Guided Reading
Read the story in short parts. After each part, answer a question to check your understanding.
Part 1: Egaeus’ Life and Mind
| My name is Egaeus.
I was born in an old, dark house that belonged to my family for many years. The house was quiet and full of books. My mother died there, and I spent most of my life inside its walls. I did not enjoy the outside world. I preferred silence, reading, and thinking. From a young age, I was often sick. I thought too much and worried about small things. Sometimes, I stared at objects for hours and forgot everything else. I knew this was not normal, but I could not stop. |
Part 2: Berenice Before the Illness
| My cousin Berenice grew up in the same house. We were very different.
She was active, cheerful, and full of life. She loved walking outside and enjoyed nature. I stayed inside, reading and thinking. She smiled often. I did not. For many years, Berenice was healthy and beautiful. |
Part 3: The Illness and Its Effects
| Then she became very ill. The illness changed her body and her personality.
She often fell into deep trances and lay still for a long time. When she woke up, she seemed different. Slowly, she stopped being the Berenice I knew. I felt sorry for her, but I did not truly love her. My feelings were more about thinking than about emotion. |
Part 4: The Strange Decision and First Encounter
| Still, one day, I asked her to marry me. I do not know why I did it.
One quiet afternoon, I was sitting alone in the library. Suddenly, I looked up and saw Berenice standing in front of me. She did not speak. The light was dim, and she looked very thin and pale. Her face had changed. |
Part 5: The Obsession
| When she smiled, I noticed her teeth. They were very white and perfect.
I could not stop looking at them. After she left the room, I could not forget them. I thought about them all the time. I saw them in my mind everywhere. I knew my thoughts were unhealthy, but I could not control them. That night, I stayed alone in the library. I did not sleep. I only thought. |
Part 6: Death and Confusion
| Later, I heard cries and voices in the house.
A servant came and told me that Berenice was dead. She had another attack, and everyone believed she had died. They prepared her burial that same day. After that, my memory became confused. I do not remember everything clearly. I woke up in the library at midnight. A lamp was on the table. Next to it, there was a small box. I felt afraid, but I did not know why. |
Part 7: The Horrible Truth
| A servant came into the room. He was very pale and scared.
He spoke with fear. He told me what had happened. Berenice’s grave was opened. She was not dead when they buried her. She was still alive when the grave was opened. I looked down at my hands. They were dirty. Near the wall, I saw a spade. Then the box fell to the floor and broke open. Inside were medical tools, and many small white objects. They were teeth. |