To analyze a theme from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" using the ACES format (Answer, Cite, Explain, and Summarize), let's consider the theme of guilt and how it drives the narrator to madness.
Answer: One prominent theme in "The Tell-Tale Heart" is the overwhelming nature of guilt and how it can lead to self-destruction.
Cite: In the passage, the narrator describes hearing the old man's heartbeat, saying, "It grew louder—louder—louder! And at last I would shriek, 'Stop! Stop the beating of that hideous heart!'"
Explain: This moment illustrates how the narrator’s guilt manifests physically as the imagined sound of the old man's heart amplifies with intensity. The heartbeat serves as a constant reminder of the crime he committed, reflecting his deteriorating mental state. Despite his attempts to conceal his actions, the guilt becomes unbearable, ultimately leading him to confess.
Summarize: In summary, the theme of guilt in "The Tell-Tale Heart" is portrayed through the narrator's descent into madness. His inability to escape the consequences of his actions highlights how guilt can consume a person, driving them to the brink of insanity.
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