Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Period__________

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Character Motivation: Calculated Killer or Truly Mad?
Directions: As you re-read the “The Tell-Tale Heart” with your group, write down specific details/lines from the text that show the
narrator’s motivation for killing the old man, then telling on himself. Then, check the appropriate box that corresponds with his motivation
and how it is shown.
Detail from text Page #/ Calculated Truly Mad
paragraph Killer
#
actions word actions word
choice choice
Detail from text Page #/ Calculated Truly Mad
paragraph Killer
#
actions word actions word
choice choice
Name_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Period__________

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Character Motivation: Calculated Killer or Truly Mad?
Directions: As you re-read the “The Tell-Tale Heart” with your group, write down specific details/lines from the text that show the
narrator’s motivation for killing the old man, then telling on himself. Then, check the appropriate box that corresponds with his motivation
and how it is shown.
Detail from text Page # Calculated Truly Mad
Killer
actions word actions word
choice choice

“One of his eyes looked like the eye of a vulture—pale gray with a film over it. page 4 X
Whenever it looked at me, my blood ran cold.”

“I made up my mind to kill the old man and get rid of that eye forever.” page 4 X
Detail from text Page #/ Calculated Truly Mad
paragraph Killer
#
actions word actions word
choice choice