1. Black Cat by Edgar Alan Poe Who are the main characters? These characters are introduced in the EXPOSITION of the story.
2. What is the setting of the story (both time and place)? The setting is also introduced in the EXPOSITION of the story.
3. What is the COMPLICATING INCIDENT/CONFLICT that gets the story moving? What is the main problem?
4. Describe what happens during the RISING ACTION of the story. What events make the conflict worse?
5. Describe what happens during the FALLING ACTION of the story. How do these events start to fix the conflict?
6. Describe the RESOLUTION of the story. How is the main conflict resolved?
7. What is the point of view in this story (1st person, 3rd person limited, or 3rd person omniscient)? Is the narrator reliable? Explain.
8. Describe the tone of the story.
9. What are the main themes?
10. Do you notice any literary devices used in this story (characterization, surprise, humor, etc.)? If so, explain how they affect the story.
Step 3: Write an accurate summary of “The Black Cat”.
Include all the elements of a good summary:
• Title of the story and author’s name
• Names and roles of main characters
• General description of setting
• Brief plot summary
• Brief explanation of conflict and resolution
• Brief statement of theme, or main idea

Compare and contrast author charlotte brontë with her heroine jane eyre. how did bronte’s life experiences influence the development of jane? what aspects of brontë herself do we see in jane? your answer should be at least one hundred words.

Read the passage from animal farm. as clover looked down the hillside her eyes filled with tears. if she could have spoken her thoughts, it would have been to say that this was not what they had aimed at when they had set themselves years ago to work for the overthrow of the human race. these scenes of terror and slaughter were not what they had looked forward to on that night when old major first stirred them to rebellion. if she herself had had any picture of the future, it had been of a society of animals set free from hunger and the whip, all equal, each working according to his capacity, the strong protecting the weak, as she had protected the lost brood of ducklings with her foreleg on the night of major's speech. instead—she did not know why—they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and when you had to watch your comrades torn to pieces after confessing to shocking crimes. there was no thought of rebellion or disobedience in her mind. she knew that, even as things were, they were far better off than they had been in the days of jones, and that before all else it was needful to prevent the return of the human beings. whatever happened she would remain faithful, work hard, carry out the orders that were given to her, and accept the leadership of napoleon. but still, it was not for this that she and all the other animals had hoped and toiled. it was not for this that they had built the windmill and faced the bullets of jones's gun. such were her thoughts, though she lacked the words to express them. what was most likely orwell’s purpose for writing this passage? to show that clover is more sensitive to violence than the others to remind readers of major's speech and the original rebellion to present napoleon as a cruel leader unworthy of the animals’ support to represent misled followers and their dashed hopes for better lives

Read the excerpt from frederick douglass’s speech “what to the slave is the fourth of july? ” go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through south america, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, america reigns without a rival. which phrase best describes the connotation of the word “reigns”? a sense of opportunity and growth a sense of fear and anxiety a sense of compassion and humanity a sense of oppression and domination