Webquest: Unlocking the Mystery of "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Task 1: Meet Edgar Allan Poe

Objective: Learn about Edgar Allan Poe’s life and how it may have influenced his writing.

1. Research Poe's Life: Visit the following links to read about Poe’s life. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edgar-allan-poe and https://poemuseum.org/poe-biography/ and https://www.poe200th.com/the-tell-tale-heart---a-story-of-memorable-fiction/
2. Write a Summary: In 3-4 sentences, explain how Poe's experiences may have influenced the themes of death and guilt in his stories.
3. Fun Fact Hunt: Find one unusual fact about Poe’s life.

Task 2: Dive into "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Objective: Analyze key elements of the story, such as plot, conflict, and characters.

1. Character Analysis:
   • Who is the narrator? Describe his/her personality using 2-3 adjectives.
   • What do you think motivates him/her to commit the crime?

Task 3: Literary Devices Investigation

Objective: Identify and understand Poe’s use of literary devices in the story. Click the link for a review of the definition of each https://www.litcharts.com/literary-devices-and-terms.

1. Imagery: Find a paragraph that uses vivid imagery. Write it down and explain how the imagery helps create a sense of horror or suspense.
2. Symbolism: Discuss what the beating heart might symbolize in the story. Why do you think Poe chose this particular symbol?
3. Tone & Mood: Describe the tone and mood of the story.

Task 4: The Mystery of Madness

Objective: Explore the theme of madness.

1. Narrator's Reliability: Do you think the narrator is sane or insane? Give at least two pieces of evidence from the text to support your opinion.
2. Narrator's Actions: How does the narrator try to cover up his/her actions, and why does he/she ultimately confess?

Task 5: Real-World Connection: Time for a Creative Challenge!

Choose one of the following creative tasks to complete your WebQuest:

• Author: Imagine you are an author, and writing a prequel or sequel to "The Tell-Tale Heart". If you choose the prequel, explain how the narrator came to live with the old man, why is the narrator so fearful of the eye, or what actions made him/her mad. If you choose a sequel, explain what happens after he/she confesses (trial/sentencing). 
• News Reporter: Imagine you are a news reporter in the story. Write a news report covering the crime, including details of the crime and an interview with the "witness" (the narrator).
• Police Reporter: Imagine you are a police officer who responded to the crime. Include a detailed account of the suspect, the crime scene, evidence collected, witness testimony, possible motive, and suggested sentence.
• Movie Director: Imagine you are a movie director tasked with turning "The Tell-Tale Heart" into a short film. Write a brief description of how you would film the scene where the narrator hears the beating heart. What camera angles, lighting, and sound effects would you use?

Write a minimum of one page and be sure to respond to the information/questions provided.