Question

Which of the following excerpts from the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe best demonstrates the unreliability of the narrator? • you should have seen how wisely I proceeded-with what caution-with what foresight-with what dissimulation I went to work! • I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearten! And observe how healthily-how calmly I can tell you the whole story. • and then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shine out, and then thrust in my head. • oh you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly-very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old mans sleep.

Answer 1

The correct answer is "I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearten! And observe how healthily-how calmly I can tell you the whole story."

Explanation: The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" is unreliable because in this excerpt he claims to hear something that is supernatural, and states that the proof is in his narration. His tone is nervous and shows that he is panicking while attempting to convince the reader that he is calm, and not crazy.

Answer 2

"I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story."