The Tell-tale Heart Story, Audio and Visuals
Directions:
Go through the background information on Edgar Allen Poe's The Tell-tale Heart.
Read, listen to the story.
Then watch the short animation video.
You will be answering reading questions about this short story.
Background Information:
The Tell-tale Heart is a short Gothic horror story by Edgar Allen Poe. In it, the narrator describes how carefully and cleverly he or she has planned and carried out a murder. The narrator’s purpose in telling the story is to convince the audience that he or she is not insane. There are a number of ironic aspects to the story, perhaps the greatest being that in trying to prove his or her sanity, the narrator clearly demonstrates the opposite.
The Tell-tale Heart
by Edgar Allen Poe
The Tell-tale Heart PDF
Download The Tell-tale Heart PDF
Recording (MP3)
Download Recording (MP3)
1953 Animated Film:
This short animated adaption of the story is narrated by the well-known British actor James Mason. It is quite true to the original, so we don’t know the identity of the murderer. The film was well-received and nominated for an academy award for the best short subject cartoon in 1954.
Watch and enjoy!