Imagery in "The Tell-Tale Heart."

The narrator introduces himself and describes his state of mind as being calm rather then "mad."

The narrator tells the reader how he loves the old men but hates his "vulture" eye.

The narrator informs the reader how every day at midnight he would stand outside of the old man's room, and peek through the key holder on the door knob.

The narrator tells the reader how stealthily he was during the eight night, when he was going to enter the old man's room.

The narrator described how the old men felt when he had heard a slight groan, like if someone was trying to open his door. The old man tried to convince himself that it was just the chimney or the wind blowing.

The narrator describes how he killed the old man and what he did after to hide the body. He dismembered the old man's body and he hid the remaining pieces under the planks.

The narrator tells the reader how he felt after he killed the old man. He felt relieved because the old man's eye wouldn't bother him anymore.

The narrator tells how he heard some people knock on his door, and when he opened the door he saw two officers.

The narrator says that the two officers told him that some neighbors heard someone scream so they came to make sure that everything was good, so they told him if they could check the house.

The narrator tells the reader that while he was talking to the cops he was hearing the heartbeat of the old men, and that he was starting to get nervous because he thought that the officers could hear it too.

The narrator admits that he had killed the old man, and that he had hid his body under the floor.

3 Themes

• Guilt can make you tell the truth.
• Madness can make you do things you will regret later on.
• Obsession can keep you up until late at night.