In the short story Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe, Poe creates suspense in multiple scenes.

For example Poe uses the technique of vivid descriptions and repeated words and actions in the
scene where the narrator describes sneaking into the old mans room. He writes When I had
waited a long time very patiently, without hearing lie down I resolved to open little a very, very
little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it you can not imagined how stealthily, stealthily until, at
length a single dim ray like a thread of a spider shot out from the crevice and fell full upon the
vulture eye (85). This shows suspense because it takes him a long time to sneak into the room
and at any time the old man could wake up. He wanted the old man to wake up and be vexed
and kill the old man. Poe also uses the technique unique punctuation and repeated
words/actions in the scene where The narrator was talking the police and where the old man
was disposed. He writes It grow LOUDER-LOUDER-LOUDER! And still the men chatted
pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they have heard not? Almighty GOD!-no,no! They
heard!-they suspected!-they knew!-they were making a mockery of my horror! (87). This shows
suspense because he keeps bringing up how it keeps getting louder and louder as they talked
and chatted. In conclusion Poe creates an intense feeling of suspense in tell tale heart. by
repeating words/actions and descriptions and unique punctuation.
Rubric rating submitted on: 11/13/2016, 2:40:26 PM by wagner.jill@iowacityschools.org
6

Graphic
Organizer
Your score:
3

Graphic
organizer
completed

graphic
organizer
incomplete

Missing
graphic
organizer

Topic
Sentence
Your score:
3

clear topic
sentence
that includes
title and
iintroduces
topic

topic
sentence
present but
missing
either title or
topic

missing
topic
sentence

Supporting
Details
Your score:
6

2-3
supporting
details that
clearly
describe an
example of
the chosen
suspense
technique

1 supporting
detail
present

missing
supporting
details

Text
Evidence
Your score:
6

Relevant
text
evidence for
each
supporting
detail is

1 example
of relevant
text
evidence is
given

Missing text
evidence

cited
correctly,
quote is
introduced,
use of
quotation
marks
apparent,
page # in
parentheses
Commentar
y
Your score:
3

Concluding
Sentence
Your score:
2
Transitions
Your score:
1

Commentar
y after each
quote
explains
how
technique
creates
suspense

1 example
of detailed
commentary
is given

Missing
commentary

Concluding
sentence
repeats
topic
sentence

Missing
topic
sentence

Transitions
connect
ideas and
help writing
flow

Comments:
24/27 89%
Great organization! Be sure commentary is thorough- should be longer than your text evidence