Gothic Elements
What is Gothic literature mostly about?
Fear and dark ideas
What point of view does Poe most often use?
First person
What physical feature does the narrator obsess over?
The old man’s eye
What animal is central to the story?
A cat
What is one thing both narrators have in common?
They are unreliable
What is an unreliable narrator?
A narrator you cannot fully trust
What is it called when words or phrases are repeated?
Repetition
Where does the narrator hide the body?
Under the floorboards
What habit contributes to the narrator’s violent behavior?
Alcohol
What is a major theme in both stories?
Guilt
How does a Gothic setting make a story feel?
It creates a scary or tense mood
How does repetition affect the reader?
It builds tension and shows the narrator’s emotions
Why does the narrator think he is not crazy?
He believes his careful plan proves he is sane
How does the narrator explain his actions?
He blames other things instead of himself
How does guilt affect the narrators?
It influences their actions and contributes to their downfall
Why are Gothic settings often dark and isolated?
To make the story more suspenseful and intense
Why does Poe focus on the narrator’s thoughts?
To show what is happening in their mind
What shows that the narrator is actually not sane?
His actions are extreme and irrational
What do the narrator’s actions toward animals show about him?
He is becoming more violent and losing control
Why do the narrators try to explain their actions to the reader?
To seem reasonable or avoid blame
How does an unreliable narrator affect how we understand the story?
It makes us question what is true
How does first-person narration affect whether we trust the narrator?
We only see their thoughts, so we may not trust them
What does the beating heart show about the narrator?
It shows his guilt and mental breakdown
What does the second cat represent?
Guilt or the consequences of his actions
How is guilt shown in both stories?
In one, through the heartbeat; in the other, through the cat