Edgar Allan Poe’s: “Tell Tale Heart” & "Annabel Lee"

What motivates the narrator to kill the old man in "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

his intense obsession with the man's "vulture-like" eye.

How does the narrator describe his state of mind at the beginning of the story?

the narrator insists he is not mad, claiming his heightened senses, especially his acute hearing, prove his sanity. He describes his state of mind as calm and rational, though his obsessive thoughts and actions reveal his growing instability and madness.

What method does the narrator use to kill the old man?

Suffocates the old man with a heavy bed

What does the narrator do with the body after killing the old man?

He chops the body up and hides it under the floorboards

What is the primary theme of "The Tell-Tale Heart"?

guilt over killing the old man drives him to madness, and he eventually confesses when he can no longer escape the sound of the old man's heartbeat.

What is the main theme of "Annabel Lee"?

the enduring power of love. The poem expresses how the narrator's love for Annabel Lee transcends death, suggesting that their bond is so strong that even the angels in heaven were jealous of it. Despite her death, the narrator believes their love will live on forever.

Where does the speaker believe the love between him and Annabel Lee existed?

existed in a "kingdom by the sea." He describes this place as a beautiful, almost otherworldly setting where their love was pure and strong, and it remains unbroken even after her death.

What causes Annabel Lee's death, according to the speaker?

Annabel Lee's death is caused by the jealousy of the angels. He suggests that the angels in heaven became envious of the intense and pure love between him and Annabel Lee, and they took her away. The speaker believes that their love was so powerful that it sparked this celestial envy

How does the speaker react to Annabel Lee's death?

The speaker is heartbroken by Annabel Lee's death but believes their love will never end. He feels connected to her spirit and dreams of her every night.

What does the poem suggest about the nature of love?

love, especially true and deep love, is eternal and transcendent. It emphasizes that love can be so powerful and pure that it remains unbroken even by death.