The Black Cat Novel Study Guide

This Novel Study Guide is for the story The Black Cat, written by Edgar Allan Poe. This resource includes comprehension and critical thinking questions for the entire story.

Includes:

- Vocabulary words with definitions.

- Word puzzles: Word Decoder, Word Search, Word Scramble, Crossword, Hangman

- True or false.

- Multiple choice.

- Long answer questions.

- Answer keys.

- Essay prompts.

Also included are Graphic Organizers:

- Cause & Effect

- Literary Devices

- Plot: Story Cycle

- Conflict: Internal or External Conflict

- Character: Character Sketch

- Setting: Tone and Mood

- Theme: Theme Tree

- Answer keys

The resource finishes off with a complete copy of the short story, as well as a link to an audio performance. This story, as well as other works by Edgar Allan Poe, is in the Public Domain. No copyright laws have been violated in posting this material.

About this Resource:

This resource is a study of the short story The Black Cat, written by Edgar Allan Poe. The Novel Study Guide includes vocabulary with definitions and comprehension questions in the form of true or false, multiple choice and long answer. Students are meant to read or listen to the entire story, then answer the provided questions. Teachers can choose to hand the questions out all at once, or group them into sections. The resource is grouped into natural sections, such as vocabulary, comprehension, critical thinking, essay prompts, and graphic organizers.

About the Worksheets:

A series of comprehension-based worksheets make up this resource, along with Answer Keys.

Vocabulary: 63 words from the story are listed with their meanings in either the order they appear chronologically in the story, or in alphabetical order. The words were chosen by how difficult they were to understand based on context clues. Each word is then used in 1 of 5 vocabulary puzzle worksheets:

· Word Decoder: Use the legend to decode the word puzzle.

· Word Search: Find the vocabulary words hidden in the puzzle.

· Word Scramble: Unscramble the words to make the vocabulary words.

· Crossword: Solve each clue with the vocabulary word that matches. Write the vocabulary word in the matching spot in the crossword puzzle.

· Hangman: Guess letters to fill in the hidden vocabulary words. Guess a wrong letter and fill in the hangman. Finish the word before the hangman is done.

Short Answer: 21 True or False questions are provided. Students must answer each statement as True or False. 12 multiple choice questions are provided. Students must answer each question with the best answer option.

Long Answer: 20 comprehension and critical thinking questions are provided. Students answer each question with complete sentences on the lines provided.

Essay Prompts: 5 end-of-unit writing activities are provided. Complete one or more of these essay prompts.

Graphic Organizers: 7 graphic organizers are provided.

· Cause and Effect: Write the matching cause or effect from the ones provided. Answer key provided.

· Literary Devices: Find examples from the story that match the provided literary device.

· Story Cycle: Describe the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution of the story.

· Internal or External Conflict: Determine whether the conflict in the story is internal or external.

· Character Sketch: Detail what the character says, thinks, hates, loves, owns, does, or uses.

· Tone and Mood: Describe where and when the story takes place, and how these affect the tone and mood.

· Theme Tree: Find evidence from the story that supports the theme.

Reading: A complete copy of the short story is provided, as well as a link to an audio performance.