Let’s see if you can guess what they are…

I submit to the jury, that if the defendant did indeed love the old man as he claimed, then why didn’t he show it by taking an alternate route to murder?

Let’s Get Some Assistance n My English 088 Class thought of the following two alternatives. Let’s see if you can guess what they are based on the following slides…

The Prosecution Argues: Alternative To Murder – Hint 1

Alternative #2 Small Hint

Okay, Bigger Hint

Biggest Hint What could the defendant have done instead of killing the old man?

Correct! He could have forced the old man to become a cowboy.

Strike the last file from the records for being____ topic. The alternative is obvious, ladies and gentlemen…PIRATISM…aargh!

But the defendant considered no other alternatives.

Hummmm… n Let’s consider some of the alternatives proposed by my creative writing students… n Can you guess what they proposed as an alternative to killing the old man?

Alternative To Murder – Hint 3

Alternative To Murder – Hint 4

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I submit to you, two apple corers and one lemon zester!

By Reason of _______, The Jury Finds the Defendant

To be Vincent Price?

Bette Davis?

The Verdict? n Most people would find the defendant to be something. Based on what you know about our collective culture and society in general, what do you believe the probable verdict would be based on the evidence?

The Defense’s Final Plea: Can You guess by the picture what it is?

The Defendant’s Aberrant Brain

We The Jury, Find the Defendant to be Criminally ______!

The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe as Presented by Rita Higgins, Instructor Humanities Division Essex County College Thank You