Analysis In Narration Of The The Tell-Tale Heart

Thomas Ho

0010975

Dr. G.Doran

English 203.01

16 July, 2002

Analysis in narration of the The Tell-Tale Heart

In this paper, it talks about what type of narration of the story ЎҐTell-Tale HeartÐŽ¦ used, and will explain why this type of narration is effective. Obviously, ЎҐTell-Tale HeartÐŽ¦ is a first person narration story. From the wording and the way of presenting, it is clear to see there is one major character and some other minor characters; there are some reasons of why the narration is effective in telling the story. It is very easy to make reader to get involve in the story and easy to picture the actions. The whole story draws reader interested in what happened next of the story. It attracts readerÐŽ¦s attention, understand the mental state of the narrator directly. Author gives confusion to reader between narratorÐŽ¦s action and his speech in order to illustrate a piece of myth to the story.

ÐŽ§Tell-Tale HeartЎЁ is a first person narration. ÐŽ§IЎЁ, ÐŽ§myЎЁ, ÐŽ§meЎЁ or ÐŽ§myselfЎЁ appear many times in the story. ÐŽ§I was never finder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed himЎЁ(36), ÐŽ§He had never wronged meЎЁ(36), ÐŽ§ÐŽKwhen my thumb slipped upon the tin fasteningÐŽKЎЁ(37), ÐŽ§ÐŽKI felt myself getting paleÐŽKЎЁ(38). It shows that the narrator refers to himself as ÐŽ§IЎЁ through the story. The way of presenting in the story helps reader to know it is a first person narration. At the beginning of the story, reader knows the mad man is going to tell his own story. ÐŽ§ÐŽKbut why will you say that I am madÐŽKHow, then am I mad? Hearken! And observe how healthily ÐŽV how calmly I can tell you the whole storyЎЁ(36). The narrator is going to tell us a story. He wants to explain he is not a mad man. Therefore, he tells reader his own story and if he telling his own story, then it must be a first person. From above all, it proves that ÐŽ§Tell-Tale HeartЎЁ is a first person narration story.

It is effective by using first person narration in ÐŽ§Tell-Tale HeartЎЁ. Readers can throw themselves into the main character and to follow the actions described in the story. Since the first person participants appear in every sentence, thus it makes reader to get involve in the story easily. For example, ÐŽ§ÐŽKI turn the latch of his door and open itÐŽKЎЁ(36), ÐŽ§ÐŽKI move it slowly-very, very slowlyÐŽKЎЁ(36), ÐŽ§I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him.ЎЁ(38). Assume readers understand what the sentences mean, it would not have any difficulties for reader to create his or her own picture. Once the picture came out from mind, the projection to the character would not be a problem. As a result, the narration helps readers to create the picture of their own so that they can involve in the story completely.

Next, the first person narration draws readerÐŽ¦s interest or attention into the story. Sometimes people feel boring while they are reading fiction because the story could not keep their interest. In order to keeps their interest, is to give them a space to raise up question about the story in often. In favor of reaching this purpose, the most direct way is to present the story in first person manner. By looking at the very first sentence: ÐŽ§ True! ÐŽV nervous ÐŽV very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say I am mad?ЎЁ(36). In this sentence, it draws an intention to reader by questioning why the narrator said he is so nervous and why defending himself from a mad man. Furthermore, the murderer finally admitted the deed in the last paragraph. It raises a question to reader of why the narrator admitted the crime without leaving any evidences. Is it because of his emotion? Or he really felt that he is guilty? So, first person narration can give reader a direct intention, and to draw readerÐŽ¦s interested to what will happen next by questioning.

First person narrator is also the best way to express the mental state of the narrator directly. Reader would understand about what narrator say, they could see what the narrator thinking of at that moment. However, there are many emotional expressions that come from narratorÐŽ¦s description. I.e. ÐŽ§And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to himÐŽKЎЁ(36). It is not hard to see the narrator is so afraid to see the old man, but he forces himself to speak to him. Moreover, reader can see narratorÐŽ¦s mental state by his action. ÐŽ§To think that there I was, opening the door, little by littleÐŽKЎЁ(36). The narrator did that because he doesnÐŽ¦t want to wake up the old man who is sleeping, and he wants this to be done in quiet.