Poe’s Recurring Themes, Poe’s Recurring Themes, Symbols, and MotifsSymbols, and Motifs

The Tell-Tale HeartThe Tell-Tale HeartMeet the WriterMeet the Writer

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston in 1809. He was orphaned by age three and taken in by a foster family. Poe did not get along with his foster father, John Allan, and eventually Allan cut all ties with him. Poe died at the age of forty—a poor man but well-known for his tales of horror and mystery.

More about the writer. [End of Section]

POE’S Definition of a Short StoryPOE’S Definition of a Short Story

Short enough to be read in one Short enough to be read in one sittingsitting

Takes place in one locale on a Takes place in one locale on a single daysingle day

Centers on a single line of actionCenters on a single line of action Maintains a single moodMaintains a single mood

EyesEyes One of his most One of his most

common motifscommon motifs

Can be referred to Can be referred to as “orb”as “orb”

Eyes considered Eyes considered to be window to to be window to the soulthe soul

HeartHeart Heart is important as both Heart is important as both

the physical “pump” of the physical “pump” of the body & as center of all the body & as center of all feeling and experiencefeeling and experience

As a Romantic, Poe places As a Romantic, Poe places greater emphasis on the greater emphasis on the HEART (representing HEART (representing emotion and experience) emotion and experience) than on HEAD than on HEAD (representing intellect, (representing intellect, rational thought, and rational thought, and scientific reasoning)scientific reasoning)

Unnamed NarratorUnnamed Narrator

Unnamed narrator Unnamed narrator frequently tells frequently tells stories (narrator stories (narrator not meant to not meant to represent Poe)represent Poe)

Lack of specific Lack of specific identity gives him identity gives him an EVERYMAN an EVERYMAN qualityquality

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Premature Premature Burial/SuffocationBurial/Suffocation

2 concepts linked2 concepts linked—“Life-in-death” —“Life-in-death” themetheme

The idea of being The idea of being enclosed with the enclosed with the dead while still dead while still part of the livingpart of the living

R. I. P.R. I. P.

VortexVortex Image and action Image and action

of a spinning, of a spinning, swirling whirlpool swirling whirlpool that cycles like that cycles like water down a drainwater down a drain Ex. When a Ex. When a

character is walking character is walking down a spiral or down a spiral or circular staircase, circular staircase, or being swallowed or being swallowed up by an angry, up by an angry, swirling seaswirling sea

Dreams/DreamingDreams/Dreaming Dreams are the porthole into the Dreams are the porthole into the

inner workings of the mindinner workings of the mind

Poe’s narrators and characters Poe’s narrators and characters often talk about the subconscious often talk about the subconscious dream state (Do they dream to dream state (Do they dream to remember or dream to forget?)remember or dream to forget?)

They may awaken from dreams They may awaken from dreams and question whether they are and question whether they are awake or notawake or not

They may even seem to exist in an They may even seem to exist in an eternal dream-like stateeternal dream-like state

Rarely are dreams soothing or Rarely are dreams soothing or pleasantpleasant

Two Sides of OneselfTwo Sides of Oneself Duality of man (man is Duality of man (man is

both good and evil, light both good and evil, light and dark can be and dark can be contained in same contained in same person)person)

““Mirror” Image (the Mirror” Image (the double or look-alike double or look-alike stranger)stranger)

““Twin” characters Twin” characters (separate yet (separate yet inseparable)inseparable)

Doppelganger—the motif Doppelganger—the motif of the double or of the double or fractured image fairly fractured image fairly common to literaturecommon to literature

Time/ClocksTime/Clocks Many of his stories are set in Many of his stories are set in

ambiguous times and places, ambiguous times and places, making them universal and making them universal and contemporary to the reader contemporary to the reader of any eraof any era

Poe frequently uses HOURS Poe frequently uses HOURS and times of day (especially and times of day (especially 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and 12:00)3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and 12:00)

Uses direct and subtle Uses direct and subtle references to TIME or CLOCKSreferences to TIME or CLOCKS

Events often begin at dusk Events often begin at dusk and end with daybreakand end with daybreak“The witching hour” of 12 “The witching hour” of 12 midnightmidnight

AnimalsAnimals Repetition of certain Repetition of certain

types of characters—types of characters—black cats & black ravens black cats & black ravens

Narrator may “lead” the Narrator may “lead” the reader into thinking such reader into thinking such an animal is innately evil an animal is innately evil or has magical powersor has magical powers

Reader has to determine Reader has to determine based on behavior of the based on behavior of the animal whether this is animal whether this is true or if narrator is just true or if narrator is just projecting his own projecting his own beliefs onto the animal.beliefs onto the animal.

More MotifsMore Motifs

Sounds/Noises- howls, grating, thunder, Sounds/Noises- howls, grating, thunder, sighs, moans, clanking, crazed laughter, sighs, moans, clanking, crazed laughter, ticking of clocks, beating of heartsticking of clocks, beating of hearts

Fear/Terror/Sorrow- afflicted, anguish, Fear/Terror/Sorrow- afflicted, anguish, agony, despair, horror, wretched, agony, despair, horror, wretched, agitated, etc.agitated, etc.

Betrayal - (double)Betrayal - (double) Sense of mystery- prophecy, secret, Sense of mystery- prophecy, secret,

spirit, strangenessspirit, strangeness

The Tell-Tale HeartThe Tell-Tale HeartLiterary Focus: Narrator and IronyLiterary Focus: Narrator and Irony

As you read “The Tell-Tale Heart,” you will be asked to figure out if the story’s narrator is reliable.

The narrator is the person who is telling the story.

Sometimes the narrator cannot be trusted to let us know what is really going on.

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As you read “The Tell-Tale Heart,” you will also be asked to identify and appreciate irony in the story.

The Tell-Tale HeartThe Tell-Tale HeartLiterary Focus: Narrator and IronyLiterary Focus: Narrator and Irony

Irony can be described as the difference between what you expect—or what the narrator tells you—and what is real.

Listen to this excerpt again. What example of irony do you see already in what the narrator has told you?

The Tell-Tale HeartThe Tell-Tale HeartLiterary Focus: Narrator and IronyLiterary Focus: Narrator and Irony

There are three kinds of irony:

Verbal irony We say just the opposite of what we mean.

Situational irony What happens is different from what we expect.

Dramatic irony We know something a character doesn’t know.

Verbal IronyVerbal IronyVerbal irony occurs when there is a contrast between what is said or written and what is really meant.

In speech, a person’s tone of voice helps us identify verbal irony.

I’m so glad that I brought the sunscreen.

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Situational IronySituational IronySituational irony occurs when a situation turns out to be the opposite of what we expect.

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Dramatic IronyDramatic IronyDramatic irony occurs when the audience or reader knows something that the characters do not know.

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I’m picking up speed now!