(This is initially a speech delivered for the Interpretive
Reading Manual (Advanced Communication Series) of Toastmaster International. My
Advanced Speech 1)
Main objective of Advanced Speech 1 is to Read A Story — It
challenges the speaker to enthrall the audience with a story that the audience
isn’t even aware of the reader. The speech should be 8 to 10 minutes.
I chose one of Edgar Allan Poe’s story for this project
The Tell Tale Heart
by Edgar Allan Poe
Aside from the story being a literary classic, I chose this
because of the protagonist’s (who was also the narrator) sober madness, which I
believe would be an advantage in telling a story. If I could deliver the speech
in such a way that my audience would think that I am disturbed and ready for
the psychiatric hospital then I could tell that I did my job right.
Another reason is that I am really into vicious, dark and
eerie stories. So, if I could get my audience transported to this realm then it
would be a good chill for them.
But then, if you can spare a few minutes and haven’t read
The Tell Tale Heart of Poe, now is a good chance. The story is full of irony
and suspense, also INSANITY for the part of the narrator. (summary &analysis)
schoolworkhelp.net |
You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have
seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded –with what caution –with
what foresight –with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to
the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night,
about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it –oh so gently! And
then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark
lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my
head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved
it slowly –very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep.
It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I
could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as
this, And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern
cautiously-oh, so cautiously –cautiously (for the hinges creaked) –I undid it
just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did
for seven long nights –every night just at midnight –but I found the eye always
closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who
vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went
boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in
a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would
have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at
twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept. (for the whole story)
By the way if you are curious on how the speech went. Let’s
just say I was happy. I need some improvement on some areas specially on my
pauses. But below is a piece of what my evaluator had remarked about my
performance
Let me open the door inch by inch. I glanced inside and saw a speaker who was eager to advance herself that she took the risk of a story that often gives a cringe to the safe-minded and weak at heart. The story, because of its vicious nature, showed a part of our speaker’s personality – her unquestionable bravery to walk through uncharted territory.
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