Introduction

Known for his dark, foreboding short stories, Edgar Allan Poe solidified his reputation with his 1843 tale “The Black Cat,” originally published in the August 19th edition of the United States Saturday Evening Post.

Before the scene in our recording begins, the narrator has described himself as a timid man concerned for all living things. He married a like-minded woman who brought many small animals into the house, including birds, goldfish, rabbits, a monkey, a dog, and the title cat, Pluto, a particular favorite of the narrator.

As the years pass, however, our narrator becomes tormented by wicked human emotions, such as intemperance, perverseness, and cruelty, which begin to consume him. As our recording begins, our narrator staggers home from a night of drinking, and his battle with his inner demons rages on.

Hear a scene from “The Black Cat.”
 

Credits

Performers

Narrator: Ms. Cavo

Other voices: Ms. Hickson

Text

Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Black Cat.” Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. 1969.

Sound and music

Acclivity “TheLadySaysNo.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 17 July 2005. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=16466

DJ Chronos. “Monster Drone.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 8 Apr. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33413

Donalfonso “Switchblade.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 8 Mar. 2008. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=49413

Dynamicell. “Fire_Forest_Inferno.” AIF. The Freesound Project. 2 Apr. 2006. 19 Mar. 2009. http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=17548

FreqMan. “Object Falls (5).” WAV. The Freesound Project. 5 Nov. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=43603

Harri. “Hhh7.” MP3. The Freesound Project. 12 Mar. 2006. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=16810

Heigh-hoo “Pouring_wine.” AIF. The Freesound Project. 10 Dec. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=44775

HerbertBoland “DryLeavesWalk.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 2 Apr. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=33207

Jus. “Cellos Three Chords.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 23 Aug. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=39557

Martian “Classic Double Swwosh.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 29 May 2006. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=19312

Medialint. “Nord_analog_howling_wind_storm.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 5 Dec. 2005. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=11863

NoiseCollector “Dragon9.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 17 July 2005. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=4513

NoiseCollector. “Dragonhiss.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 17 July 2005. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=4515

Queeniemusic “FoDstringbass.” MP3. CCMixter. 5 Jan. 2008. 19 Mar. 2009 http://ccmixter.org/files/queeniemusic/18609

Sagetyrtle. “Freetimhortons.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 13 July 2006. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=20692

Sazman “070422-cats-sample.” WAV. The Freesound Project. 22 Apr. 2007. 19 Mar. 2009 http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34094

©2009 • North Hunterdon High School • Updated 03/25/2009