The Telltale Heart
A narrator attempts to convince the reader of his sanity while describing how he murdered an old man for whom he cared. The narrator's obsession with the old man's "evil eye" drives him to kill, and he dismembers the body to hide evidence. However, a police officer is able to hear the old man's heart still beating beneath the floorboards, leading to the narrator's downfall.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1843 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Horror · 2,576 words
First lines
True! -- nervous -- very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses -- not destroyed -- not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily -- how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
What this Textopian page supports
The Telltale Heart is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edgar Allan Poe
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Horror, Short Story, Dark Fiction
- Length: 2,576 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Telltale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Telltale Heart?
- How does this short story by Edgar Allan Poe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
- Berenice by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Door by Guy De Maupassant
- The Imp Of The Perverse by Edgar Allan Poe
- Green Tea by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- Strange Event In The Life Of Schalken The Painter by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The story embodies elements of horror, psychological tension, and the supernatural, characteristic of Gothic literature.
- Psychological Thriller — The narrative focuses on the mental state of the protagonist, exploring themes of madness and guilt.
- Horror — The plot involves murder and the exploration of fear, creating a sense of dread and terror.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
Tags
Psychological Thriller · Gothic Fiction · Short Story · Murder Mystery · Crime Fiction · Dark Humor · Paranoia · Madness · Obsession · Guilty Conscience · Inner Turmoil · Moral Ambiguity