This lesson focuses on how Poe uses dramatic irony to create suspense in "The Tell-Tale Heart." Prior to students rereading the sections of texts independently or in pairs, students are asked to reflect on an example of irony in a real life situation and how that might have led to tension or humor. After exploring text-dependent questions, students then return to the focus question to answer it independently. Special Materials: Students should have access to the following materials for this lesson: * Student guided notes sheet * Copies of the anchor text for all students