7th grade power point ELA Benchmarks

1. “The Tell Tale Heart”
By: Edgar Allan Poe
By: Edgar Allan Poe

2. Internal Conflict
• An internal conflict is a battle within a
character’s own mind.
• How did you decide what you wanted to
eat for lunch today ?

3. • “Why would they not be gone? I paced the
floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if
exited to fury by the observations of the
men - but the noise steadily increased. Oh
God! What could I do?”
• This is an internal conflict because the
argument the character is having is
happening inside his own head.

4. External Conflict
• An external conflict is the battle between a
character in a story and any outside force.
• An outside force can include anything from
another character to nature.
• For example, extreme heat is an external
force.

5. • “And I did this 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.”
• This is an external conflict between the
main character and time.

6. Overstatement
• An overstatement is when a statement is
exaggerated.
• “I have a ton of homework”
• This is an example of overstatement
because literally they do not have a ton, as
in 2,000 pounds, of homework.

7. • “I kept quite still and said nothing. For a
whole hour I did not move a muscle...”
• This is an example of overstatement
because it is impossible not to move a
muscle for an hour. The author is just
trying to convey that the main character
kept very, very still.

8. Understatement
• An understatement is used to make a fact
of a situation seem less important than it
really is.
• Saying, “It only rained a little,” after
realizing your house flooded would be an
understatement.

9. • “...- I made up my mind to take the life of
the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye
forever. Now at this point. You fancy me
mad.”
• This is an understatement, at this point in
the story the reader begins to think that
the main character is much more than mad.

10. Theme
• A theme is the main thought or idea of a
story.
• A theme is the idea the author is trying to
get across to his or her readers.
• A theme is usually an abstract idea that is
recurring.

11. What is the theme in
“The Tell Tale Heart?”
• The theme in “The Tell Tale Heart” is guilt.
• Edgar Allen Poe is trying to convince the
readers that the main character feels guilty
for killing the old man.
• There are many parts in the story where
Poe wants the reader to understand that
even though the main character seems
crazy he still feels remorse.

12. Evidence
• “ I loved the old man. He never wronged me. He
had never given me insult. For his gold I had no
desire. I think it was his eye!”
• “Meantime, the hellish tattoo of the heart
increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder
and louder every instant. The old man’s terror
must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say
louder every moment! - do you mark me well I
have told you that I am nervous: so I am.”
• “Villains,” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I admit
the deed! - tear up the planks! here, here! - It is
the beating of his hideous heart!”

13. Symbolism
• A symbol can be anything that stands for
something else.
• Uncle Sam is often used to symbolize
America.
• Often in literature symbols have a deeper
meaning.

14. Symbolism in “The Tell
Tale Heart”
• What does the beating heart symbolize?
• “Almighty God! - no, no! They heard!-
they suspected ! - they knew! - they were
making a mockery of my horror- this I
thought and this I think. But anything was
better than this agony! Anything was more
tolerable than this derision. I could bear
those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt
that I must scream or die! and now- again!
- hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!”

15. Guilt
• Through out the story the beating heart
symbolizes guilt.
• This contributes to the theme and creates
suspense when building up to the end
where the main character can no longer
take the guilt.
• “Villains!” I shrieked, “dissemble no more! I
admit the deed” - tear up the planks! here,
here! - It is the beating of his hideous
heart!”

16. Citations
• Poe, E. A. (2008 ). The Tell Tale Heart
(Vols. Volume II ). Project Gutenberg .