Introduction to Characterization & Plot in "A Tell-Tale Heart"

Students will review the plot pyramid structure and be introduced to a method for studying characterization using the acronym "S.T.E.A.L." Students will learn the concept behind "S.T.E.A.L." and analyze characters from one of their favorite movies/books/short stories to apply.  Then the class will read the short story "A Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe aloud, answering comprehension questions along the way, as well as planned questions to review plot. Finally, students will analyze the narrator of the text using the "S.T.E.A.L." method and draw conclusions on what we know about the character based upon our observations.  We will determine the sanity of the narrator based on our observations and text evidence.  Students will be asked to participate and discuss the text and offer their own thoughts and insights into the motivation of the character as well as fill in the plot pyramid of events for the text.

Students will be provided with a Google Doc (that can optionally be printed) to guide their study, as well as a link to an online copy of the text once enrolled in the class.

Please note that there must be three learners for this class to run.