There have been many discussions throughout this course about the principles of literature that speak to story theme, structure, and plot. Fiction was also one of the main genres analyzed in this course. Similarly, in “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe, the plot, structure, and different themes can provide a unique classroom discussion, which is why it should be included in this course. To begin with there is some basic information about the author, Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe had a difficult upbringing, as a child he was orphaned when both his parents died and he lived with another family led by John Allan. Poe attended the University of Virginia and joined the Army after college, but soon left the Army because he didn't like it. He became a poet and soon became famous: "Poe's reputation today rests chiefly on his tales of terror and his haunting lyric poetry ("The Life of Poe")." Poe's "The Black Cat" is nothing short of a horror story (Templar). Furthermore, it is a summary of the main points of "The Black Cat". “The Black Cat” is about a man who has always loved animals since he was a child, but as he got older he started drinking. He then tortured his favorite cat, Pluto, after he became annoyed with his presence. He goes so far as to gouge out his eye before hanging him from an old tree. Later, his house burned down and the cat's silhouette remained on the only wall left standing after the fire. After he and his wife got a new home, they soon found a new cat that looked just like the old one, except it had white around its neck. The narrator begins to believe that the cat is mocking him, so one day he tries to kill the cat but his wife interferes, and he ki...... middle of paper ......montillado” by Edgar Allan Poe in high school and I don't need to read it all over again. The plot of "The Black Cat" is unique to most of the stories read in this course, but the themes are quite similar to most of the stories read in this course. If given the opportunity to be added to the course, students might find "The Black Cat" an interesting and intriguing story to read. Works Cited Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Black Cat". The Literature Network. Web. December 6, 2013. ."The Life of Poe." Who is Edgar Allan Poe?. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Web. 7 December 2013. .Templar, Alwin. "Literary Analysis of Edgar Allan Poe's Black Cat.". Humanities 360, March 25, 2008. Web. December 8 2013. .