Sunday, March 29, 2015

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?




Vocabulary




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."








My Answers


1. This quote is stating that your pet companion is able to give back to you in such an unselfish and self-sacrificing way that it touches the human heart.


2. Pluto the cat was given this name due to the fact that the main character felt distant from his cat. He felt that Pluto was the smallest and most insignificant animal in the house.


3. I have no answer for this question.

4. His shame keeps him from stopping maltreating the cat.


5. He says that it doesn't touch his soul. He is showing his hatred of this cat.


6. He believes that "perverseness" is at man's core, that we are Naturally evil. yes, i do agree with his definition. I also agree that it is human nature.


7. He hung the cat cause he hated what he loved and he saw the cat as a part of his-self he hated.

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