The Tell-Tale Heart

Which of the following best describes the significance of the beating heart throughout the story?

A It represents the narrator's own death, like the old man's, drawing near as he faces punishment for his crime.

B It shows there is something supernatural happening to the narrator, for the ghost of the old man is haunting him.

C It represents the narrator's guilt and worsening sanity, for the beating heart serves as a reminder of his crime.

D It signifies the narrator's anxiety about not burying the old man respectfully after killing him.

Question

English

Rudy Nelson

9 March, 04:35

The Tell-Tale Heart

Which of the following best describes the significance of the beating heart throughout the story?

A It represents the narrator's own death, like the old man's, drawing near as he faces punishment for his crime.

B It shows there is something supernatural happening to the narrator, for the ghost of the old man is haunting him.

C It represents the narrator's guilt and worsening sanity, for the beating heart serves as a reminder of his crime.

D It signifies the narrator's anxiety about not burying the old man respectfully after killing him.

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Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Madilyn Morris · Answer 1

C. It represents the narrator's guilt and worsening sanity, for the beating heart serves as a reminder of his crime.

Darian Kim · Answer 2

The answer is C.

Explanation:

When a guilty person knows that s/he is about to be found out, the heart beats faster as the pressure intensifies. In the Tell-Tale Heart, Poe delves in the mind of the guilty person - how he may feel or think. Poe concludes that guilt brings a person to the verge of insanity. A guilty person may think that other people know more than they actually do and may unnecessarily try to preempt discovery by admitting to the crime.