The Tell-tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe

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  • 1/10 Questions

    At the beginning of the story, the narrator says that he is neither interested in money nor revenge.  What about the victim makes the narrator want to kill him?

    • His eye
    • The constant drumming of his fingers, which sounds like a heartbeat
    • The sound of his voice
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About This Quiz

An unnamed narrator opens the story by addressing the reader and claiming that he is nervous but not mad. He says that he is going to tell a story in which he will defend his sanity yet confess to having killed an old man. Read the story and take this quiz to see how much you remember about Edgar Allan Poe's tale of madness and murder.
*** Please note - to see the "Tell-Tale Heart" part from this video clip of The Simpson's
"Lisa's Rival", you have to fast-forward to 4:11. I couldn't find a clip that started right at the spot I wanted it to. Click here to find the full version of the story;https://www. Literature. Org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/tell-tale-heart. Html

The Tell-tale Heart By Edgar Allan Poe - Quiz

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  • 2. 
    The narrator kills the old man.  What does he do with the body? - ProProfs

    The narrator kills the old man.  What does he do with the body?

    • Dismembers the body and hides the pieces below the floorboards in the bedroom

    • Throws the body in the lake

    • Hides the body under the bed.

    Correct Answer
    A. Dismembers the body and hides the pieces below the floorboards in the bedroom
    Explanation
    The narrator in the story kills the old man and then proceeds to dismember the body. After dismembering the body, the narrator hides the pieces below the floorboards in the bedroom. This suggests that the narrator is trying to conceal the evidence of the murder by disposing of the body in a way that would make it difficult to be discovered.

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  • 3. 
    At first, the narrator isn't afraid - he leads the police all over the house.  But suddenly he gets nervous.  What does he hear? - ProProfs

    At first, the narrator isn't afraid - he leads the police all over the house.  But suddenly he gets nervous.  What does he hear?

    • The beatIng of a heart

    • The drumming of fingers

    • The old man's cries

    Correct Answer
    A. The beatIng of a heart
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "The beating of a heart." This is supported by the statement that the narrator initially leads the police all over the house without fear, but suddenly becomes nervous. The beating of a heart suggests that the narrator is anxious and fearful, possibly due to guilt or paranoia. This explanation is further reinforced by the context of the story, which revolves around the narrator's attempt to hide a crime he has committed.

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  • 4. 
    The narrator confessed to the  murder because he thought he heard the beating of his victims heart.  What was he probably really hearing? - ProProfs

    The narrator confessed to the  murder because he thought he heard the beating of his victims heart.  What was he probably really hearing?

    • The footsteps of the police

    • The beating of his own heart

    • The sound of rain

    Correct Answer
    A. The beating of his own heart
    Explanation
    The narrator confessed to the murder because he thought he heard the beating of his victims heart. However, the correct answer is that he was probably really hearing the beating of his own heart. This suggests that the guilt and fear of being caught for the crime made his own heart race, leading him to mistakenly believe that he could hear the sound of his victim's heart.

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  • 5. 
    Now that he has decided to kill the old man, what does he do each nigh? - ProProfs

    Now that he has decided to kill the old man, what does he do each nigh?

    • Take something of the old man's and hide it, so the next morning the old man would think he was insane.

    • Every night, he went to the old man’s apartment and secretly observed the man sleeping

    • Stand outside the door and make scary noises.

    Correct Answer
    A. Every night, he went to the old man’s apartment and secretly observed the man sleeping
  • 6. 
    Now, the narrator hears a knock at the door.  It is the police.  Why are they there? - ProProfs

    Now, the narrator hears a knock at the door.  It is the police.  Why are they there?

    • They are investigating several disappearances in the neighborhood.

    • A neighbor has heard the old man shreik

    • They are askIng about a fight in the area.

    Correct Answer
    A. A neighbor has heard the old man shreik
    Explanation
    The police are at the narrator's door because a neighbor has reported hearing the old man scream. This suggests that something alarming or suspicious may have happened to the old man, prompting the police to investigate the situation further.

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  • 7. 
    When the narrator arrives on the eighth night, what does the old man do? - ProProfs

    When the narrator arrives on the eighth night, what does the old man do?

    • Wakes up and cries out

    • Pulls a gun out from under his bed

    • Goes outside and looks around

    Correct Answer
    A. Wakes up and cries out
    Explanation
    Upon the narrator's arrival on the eighth night, the old man wakes up and cries out. This suggests that the old man is startled or frightened by the presence of the narrator. The act of waking up and crying out could indicate a sense of fear or unease, possibly due to the old man's guilt or paranoia. It also creates suspense and tension in the story, adding to the overall eerie atmosphere.

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  • 8. 
     The narrator understands how frightened the old man is, having also experienced the lonely terrors of the night. Soon, the narrator hears a sound.  What does he think it is? - ProProfs

     The narrator understands how frightened the old man is, having also experienced the lonely terrors of the night. Soon, the narrator hears a sound.  What does he think it is?

    • The old man’s terrified heartbeat.

    • The sound of police sirens

    • The sound of the neighbors coming home.

    Correct Answer
    A. The old man’s terrified heartbeat.
    Explanation
    The narrator thinks that the sound he hears is the old man's terrified heartbeat. This is because the narrator understands how frightened the old man is and can relate to the feeling of fear in the dark. The mention of the sound being a heartbeat suggests that it is a personal and internal sound, rather than external noises like police sirens or neighbors coming home.

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  • 9. 
    How long did he continue this activity until he decided to kill the old man? - ProProfs

    How long did he continue this activity until he decided to kill the old man?

    • A month

    • A week

    • A year

    Correct Answer
    A. A week
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "A week" because the question is asking for the duration of time the person continued the activity before deciding to kill the old man. Out of the given options, "A week" is the shortest duration, indicating that the person did not continue the activity for a long period before making the decision.

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  • 10. 
    What time does the narrator finish hiding the body? - ProProfs

    What time does the narrator finish hiding the body?

    • Three O'clock

    • Four O'clock

    • Five O'clock

    Correct Answer
    A. Four O'clock
    Explanation
    The given question is incomplete and does not provide enough context to determine what it is referring to. Therefore, an explanation cannot be provided.

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Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Mar 21, 2023 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Oct 06, 2009
    Quiz Created by
    Literaturegirl
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