Use the passage from “The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe to answer the question Using the ACES format, determine one or more themes in the passage. Cite details from the passage to support your answer. 3-5 SENTECESSS
The Tell Tale Heart
by Edgar Allen Poe
True !- nervous-very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am
mad? The disease had sharpened my senses-not destroyed-not dulled them. Above all was
the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things
in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily-how calmly I can tell you the
whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day
and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never
wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye!
yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture-a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell
upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees-very gradually-I made up my mind to take the
life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. 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. Hal-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.
You will use “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe to respond to this question. The excerpt is in the test.
In 3-5 sentences, determine one or more themes in the
passage. Cite details from the passage to support your
answer.
First, note that your response should be 3 to 5 sentences long and should include text evidence from the passage to support your answer. Use the template below to help answer the question.
A- Based on the passage, one of the themes in the passage is _______________.
*HINT* Remember a theme is a PHRASE, not just one word!
C- For example, in the passage it says that “_______________”.
E- This shows that, ___________________.
S- In conclusion, ____________________.
Points Awarded
Scoring Criteria
4
The answer is very clear.
The answer is fully supported by details. (TEXT EVIDENCE)
There may be a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
3
The answer is mostly clear.
The answer is supported by mostly relevant details.
There are a few errors in grammar, usage, or mechanics. Errors do not interfere with meaning.
2
The answer is somewhat clear.
Details are weak or not related.
There are some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.
1
The answer is not clear.
There are few or no supporting details.
There are many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Errors interfere with meaning.
0
The question is not answered.
1 answer
A- Based on the passage, one of the themes in the passage is the fine line between sanity and madness.
C- For example, the narrator insists, "You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing," while describing how carefully he planned the old man's murder.
E- This shows that the narrator perceives his heightened senses as a sign of sanity, despite his heinous thoughts and actions, suggesting that mental instability can manifest in ways that are hard to recognize.
S- In conclusion, Poe illustrates how the narrator's obsession and meticulousness blur the distinction between rational thought and insanity.
