Initial Insight 1. “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story about a man who becomes increasingly abusive and cruel under the influence of alcohol. The story is narrated by a man who is about to be executed for the murder of his wife. He tells the story of how he became an alcoholic and how his life took a dark turn after he adopted a black cat named Pluto. 2. The narrator of “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe is an unnamed man who is waiting is execution for the murder of his wife. He is an alcoholic and becomes abusive and cruel under the influence of alcohol. He is also a pet lover and has a black cat named Pluto, which he initially adores but later he becomes the object of his violent behavior. The narrator is unreliable, and his account of events is distorted by his guilt and madness. He is aware of his mental problem and recognizes the change that is occurring within him, but he finds himself unable to reverse his descent into the problems. Reader’s Response 1. Some of the controversial elements in “The Black Cat” include the narrator’s alcoholism, his violent behavior towards his wife and pets, and the supernatural elements in the story. These elements are necessary to further the storyline as they help to create a sense of tension and suspense that keeps the reader engaged. 2. The events in “The Black Cat” evoke me a range of emotional responses, including fear, disgust, and sympathy. The narrator’s descent into madness and his violent behavior towards his wife and pets can be disturbing, while the supernatural elements in the story can be both eerie and intriguing. 3. The narrator of “The Black Cat” is an unreliable character who is difficult to sympathize with. His alcoholism and violent behavior make him an unsympathetic character, while his descent into darkness and the eventual murder of his wife make him a tragic figure. 4. It is possible that the narrator is motivated by a desire to explain his actions and to justify his behavior. The narrator is aware of his guilt and recognizes the change that is occurring within him, but he finds himself unable to reverse his descent into madness. By sharing his story, he may be attempting to make sense of his own actions and to come to terms with the consequences of his behavior. 5. I think that there is a logical explanation for this phenomenon. The narrator suggests that the imprint is a natural result of the fire, and it is possible that the heat and smoke from the fire caused the image to appear on the wall. It is also possible that the narrator’s guilt and madness have caused him to see things that are not there, and that the imprint is a product of his imagination. 6. The story ends in a way that is unexpected and shocking. The narrator’s confession to the murder of his wife and his subsequent execution are surprising twists that leave me with a sense of discomfort. Language Focus 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Homely Sagacious Paltry Uncongenial Agreeable Peevish Fiendish Vile Odious Ghastly : Commonly seen or known / small negative : Has a good sense of smell / positive : Ridiculously small / negative : Not friendly / positive : to one’s liking / very positive : irritation / negative : diabolically cruel / negative : extremely unpleasant / positive : extremely unpleasant; repulsive / negative : Causing great horror or fear; frightful or macabre / negative Close Reading 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. A) From a prison cell His affection from animal Inexplicable and primitive He drinks a lot / deal with The portrait of his cat The second cat has a white mark / The main character focuses a lot on this difference, and it is what starts his inner rage. 8. He despises and fears the second cat because the white patch develops his paranoia. 9. D) 10. The main character points to the spot in the wall. They find the corpse of his wife behind that wall. Analytical Reading 1) The narrator’s first home: The narrator’s first home is not described in detail, but it is implied to be a comfortable and happy place. The narrator describes how he and his wife were “united in the bonds of the happiest marriage” and how they shared a love of animals. The second house: The second house is described as old and in disrepair. The narrator and his wife move into this house after their first home burns down, and the narrator becomes increasingly violent and abusive towards his wife and pets. The bar (den) where the second cat is found: The bar where the narrator finds the second cat is described as a dark and dingy place. The narrator is drunk when he enters the bar, and he is immediately drawn to the cat, which he describes as “a remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black”. The cellar: The cellar is important in the story, as it is where the narrator hides the body of his wife after he murders her. The cellar is described as a dark and cramped space, and the narrator is tormented by the sound of his wife’s heart beating beneath the floorboards. The prison cell: The story ends with the narrator in a prison cell, awaiting his execution. The cell is described as a small and cramped space, and the narrator is consumed by guilt and despair. 2) a) Explanation: The conflict between the narrator and his wife is an example of character vs. human conflict. The narrator’s alcoholism and violent behavior towards his wife leads to a breakdown in their relationship. Passage: paragraph 6 b) Explanation: The conflict between the narrator and the black cat is an example of character vs. nature conflict. The narrator’s violent behavior towards the cat leads to a series of supernatural events that ultimately result in his downfall. Passage: paragraph 7 c) Explanation: The conflict between the narrator and himself is an example of character vs. self conflict. The narrator struggles with his own guilt and madness throughout the story, and he is aware of the change that is occurring within him. Passage: paragraph 6 d) Explanation: The conflict between the narrator and society is an example of character vs. society conflict. The narrator is ultimately punished for his crimes and is sentenced to death. Passage: paragraph 32 3) In “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, the most important conflict is character vs. self, as the narrator struggles with his own guilt and madness throughout the story. The other three types of conflict in the story are character vs. human, character vs. nature, and character vs. society. These conflicts help to create a sense of tension and suspense in the story and highlight the destructive power of guilt and madness. 4) As the story develops, the narrator undergoes a significant change, as he becomes increasingly violent and abusive under the influence of alcohol. This change makes him a dynamic character, as he undergoes a significant transformation throughout the course of the story. The narrator is also a round character, as he is complex and multi-dimensional, with conflicting emotions and motivations. 5) Narrator: The narrator is an active character, as he consciously makes changes to his surroundings and takes actions that drive the plot forward. He is responsible for adopting Pluto, mistreating him, and ultimately killing him. He is also responsible for the murder of his wife and the subsequent coverup of her death. Wife: The narrator’s wife is a passive character, as she undergoes the changes going on around her and is ultimately a victim of the narrator’s violence. She is described as a loving and devoted wife, but she is unable to escape the narrator’s violent behavior and is ultimately killed by him. Pluto: Pluto is an active character in the beginning of the story, as he is a beloved pet who brings joy to the narrator’s life. However, he becomes a passive character after he is mistreated by the narrator and ultimately killed. He is no longer able to take actions that drive the plot forward. Second Cat: The second cat is a passive character, as he is a victim of the narrator’s violence and has no agency in the story. He is described as a “remarkably large and beautiful animal, entirely black”. He is initially a victim of the narrator’s violence, but later becomes a supernatural force that haunts him. 6) In “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator is an unreliable character who tells the story from a first-person perspective. He is an alcoholic and becomes increasingly abusive and cruel under the influence of alcohol. He is also a pet lover and has a black cat named Pluto, which he initially adores but later becomes the object of his violent behavior. The narrator is unreliable, and his account of events is distorted by his guilt and madness. He is aware of his mental deterioration and recognizes the change that is occurring within him, but he finds himself unable to reverse his descent into madness. 7) “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe is an excellent example of Gothic fiction. Here are some of the most common features of Gothic fiction and examples from the text: Dark and gloomy settings: The story takes place in a series of dark and gloomy settings, including the narrator’s home, the bar where he finds the second cat, and the cellar where he hides his wife’s body. Supernatural elements: The story contains several supernatural elements, including the appearance of the second cat after Pluto’s death and the imprint of Pluto on the narrator’s bedroom wall after the fire. Psychological horror: The story is a study of the psychology of guilt and madness, and it explores the destructive power of these emotions. Violence and cruelty: The story is violent and gruesome, with scenes of animal abuse and murder. Antiheroes: The narrator is an antihero, as he is a deeply flawed character who commits heinous acts throughout the story. Mystery and suspense: The story is full of mystery and suspense, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. Use of symbolism: The black cat is a symbol of the narrator’s guilt and madness, and it serves as a supernatural force that haunts him throughout the story. These are just a few of the many features of Gothic fiction that are present in “The Black Cat.”
