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In “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, what does the beating heart that the narrator hears symbolize?

A.
power
B.
guilt
C.
survival
D.
deception

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The beating heart in Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart' represents the narrator's guilt, symbolizing the psychological turmoil and unwavering conscience following a murder. So the correct answer is option B.

Step-by-step explanation:

In “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe, the beating heart that the narrator hears symbolizes guilt. This auditory hallucination reflects the narrator's psychological turmoil after committing a murder. While he attempts to project confidence and sanity, the relentless beating becomes a symbolic manifestation of his conscience and the guilt that he cannot escape, constantly reminding him of his deed.

User Alex Fedoseev
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