Question

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.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

The answer is C.

Step-by-step 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.