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Draft English Studies Assignment. The Tell – Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe The short story that appealed and attracted me among the other short stories is THE TELL – TALE HEART by Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe was a writer, poet, editor and literary critic. Born on January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, he was an orphaned when his mother died shortly after his father abandoned the family. He was then taken in by John and Frances Allan but they never formally adopted him. His publishing career began humbly, with an anonymous collection of poems, “Tamerlane and Other Poems”, 1872, credited only to “a Bostonian”.
He then continued for more. He died on 7 October 1984 in Washington College Hospitals. Besides the Tell – Tale Heart, I also have read Ligeia and I too have watched the movie. The Tell – Tale Heart is about the narrator whom hates the old man eyes. Evil Eye, he said. The old man has a vulture eye – a pale blue eye, with a film over it. He was so much in hatred that he killed him for that eye. He has watched the old man sleep for 7 days. He’s looking for a good time for him to kill the old man. One night, cautiously, he entered the old man’s room and suffocated him.
After he dead, he dismembered the corpse and cutting off the head, the arms and the legs. He then acted normally. Then, three officers came to the house. They claimed that neighbors complained about a shriek that they have heard. But he just told them that he was having a nightmare. As he asks the officers to come in and enjoy a cup of tea, he heard a noise that within his ears. It was a low, dull, quick sound – much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. The noises become louder. Then, he realized that it was the old man’s heartbeat.
At last, he can’t stand it. He finally shrieked and admitted that he committed the crime. He said, “Dissemble no more! I admit the deed – tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart! “. This short story is easy to understand. The narrator explained in details how he killed the old man. He also told what he did and every step he take. He also tell the reader what was on his mind. For example, he told about the way he killed the old man; “With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern, and leaped into the room.
He shrieked once – once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. ” ( page 39,para. 5) He also tell about how he destroyed the evidence. “The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.
I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye – not even his – could have detected any wrong. There was nothing to wash out – no stain of any kind – no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all – ha! Ha! ” (page 39 and 40; last paragraph and first paragraph). This short story has a good use of language. It uses old fashioned language. For example; hearken meaning to listen, hark ; listen. Also, some of the language are rare to find.
For example, vex ; to make someone annoyed, vexed ; full of problem, sagacity ; a good judgement based on practical knowledge and experience. Furthermore, the plot of this short story is easy. It is chronology. The story was told in chronologically. That is because The Tell – Tale Heart attracted me and appealed me most among the other short stories. For me, it is the easiest story to understand. Compare to others. Furthermore, the plot, the way the character showed, and the use of language are easy to understand. Besides, the use of language give me new words and it is nice to read. Approximately 736 words.