THE BLACK CAT by Edgar Allan Poe Summary & Analysis

English homework giving you trouble?
In this video I'm talking about "The Black Cat," a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. If you're looking for more information about Poe's life or some of his others stories or poems, check out my full playlist: • Homework Help: Edgar A...
SUMMARY 0:34
ANALYSIS
Narrator's mindset 9:32
The first cat 10:31
Alcoholism 10:50, 14:30
Domestic violence 11:40
The first cat dies 12:40
Views on God 14:03, 17:04, 20:37
The house fire 14:30
The new cat 15:48
The murder 17:59
Getting caught 19:36
Links to other stories 21:38
Hope that helps! If you have questions or you were interested in a different story or author, let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can do. Good luck!
The Humane Society of the United States offers information on the links between animal abuse and domestic violence. For more information, visit their website: www.humanesociety.org/resourc...
Poe, Edgar A. "The Black Cat." The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales, The New American Library, Inc., 1960, pp.103-112.
© 2020 Carrie Hoover

Пікірлер: 126

  • @dougronald561
    @dougronald5613 жыл бұрын

    I actually never thought of your point that the narrator had an axe and masonry equipment handy just at the point when he killed his wife. He obviously was prepared for her murder, and it was more intentional than he led the reader to believe.

  • @catherinecao4810

    @catherinecao4810

    2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe he stuck the cat in the tomb as well. Maybe he was looking for it to ensure that it never escaped. Maybe he cut its eye out as well. He only noticed that the eye was missing the morning after he brought it home.

  • @mynameissiddharth
    @mynameissiddharth2 жыл бұрын

    This story shares several similarities with another story by Poe called "The Tell-Tale Heart". What is important to understand is that "The Black Cat" does indicate the prevalence of the paranormal unlike the other one, which dealt mainly with madness, hallucination and a guilty conscience.

  • @harmonlanager2670

    @harmonlanager2670

    Жыл бұрын

    I like that it seems to be the inversion of a typical ghost story where the narrator is not a believer but rather skeptical, yet his ‘logical explanation’ is so far fetched that it forces one to consider the possibility of the supernatural

  • @catherinecao4810
    @catherinecao48102 жыл бұрын

    There’s a short animated film called the “Riddle of the Black Cat” Basically, the narrator is on trial, and another Poe character, C Auguste Dupin, is the prosecutor. It offered an interesting interpretation on what happened, as the detective pointed out somethings in the book that I didn’t notice before.

  • @jonathancato3608
    @jonathancato360819 күн бұрын

    Dude tysm for your Red Death video, went above and beyond especially at the end all the biblical points you made.

  • @radhikasapkota995
    @radhikasapkota9953 жыл бұрын

    I love the way you explain this story; Very helpful for my assignment. thank you so much!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome! I'm so glad it was helpful!

  • @FarmersAreDummies

    @FarmersAreDummies

    Жыл бұрын

    Meh..

  • @tugatgalut
    @tugatgalut11 ай бұрын

    It's a pleasure to listen to Carrie Hoover's wisdom 👍 Even though i did not like this particular story I decided to subscribe. It is my hope that Carrie will read some of my stories some day 💔💔

  • @tomobrien563
    @tomobrien5636 ай бұрын

    Carrie….your EAP vids are fantastic! I’ve developed a whole new level of insight and appreciation for his stories because of you. Thank you so much!!

  • @camilleobcemia4643

    @camilleobcemia4643

    3 ай бұрын

    What is the Theme of the story?

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 ай бұрын

    That’s so kind of you! Thank you so much!

  • @eddahmanizouhair
    @eddahmanizouhair2 жыл бұрын

    How come you only have this small amount of subscribers ? You definitely deserve more! Thank you so much for this amazing analysis!

  • @englishwithmikemouad.8824
    @englishwithmikemouad.88242 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much, your analysis is really helpful. there are many things you mentioned that I didn't pay attention to while reading.

  • @cynyanko5829
    @cynyanko58293 жыл бұрын

    Amazing analysis, thank you. Also love your personality.

  • @martashaza6486
    @martashaza6486 Жыл бұрын

    amazing analysis. exactly what i needed

  • @4eyeoptics856
    @4eyeoptics8566 ай бұрын

    Im really enjoying you summaries. I enjoy reading the stories and listenimg to your reviews.

  • @deborahpablo786
    @deborahpablo7862 жыл бұрын

    Yes very helpful! This gives me so much to work with🙏🏽🙏🏽

  • @alfredsolari9172
    @alfredsolari9172 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much indeed for such a straightforward analysis. You are cystal clear and professional.

  • @FeelingMotivated_03
    @FeelingMotivated_03 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you this video helped me with my homework.

  • @MarcvdMeulen
    @MarcvdMeulen Жыл бұрын

    Clear and comprehensive, thank you for sharing! Great for people like me who don't need it for school, but just want to dive a little deeper into the story :)

  • @solalabell9674
    @solalabell9674 Жыл бұрын

    One thing I’d like to mention at 18:50 axes were very much commonplace especially around a fireplace (which if I’m not mistaken is near where he covers the body) this is why there was a large amount of axe murders in that time period because they were commonly kept by most families so they were a weapon of convenience is the terminology if memory serves. I also don’t think that there was mortar given that it only took a few people prying to tear down the wall so it seems the bricks were simply laid dry. I do think it was a crime of passion without premeditation given the narrator has been shown to be extremely impulsive and violent for no reason obviously to the point of killing Pluto and hurting his wife before the axe just happened to be in his hand this time.

  • @d_rivadeneyra

    @d_rivadeneyra

    7 ай бұрын

    I agree, I think the narrator is laid out to be impulsive and irrational. I don't think he premeditated the murders, he just did them in his burst of anger. I also think that's what makes this story terrifying, how distorted his mind was to have this rage for no apparent reason.

  • @englishwithmikemouad.8824
    @englishwithmikemouad.88242 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much for this analysis.

  • @adrianveidt3600
    @adrianveidt36002 жыл бұрын

    very excellent miss hoover. this is a good coverage for my college project

  • @ironmean5228
    @ironmean52289 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much!! You really help me from midterm crisis

  • @brianmorrow5350
    @brianmorrow53508 ай бұрын

    For some reason, the first time I read this, I was blindsided when he brought down the axe. I was shocked way more than the narrator. I think your suspicion of pre-meditation is on point..........

  • @studyingpeach6691
    @studyingpeach66913 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for the amazing analysis! Helped me so much in my course work.

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome! Thanks for watching!

  • @majdahilali3410
    @majdahilali34103 жыл бұрын

    OMG! I LOVE YOUR ANALYSIS SO MUCH .THANKS

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @lawstintranslation
    @lawstintranslation Жыл бұрын

    this was an amazing analysis, thank youuu!!

  • @cosma8441
    @cosma84412 жыл бұрын

    omg this was so helpful!! actually more entertaining to follow than the actual story, thank you!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    2 жыл бұрын

    I’m so glad you liked it!

  • @oliwiakupczyk
    @oliwiakupczyk3 жыл бұрын

    this was amazing, thank you so much!!!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @MrMicahthemagician
    @MrMicahthemagician Жыл бұрын

    That was fantastic. Thank you 🙏

  • @syvandao8243
    @syvandao82433 жыл бұрын

    Love your video, thank you so much!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching! I hope it was helpful!

  • @nnn.nnn2
    @nnn.nnn22 жыл бұрын

    Thank you this really helped me alot💖

  • @placebo5466
    @placebo5466 Жыл бұрын

    I googled the "darkest" Poe short story and read this. Man, that was a messed up story lol.

  • @shoresofpatmos
    @shoresofpatmos3 жыл бұрын

    There Also apears to be a link between psychopathy and animal cruelty. Children that Develop psychopathy often Show a tendency to animal cruelty in early stages of childhood.

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's a very disturbing element of Poe's story. I added a link to the Humane Society's page on domestic violence in the video notes.

  • @maya_existing6273
    @maya_existing6273 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much!

  • @juliiiiiiiiii6119
    @juliiiiiiiiii61193 жыл бұрын

    Love this !!! ♡♡♡

  • @MikeFrench101
    @MikeFrench1013 жыл бұрын

    My favorite Poe story is The Masque of the Red Death. I'd love to hear your thoughts and analysis on it!

  • @EnglishWithMrBakhri
    @EnglishWithMrBakhri3 жыл бұрын

    Wow! What an amazing analysis! You deserve more followers, really!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's so kind of you! Thank you for watching!

  • @EnglishWithMrBakhri

    @EnglishWithMrBakhri

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're very welcome! 😊 Best of luck in your noble mission!

  • @jalpatel7789
    @jalpatel77893 жыл бұрын

    Thankyou so much this video was very helpful my rhetorical analysis essay. Keep it up.

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching! Good luck on your essay!

  • @armandolandecho376
    @armandolandecho3762 жыл бұрын

    Really helpfull, thanks a lot miss

  • @user-vw2wi2hs7n
    @user-vw2wi2hs7n Жыл бұрын

    Very good analysis : D

  • @user-iksssojhhhwhba
    @user-iksssojhhhwhba4 ай бұрын

    What an excellent explanation! It helped me a lot. Thank you so much

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 ай бұрын

    I’m so glad it was helpful!

  • @sharafsuhayl4439
    @sharafsuhayl44392 жыл бұрын

    This was very helpful for my exam I gotta sit for tomorrow! Thank You so much

  • @bobsquires4521
    @bobsquires45219 ай бұрын

    I've owned three black cats. This is not a story for the faint of heart or for a cat person and makes me convinced I should have gone into law enforcement to set straight any of the morons who think they might get away with casual abuse of either their pets or their significant others blaming 'their daemons' or their alcohol use. Terrific analysis and fine video - thank you very much for posting.

  • @angelic25heart

    @angelic25heart

    Ай бұрын

    I thought the same thing!

  • @shakespearaamina9117
    @shakespearaamina91173 жыл бұрын

    Thank you Carrie

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @mikib8980
    @mikib8980 Жыл бұрын

    thank you so much

  • @cynthialuis5923
    @cynthialuis59233 жыл бұрын

    Thank you 🙏

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome! I hope it was helpful!

  • @Bella00011
    @Bella000115 ай бұрын

    Thanks a lot this is very helpful ❤

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 ай бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @houneidabenmahidi6039
    @houneidabenmahidi60393 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!!!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @yasmineyasmine8894
    @yasmineyasmine88945 ай бұрын

    Thanks

  • @vgpurple6887
    @vgpurple6887 Жыл бұрын

    No English homework...54. Trying to read more. Good for my aging brain. 😀

  • @danielk4155
    @danielk41553 жыл бұрын

    That's amazing. We read this story in american gothic fiction, and it's my fave!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    That sounds like a fun class! What else are you reading?

  • @danielk4155

    @danielk4155

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CarrieHoover It was in 2013 at University of Missouri Kansas City. We read other poe, Virginia Wolf, Sylvia Plath, maybe Lovecraft, but my all time favorite was Norman Mailer, and especially I love the whole collection Dennis Johnson's Jesus' Son. Hey.. I wrote a gothic short story myself... Would you be able to find time to read it and basically let me know if it makes any sense?

  • @danielk4155

    @danielk4155

    3 жыл бұрын

    I wrote it in short stories class 2014, but I missed the day I had my review so I didn't get any feedback, it was the last day of class. I would like to know if it's worth trying to publish. It's gothic religious allegory kind of...

  • @danielk4155

    @danielk4155

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CarrieHoover Are you a teacher or you just do this for fun? Mine is written from the coma/dream point of view, out of body lessons, etc. It's a trip. If you're a teacher, you are a good one. I dig it.

  • @danielk4155

    @danielk4155

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CarrieHoover Poe is my hero... you may like it if nothing else, I don't need feedback. But I'd pay you if you did.

  • @dystopiafan580
    @dystopiafan580 Жыл бұрын

    I have just read The black cat and one of the first thoughts that came to my mind was : ,,What if the second cat was never there? What if it was the symphtom of Delerium thremens and his guilt?" What do you think about this theory? There are a lot of cool theories about this story; one of them is that he frst killed his wife than the cat. You can find it online.

  • @liquidpuffin5267
    @liquidpuffin52673 жыл бұрын

    I get a hint that the cat is a metaphor for the narrators conscience.

  • @PatrickPrejusa
    @PatrickPrejusa Жыл бұрын

    I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS

  • @ayoubnokra5439
    @ayoubnokra54393 жыл бұрын

    Thank you sou much that was really helpful I have exams next week please keep going I wish you all the best ❤❤❤

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Best of luck!

  • @juanadiaz6576
    @juanadiaz65763 жыл бұрын

    You the best gurl 👏🏻👏🏻

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    I hope it was helpful!

  • @hamadhys
    @hamadhys Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the analysis. I wonder if you have analysed Hemingway’s the short days of Mrs Mc Comber!

  • @laurasaur9
    @laurasaur93 жыл бұрын

    Omg! Thank this is SAVING MY SANITY for exams I can’t thank you ENOUGH💕

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome! Good luck on your exams & thanks for watching!

  • @reri9832
    @reri98323 жыл бұрын

    I loved your analysis...this helped me with my exams✍🏻Thank you

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'm so glad! Thanks for watching!

  • @nathanmiller1014
    @nathanmiller10143 жыл бұрын

    WHOOP WHOOP! 300th subscriber!!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haha, thank you!

  • @footballscoutingreport
    @footballscoutingreport2 жыл бұрын

    I’m so freaked out with her background and how the wall is so much of a different pattern than the rest.

  • @davemidua6138

    @davemidua6138

    2 жыл бұрын

    Maybe she also covered something behind it?

  • @Jazz-dh2ds

    @Jazz-dh2ds

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@davemidua6138 Perhaps a black cat?

  • @anshu1596

    @anshu1596

    2 жыл бұрын

    Who knows?

  • @user-lz8uv1tb1p
    @user-lz8uv1tb1p3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your efforts I study this topic at the total phase II English Department I am very agent but with a few words I have made it thanks for the Middle East in Iraq l hope speak about the story open window thank you

  • @tota2778
    @tota27783 жыл бұрын

    Super 😻♥️!

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @shaolongchen
    @shaolongchen3 жыл бұрын

    hey u just want to say thank you

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for watching!

  • @frederikschulp
    @frederikschulp3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much, english is not my native language, and the grammar the writer used was pretty complicated. So I could be wrong about this, but I thought he sealed of his wife in the place where the chimney used to be.

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    The entire scene takes place in the cellar, but the speaker does choose the spot in the wall where a fireplace or false chimney used to be. One explanation is that, at one point, the cellar of the building may have been used as living space, but has since been converted to storage.

  • @Adlotuseater
    @Adlotuseater3 жыл бұрын

    Wow🌹❤️🙏

  • @ganceanndullahan5361
    @ganceanndullahan53617 ай бұрын

    At least Pluto got a better name than H.P. Lovecraft's cat.

  • @user-up3tk2uv4r
    @user-up3tk2uv4r3 ай бұрын

    I’ve just red this 3 times there wasn’t a wall with a cat outline on it and it was a knife not an axe I don’t understand I’m reviewing this for a college paper and your analysis of it has caused great confusion I have no idea what you read

  • @yennhiphamnguyen3918
    @yennhiphamnguyen3918 Жыл бұрын

    I really love your analysis, but I still have confused on who caused the fire on his house 🥹 is that himself?

  • @benhuether5474
    @benhuether5474 Жыл бұрын

    Do the ghost stories of M.R. James 👻

  • @benhuether5474
    @benhuether5474 Жыл бұрын

    Do The Outsider by H.P. Lovecraft

  • @musicweirdo1
    @musicweirdo12 жыл бұрын

    It's simply a cautionary tale of the horrors of alcoholism!!

  • @user-up3tk2uv4r
    @user-up3tk2uv4r3 ай бұрын

    Please explain

  • @purplemv2197
    @purplemv21973 жыл бұрын

    Can you please comment, the evidence on the story where he tells 'that this story is normalized and we all have done something like this' part?thxxxx

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    3 жыл бұрын

    The speaker tries to justify killing the cat by saying, "Who has not, a hundred times, found himself committing a vile or a stupid action, for no other reason then because he knows he should not?" The speaker is trying to normalize his actions by claiming that everyone has experienced those emotions. Also, by including the phrase "a hundred times," the speaker is attempting to minimize his actions. He is trying to reduce what he's done down to the level of cutting in line or hiding a sibling's toy. I hope that answers your question! Thank you for watching!

  • @angelbonita
    @angelbonita3 жыл бұрын

    10:31

  • @VDchacon
    @VDchacon2 жыл бұрын

    Why is it one of the darkest?!? Joking. But in all seriousness this was sooo dark. 😬 it doesn't help I love cats lol.

  • @amilyaaa9425
    @amilyaaa94252 жыл бұрын

    Please read first before watching this! Omg it’s crazy

  • @kishanparmar4021
    @kishanparmar40212 ай бұрын

    i try to english speaking but i cannot speak english, can you please gaide me?

  • @shaolongchen
    @shaolongchen3 жыл бұрын

    bruh i wish i could see this video earlier

  • @SimpleeTarot
    @SimpleeTarot Жыл бұрын

    The cat is his alcoholism.

  • @catherinecao4810
    @catherinecao48102 жыл бұрын

    Fun Fact: sociopaths are known to show “fondness” for animals. It’s not really kindness or love, but a passing “oh, that’s cool” thing. Maybe the narrator was never a good person, and his alcoholism let him do whatever he wanted. Maybe his “confession” is him trying to manipulate the audience. He’s either likes using high flatulent language, or is condescending to us.

  • @jonathancato3608

    @jonathancato3608

    19 күн бұрын

    If you consider the case of Dennis Reynolds yo, you're absolutely right. He shows fondness for cats many times in the show and he's clearly unhinged.

  • @catherinecao4810
    @catherinecao48102 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible that the narrator is still drunk when all this is happening? Maybe the splotch on the wall looks like a cat because he’s drunk when he saw it. Maybe he’s having alcohol-induced blackouts, so his memory is a bit spotty. Maybe the white spot on the cat is changing because he’s drunk and his eyes are clouded from the tears.

  • @CarrieHoover

    @CarrieHoover

    2 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely; that's a really good idea! He could also be dealing with paranoia and/or hallucinations resulting from his continued alcoholism. Here's an abstract I found on alcohol-related psychosis: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459134/

  • @catherinecao4810

    @catherinecao4810

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@CarrieHoover Well, another of Poe’s narrators from the story “Ligeia” is an addict, so I guess it was a common choice for characters

  • @amilyaaa9425
    @amilyaaa94252 жыл бұрын

    859th subscriber who is going to be 860?

  • @tugatgalut
    @tugatgalut11 ай бұрын

    I admire Poe's poetry and short stories. However, 'The Black Cat' wasn't a story that I cherish or ever will because it involves murder. I could by no means sympathize with the storyteller. It hurts me when people hurt animals.

  • @lesterstone8595
    @lesterstone8595 Жыл бұрын

    👁♥ur 🧠