May 2 & 7th Finish - Black Cat Poe Short Story & start - Creative Writing Exercise: Unreliable Narrator Challenge > Teams.
2& 7th 2025 Black Cat Poe Short Story & Creative Writing Exercise: Unreliable Narrator Challenge > Teams.
May 2 -
Silent Read 15 min
Re-Reading & Discussion (30 min) Black Cat
Step 1: Literary Techniques & Close Reading
Students read the story (as a class).
While re-reading, they highlight instances of:
Unreliable narration
Symbolism (the black cat, the second cat, alcohol, the eye, fire, etc.)
Foreshadowing and irony
Step 2: Discussion Questions (Whole Class)
Is the narrator trustworthy? Why or why not?
How does Poe use the cat as a symbol of guilt and madness?
How does the story create a sense of inevitability and doom?
Compare The Black Cat to modern psychological horror—how does it hold up today?
1. Is the narrator trustworthy? Why or why not?
No, the narrator is not trustworthy. He insists he is not mad, but his actions contradict this claim. He justifies his violent behavior and shows a lack of self-awareness, making him an unreliable guide to the story.
2. How does Poe use the cat as a symbol of guilt and madness?
The first cat, Pluto, symbolizes the narrator's initial normalcy, and its death marks the start of his descent into madness. The second cat represents his guilt and obsession, with its white "gallows" mark foreshadowing doom. The narrator’s irrational behavior toward both cats reflects his madness.
3. How does the story create a sense of inevitability and doom?
The story creates inevitability through foreshadowing, the narrator's growing cruelty, and the second cat, which symbolizes the narrator's descent into madness and his ultimate fate. His actions set the stage for his eventual downfall, making his fate seem inevitable.
4. Compare The Black Cat to modern psychological horror—how does it hold up today?
The Black Cat holds up well in modern psychological horror. Its themes of guilt, madness, and unreliable narration are still central to contemporary horror, seen in films like Shutter Island or Black Swan. The symbolism and psychological deterioration in Poe’s story continue to influence modern horror narratives.
Students to complete Vocab - as outlined on their print outs.
Vocabulary Words
anomalous:
Deviating from the normal; aberrant or abnormal.
conflagration:
A large disastrous fire.
equivocal:
Uncertain. Undecided. Subject to two or more interpretations and usually used to mislead or confuse.
evinced:
Displayed clearly; revealed.
expedient:
Suitable for achieving a particular purpose in a given circumstance.
felicity:
Happiness. The quality or state of being happy.
gossamer:
Something light, delicate, or insubstantial. A cobweb, for example.
hogshead:
A large cask or barrel. A U.S. unit equal to 63 gallons.
intemperance:
Habitual or excessive consumption of alcohol. In general, a lack of moderation.
Poe had a problem with alcohol himself.
pertinacity:
Adhering resolutely to an opinion, purpose, or design. Perversely persistent.
phantasm:
Illusion, ghost, a product of fantasy, a mental representation of a real object.
Pluto:
The Roman god of the underworld.
sagacious:
Having or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness. Shrewd.
tinctured:
Affected. Infused or instilled with an idea or property. Also to tint or stain with a color.
View:
Cautionary Tales Review - often the focus on Fairy Tales - e.g. - Teaching a lesson to the reader.
Rest of class -
Next - Teams - Task - Gothic Horror Free-Write (rest of class min) Cart 3
What makes a story unsettling?
Write a one-paragraph horror description involving an ordinary object taking on a sinister quality (e.g., a cat, mirror, or shadow). TEAMS.
May 7 2025
one-paragraph horror description involving an ordinary object taking on a sinister quality (e.g., a cat, mirror, or shadow). TEAMS.
Next - Creative Writing Exercise: Unreliable Narrator Challenge > Teams.
Prompt:
Write a 1 page short story inspired by The Black Cat, using an unreliable narrator.
Rewrite a classic fairy tale with an untrustworthy perspective (e.g., “The Three Little Pigs” from the wolf’s POV).
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