Tell-Tale Heart Response to Literature

Sequoia Ybarra

10-27-10

3/4

Response to Literature: Tell- Tale Heart

“I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.” This is a spine-chilling quote from Edgar Allen Poe’s intriguing story, The Tell- Tale Heart. Poe’s story is eerie and shocking. In this story, a deranged madman is driven into becoming more demented, by an old man’s “vulture eye”. It is an “evil eye” he says, “a pale blue eye, with a film over it.” Because of this vexing eye, the fatuous man decides to make it so he never has to deal with the hideous eye that has made him so insane. This fascinating story has graphic imagery, a frightening mood, and a riveting plot that will keep you guessing!

The mind- blowing imagery of The Tell- Tale Heart is very realistic. It feels like you’re actually in the book, or watching the movie. “a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones.” Is a quote that describes the old man’s perplexing eye, and is excellent at explaining the sight of it.

Another quote that makes you feel like you are seeing what is happening in the story is, “ like the thread of a spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye.” The superb imagery gives a stupendous example of the chilling mood.