“THE BLACK CAT” ANNOTATION ASSIGNMENT

• Characterization of the narrator: “The Black Cat” is told from the first person narrative point of view. As you read, look for scenes that reveal the narrator’s personality and/or temperament. • Highlight examples of direct and indirect

characterization (remember S.A.L.T.).• For anything you highlight make inferences

about the narrator’s personality.• Things to consider:• Is he a reliable narrator? (This is a common question

when dealing with the first person narrator.)• Is the narrator a nice person? How do you know?• Is the narrator of stable mind? How do you know?

DICTION AND MOOD ANALYSIS

1. Find three different paragraphs or passages that have three different moods.

2. Identify the mood of the paragraph or passage. Write that mood in the margin.

3. Highlight all words in that paragraph or passage that you think support that mood.

“THE BLACK CAT” DICTION AND MOOD ANALYSIS PRE-WRITING

The diction of paragraph ____ reveals a _________ mood from the narrator.

List of Diction Words: Choose 3-5 from your passage or paragraph.

Diction Vocabulary: Denotative meaning and connotative meaning. Do any other terms help create the mood: euphonious or cacophonous, formal or informal, monosyllabic, or polysyllabic, archaic or colloquial?

Analysis of diction: How does the vocabulary support the mood listed above?

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