Description
Have your students read the creepy, Gothic short story “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe and deepen their understanding with engaging before-reading, during-reading, and after-reading activities designed to support close reading and literary analysis.
The lesson begins with a pre-reading activity on superstitions, where students examine common beliefs and reflect on whether they consider themselves superstitious. This discussion helps set the tone and prepares students for the story’s dark atmosphere and themes.
Because “The Black Cat” is rich with academic vocabulary, students select 10 words from a list of 25 to study and define, building comprehension and confidence before reading. Students then read the full text of the story and respond to 25 analysis questions that require the use of textual evidence and focus on Poe’s craft.
After reading, students dive deeper through a quote analysis activity, breaking down the significance of key passages and how they contribute to theme, mood, and character development. To wrap up the lesson, students write an objective summary of the text and then choose one of three creative writing options from a learning menu, allowing for choice and engagement while reinforcing understanding.
This resource includes the full text of the story and a complete answer key, making it easy to implement and assess.
Perfect for middle school and high school ELA, this “The Black Cat” lesson supports close reading, vocabulary development, literary analysis, and creative response while immersing students in Poe’s unsettling Gothic world.