Analysis

This section highlights the main elements of our analysis of the story “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe.

The story’s plot structure features narrative techniques such as backstories and foreshadowing. The story’s ending also has a twist because it leads to an unexpected outcome.

The main character of the story is an unnamed male narrator. Other figures from his life, like his two black cats and his wife, are secondary characters.

The events take place in an unspecified physical setting, adding to the story’s sense of mystery. The social setting explores the negative effects of alcoholism, mental illness, and domestic violence.

The events are described by a first-person narrator. He presents the events subjectively, and he is unreliable due to his unstable state of mind.

The language is written in a formal style and features little dialogue, relying mainly on narration. The style of writing is fragmented by the narrator's comments and repetition, echoing the his unstable mental state.

You can find a full analysis of the story in the following pages.

Further help

Do you want additional help with analysis of short stories? See our general guide for more:

Short story analysis

I denne vejledning får du Studienets hjælp til at analysere noveller (short stories) i engelsk.