The Tell-Tale Heart

This last story, I will be analysing the use of literary elements present. To summarize, it is about a crazy guy who kills the old man he lives with because of the old man's eye. Judging by the description, the old man has cataracts but his eye scares the madman into killing him. Eventually the guilt on his concious for having committed murder drives him insane and he admits his crime to police. Here is the story: The Tell-Tale Hear,

The first example of literary element in this story is the hyperbole. "I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell." This is an exaggeration because although this man may have an acute sense of hearing it is not possible that he can hear things in heaven and in hell. 

Next literary device is the metaphor. "And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously- oh, so cautiously- cautiously (for the hinges creaked)- I undid it just so much that a single ray fell upon the vulture eye." In this quote, Poe is comparing the eye of the old man to a vulture eye without using the words like or as. "A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine." This is an example of a metaphor as well because it is a comparison between the speed of a watch's minute hand and of the madman's hand. Similarly when Poe says, "Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased." he is comparing the beating of the heart to a terrible drumming sound. 



Another common literary element is the simile. These are easier to spot out because it is a comparison between two things, using the words like or as. "His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness..." Here Poe describes the room being pitch black. "And now have I not told you what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses?- now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage." Here Poe uses two similes. First off, he describes the beating of the man's heart to a watch enveloped in cotton. Next he compares his fury, due to the old man's heart, and the courage of a soldier, due to the beating of a drum. 

An interesting use of irony in this story is when the madman says, "..(for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,)..." This is ironic because the old man is locking the windows to protect himself from what is outside the house but really, it's what's inside the house that he needs protecting from. 

Finally, Poe's best use of literary device in this story is the personification. "All in vain; because Death, in approaching him, had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim." In this quote, death is given human qualities and is said to have stalked its victim, and enveloped him. Poe is clearly an expert at using literary devices, which enhances the quality of his poems and stories.  

Ideas used from grade seven English class oral discussion