1. “The Black Cat”
by Edgar Allan Poe

2. Thinking notes – first read Annotation – second read
Reading rigorous text
Thinking notes – first read
Annotation – second read

3. What is annotation?
A well-annotated text will accomplish all of the following:
•clearly identify where in the text important ideas and information are located
•express the main ideas of a text

4. and annotations will……..
•trace the development of ideas/arguments or SUSPENSE throughout a text
•introduce a few of the reader’s thoughts and reactions

5. Suspense
Anxiety or apprehension resulting from an uncertain, undecided, or mysterious situation
Master of suspense

6. Pacing
Advancing or developing something at a particular rate or tempo.
What happens to the cat(s) in the story?

7. Dangerous action This is pretty self-explanatory
How does the narrator’s violent nature cause trouble for everyone including himself?

8. Foreshadowing
A literary device in which the author gives clues as to what will happen later.
For example: The narrator is awaiting execution at the beginning of the story. What does this tell us?

9. Make this chart Suspenseful Moment Dangerous Action Pacing
Foreshadowing
Five examples of a suspenseful moment in story
Identify each example as dangerous, pacing or foreshadowing
In the correct box, analyze the suspense

10. Directions – In your journal
Make a chart with four columns and five rows.
The columns should be labeled
Suspenseful Moment
Dangerous Action
Pacing
Foreshadowing
Find five suspenseful moments in the story and fill in the first column
Decide if each moment is either dangerous action, pacing or foreshadowing
In the proper square, write a short analysis

11. Directions
In your journal write a short response about your analysis of suspense.
These questions may help you if you are having trouble:
How does Poe use foreshadowing to create suspense?
How does the dangerous actions of the narrator establish an ominous mood?
How does knowing the narrator is awaiting execution as the story beings make it more or less suspenseful?