Character Analysis

• The Narrator– Deranged unnamed person who

tries to convince the reader that he is sane.

– He is intelligent and has the ability to commit a crime with skill and precision

– He nagged by what he calls heightened senses, something that is a condition found in several various Poe stories 

Character Analysis

• The Old Man:

• Neighbor:

• Three Policemen:

Seemingly harmless elder who has a hideous "evil eye" that unnerves the narrator. 

Person who hears a shriek coming from the house of the narrator and the old man, then reports it to the police. 

Officers who search the narrator's house after a neighbor reports hearing a shriek

Mood“The Tell Tale Heart”

Mood• Definition:

– The feeling or impression the author creates with his writing

– Also refers to the feelings the reader has about the characters or setting in a story

– Mood can be identified by analyzing the setting of a story and by analyzing the character’s actions and dialogue

Identifying Mood through Character’s Words and Actions

• Readers need to recognize/analyze the following:– Situation in which the character is involved– Character’s reactions to the situation– Character’s reactions by other characters– Character’s body language– Character’s tone of voice– What the characters say to and about others– The character’s thoughts and emotions

Identifying Mood through Analyzing Setting• Writers often select/create a setting that

will impart the mood they wish to instill in their readers

• Writers will use a variety of imagery devices to vividly describe the setting so that the readers can picture in their minds how the setting looks, smells, sounds, etc.: sensory details, simile, metaphor, personification

Words to Describe Mood• Just about any word that can describe an emotion

can describe the mood in a story. The following list is just some examples

– Cheerful Humerous– Tense Dark Light– Terror Apprehensive Suspenseful– Melancholy Romantic Anxious– Dreary Mysterious Sad– Violent Exciting Angry– Peaceful Lonely Fearful– Scary Calm– Ominous Cold

Steps to Identifying Mood

• Identify the situation—what is the character doing?

• Find the key words and phrases that show the character’s reactions to the situation

• Ask yourself: What mood is shown by the character’s reactions?

Why Mood Matters• Mood is an important literary element

because it influences the way readers feel about what they are reading

• Mood can draw a reader into a story and can compel a reader to continue to read.