Telltale heart Flashcards
Key themes in Telltale heart
Obsession, insanity, loss of humanity, violence & death
Key issues explored in Telltale Heart
Insanity, morality
Techniques used in TTH
Symbolism (of the eye and heart), direct address, unreliable narrator, characterisation, structure
Direct address
When the narrator talks directly to the reader
Unreliable narrator
What the narrator is telling is different to reality, can show delusion and insanity
Characterisation
How the writer portrays the narrator/other characters
Structure
Sentence/paragraph structure and what it represents
Symbolism
What the heart and eye symbolism
Symbolism of the eye
Represents the start of the narrator’s mental deterioration (vultures represent death and decay), fixation and how it preys on him
Symbolism of the heart
Irrational passion and how it leads to insanity
Quote that shows obsession
“You fancy me mad”
Repetition of key language such as mad shows fixation
Shows direct address, they are aware that they look insane
Quote that shows insanity (characterisation)
“I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph”
Contrast of murder and feelings of victory show lack of empathy/insanity
Can also show loss of humanity due to a lack of empathy
Quote that shows loss of humanity
“I then smiled gaily”
Smiling while killing shows a lack of empathy
Gaily means cheerfully or joyfully
Quote exploring morality
“I loved the old man. He had never wronged me.”
Short statements, no motive is a FACT
Quote that shows paranoia
“the vulture eye”
imagery has connotations of being preyed on, fixation
Can also be used for symbolism of the vulture eye
Quote for symbolism of the heart
“Louder! Louder! Louder!”
Repetition is sensory overload, insanity cmpared to start of story
