Twisted Thoughts

This worksheet retells the eerie tale of a man obsessed with an old man’s eye, which he describes as cold and vulture-like. Convinced that the eye holds some power over him, the narrator sneaks into the old man’s room each night until finally committing murder. He hides the body skillfully, but the sound of the heartbeat-real or imagined-drives him into a guilty confession. The story examines the collapse of sanity under the weight of obsession and guilt.

This passage helps students develop reading fluency by encouraging them to follow a suspenseful and emotionally intense narrative. It challenges them to think critically about perspective and unreliable narration. Students expand vocabulary through descriptive and psychological language, while also practicing inferencing skills. The intense internal conflict invites discussion about morality and self-deception, deepening literary comprehension.