The Black Cat - Edgar Allan Poe

Pre-reading.
"The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe
In this unit we will read and listen to a short story and then discuss and write responses to some questions.
Additionally, we will use the story to help us develop our working vocabulary.  Many of the words Poe uses in his stories appear on the SAT and other college exams.

Do Now: Write answers in full sentences to each of the following questions.  

Your writing can be based on either real or imaginary events.  

If imaginary, try not to include ANYTHING truthful so we can let the class guess about whether your account is totally true or totally made up.

1. Did you ever tell someone that it wasn't your fault, when it was?  Or blame someone else when you did the thing that could have gotten you into trouble?  
2. Did blaming someone else actually get you into more trouble than if you'd just been honest from the start?
3. Did you ever something, like the weather, when things didn't go right for you?
4. Did you ever blame the sidewalk when you tripped?  Or a stone, when you hit your toe?

AIM: Is the narrator totally reasonable?  Totally credible?  Totally trustworthy?  Or a little of each?

http://coursesmrhedges2013.blogspot.com/

Vocabulary

http://www.vocabulary.com/lists/198768#view=notes

Discussion Questions for The Black Cat

1. Discuss the significance of the following quote: 'There is something unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of man."

2. What is the significance of the cat's name, Pluto?

3. Why did the narrator initially restrain himself from maltreating the cat while maltreating the other animals?

4. Why does he eventually mistreat the cat.

5. Describe the narrator's feelings after abusing the cat. why is that significant?

6. How does the narrator define "perverseness"? Do you agree with his definition? Do you agree that it is human nature?

7. Discuss the significance if the following quote: "[I] hung it because i knew that it had loved me, and because i felt it had given me no reason of offense; because i knew that in doing so i was committing a sin."

Where are you going? Where have you been?

April 13, 2015
Write a summary of the story, "Where are you going, where have you been?"

Show, using evidence from the story, how religion is a recurring motif in the story.  For example, explain how certain key words (e.g., church, hell, music, goat, guilt) are woven into the story. 

The title of the story suggests a journey.  What kind of a journey did Connie take?  For example, how does Connie see herself and her mother, at the beginning of the story?  How does her view of things change by the story's end?  What accounts for that change?

The Last Leaf A and G Band

April 13, 2015
Essay question: Did Old Behrman sacrifice his life for Johnsy or for art?



March 23, 2015

Review "The Last Leaf" - Test on the Story Today.

March 20, 2015

Do Now: Can a person's mood influence his or her attitude?

Can a person's attitude influence the way life treats them?

AIM: What lesson does the doctor think Johnsy must learn in order for her to get well?

What prediction is Johnsy making about her future?

Do you Understand the Story?  

1. Why did artists select Greenwich Village to live?
2. Who was Old Behrman?
3. Why did Sue cry a Japanese napkin into pulp?  What does that mean?
4. What did Sue bring with her into Johnsy's room?  Why?  What message is Sue sending and is hoping Johnsy's will receive?
5. Art sends messages, do we always take the time to receive them?
6. Give an example of Personification from the story.
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8. Why was Johnsy counting backwards?  What does that show us about Johnsy's attitude and mood?
9. Was Old Behrman a successful artist?
10. The Doctor says Johnsy must want to live but does not give her hope.  What will Old Behrman do?
11. What does Johnsy see through the frame of the window and what meaning does it have for her?
12. Even in windy rainy weather, why won't the leaf leave the vine?
13. What does the enduring leaf teach Johnsy?
14. At the end of the story we are surprised!  Explain how art, not science, cured Johnsy and chased Mr. Pneumonia away?
15. A houseplant is dying.  Tell it why it must live by telling it the moral or theme of O. Henry's short story, "The Last Leaf."

Homework: Write a poem with this in mind:

"Using your eyes as a camera, take a picture of something that you can always remember and which will give you hope when you need it."

Grades and Expectations

February 3, 4, 5, 6
A, D, E, G, J Bands

Do Now: Define what the word Expectations means and write three sentences using the word.

AIM: Can expectations affect outcome?

ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘defer action, wait’): from Latin exspectare ‘look out for,’ from ex- ‘out’ + spectare ‘to look’ (frequentative of specere ‘see’).

PLEASE NOTE: THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS NOT ALLOWED DURING CLASS WITHOUT PERMISSION

Assignment #1 “The Grade-Check List”  

At the end of the Marking Period, ten points are deducted from your grade if you break rules 1-10.  (Ex. a 90 becomes an 80, 70 to 60, etc.)

The “E-Students” 

Arrive on time, always, and are rarely absent

Never cut class

Have their notebooks open within the first minute of class

Never call out, but raise their hands and wait to be called on

Never talk over others 

Are prepared for class with pen, pencil, paper, and homework assignment

Do not lose photocopies

Copy the board work right away or wait quietly for it to be posted

Always write in complete sentences and revise them when they need it
Take pride in their work, clean up, push in chairs when class is over

Complete the marking period with an average grade of 90 or above

The “G-Students”

Arrive on time, always, and are rarely absent

Never cut class

Have their notebooks open within the first minute of class

Never call out, but raise their hands and wait to be called on

Never talk over others 

Are prepared for class with pen, pencil, paper, and homework assignment

Do not lose photocopies

Copy the board work right away or wait quietly for it to be posted

Always write in complete sentences and revise them when they need it
Take pride in their work, clean up, push in chairs when class is over

Complete the marking period with an average grade of 66-89

The “S-Students”

Arrive on time, always, and are rarely absent

Never cut class

Have their notebooks open within the first minute of class

Never call out, but raise their hands and wait to be called on

Never talk over others 

Are prepared for class with pen, pencil, paper, and homework assignment

Do not lose photocopies

Copy the board work right away or wait quietly for it to be posted

Always write in complete sentences and revise them when they need it
Take pride in their work, clean up, push in chairs when class is over

Completes the marking period with at least a 65

The “U-Student” (There's almost always at least one.  Will it be you?)  ends the marking period with less than a 65  (Oh well!)