Gothic Literature Test Study Guide

Why is the following quote considered to be an example of an unreliable narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart":

"'I knew it was the groan of mortal terror...the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul'" (Poe 2).

• It shows that the narrator cannot be trusted because of his extreme exaggeration.

• It further proves the narrator’s madness by him discussing the old man's groaning.

• It foreshadows the police entering the house at 4 A.M. to catch the narrator in the act

• It is an example of dramatic irony because the reader knows what will happen if the old man groans.

Which character traits of the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" are revealed through the following quote:

"I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigue, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim" (Poe 4).

• confident and bold

• wary and anxious

• terrified and nervous

• exuberant and evil

The narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" confesses his deed to the police in the end. What is the most logical reason for his confession?

• The police were likely to hear the old man's heart beating.

• The narrator is beginning to feel anxious and his own heart begins to beat faster.

• The narrator feels guilty for killing the man, whom he truly loved deep down.

• The old man’s voice calls out from beyond the grave.

The narrator of the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" proves he is unreliable in which of the following quotes?

• "Nervous--very very dreadfully nervous I had been and am" (Poe 1).

• “Presently I heard a slight groan” (Poe 2).

• “When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock--still dark as midnight" (Poe 3).

• "There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police” (Poe 3).

Which of the following examples from "The Tell-Tale Heart" contains the gothic element of unease?

• “I foamed--I raved--I swore!” (Poe 4).

• “Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door” (Poe 2).

• “The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them” (Poe 4).

• “I fairly chuckled at the idea” (Poe 2).

What are some of the actions that the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" does during the day when the old man is awake?

• He cooks and cleans for him.

• He works with the old man to help him refinish wood floors.

• He happily speaks to him in a friendly manner and asks the old man how he slept.

• He swears at the old man and spends the day ridiculing him.

What happened on the eighth night that caused the narrator to kill the old man in "The Tell-Tale Heart?"

• The old man groaned and woke because he heard a mouse crossing the floor, which made the narrator angry.

• The old man's eye was opened when the narrator shone the light upon it, making the narrator furious.n

• The narrator’s heartbeat beat so loud that it woke the old man up, and the heartbeat drove him insane.

• The old man’s eye would not open, causing the narrator to get so angry that he decided to kill him.

What does the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" claim has caused the police to come to the door?

• The police must have heard the old man's heart beating.

• The old man had notified the police that he was being watched at night as he slept.

• The neighbor down stairs saw blood stains on his ceiling.

• A shriek must have been heard by a neighbor, causing them to call the police.

Based on the following quote, what does the narrator in "Annabel Lee" believe was the reason his love was killed.

"The angels, not so happy in Heaven,/ Went envying her and me"

• The angels in heaven needed someone sweet to join them so heaven would be a happier place.

• The angels killed her because they were jealous of their love.

• The angels wanted to switch places with Annabel Lee.

• Annabel Lee was actually an angel who wanted to go back to heaven.

Which Gothic Literature trait is in the following quote from
Annabel Lee?"

"This maiden she lived with no other thought/Than to love and be loved by me" (Poe lines5-61).

• Villains

• Emotional Distress

• Paranormal or supernatural activity

• Romance