1. Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Protagonist (main character or hero; wants/needs something and faces an obstacle/conflict; usually changes or learns)
Antagonist (person or thing working against the protagonist achieving what he/she wants)
*Story Elements*
Point of View (1st = I, me; 3rd = he, she, and they; 3rd can be limited or omniscient)
Conflict (the struggle between opposing forces; man vs. ________)
Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Title: “The Black Cat”
Mood (feelings the story makes the reader feel)
Tone (attitude conveyed by the narrator toward the subject)
Change? (If the protagonist changes, how does he/she change?)
Learned? (If he/she learned something, what was it?)
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Genre: Short Story / Gothic Horror
Somebody (the protagonist): Wanted (what’s his her goal/need?):
But (what’s getting in the way?): So (how’s everything turn out?):

2. The Black Cat Plot Arc the CLIMAX the RISING ACTION the FALLING ACTION
The moment of highest tension.
The turning point.
Here, decisions are made, and there’s “no going back.”
the CLIMAX
The series of conflicts or struggles building toward the climax (sometimes subplots are added here to increase interest/depth), is called
the RISING ACTION
In this part, decisions made in the climax are worked out. All events occurring after the climax are called
the FALLING ACTION
The time and place in which the story takes place is called
the SETTING
How are things at the beginning? The author sets up background, setting, characters, and relationships in
the EXPOSITION
The Black Cat Plot Arc
How are things at the end? Here, any mysteries are
cleared up and conflicts are resolved. This is
the RESOLUTION

3. Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Protagonist (main character or hero; wants/needs something and faces an obstacle/conflict; usually changes or learns)
Antagonist (person or thing working against the protagonist achieving what he/she wants)
*Story Elements*
Point of View (1st = I, me; 3rd = he, she, and they; 3rd can be limited or omniscient)
Conflict (the struggle between opposing forces; man vs. ________)
Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Title: “Rappaccini’s Daughter”
Mood (feelings the story makes the reader feel)
Tone (attitude conveyed by the narrator toward the subject)
Change? (If the protagonist changes, how does he/she change?)
Learned? (If he/she learned something, what was it?)
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Short Story, Dark Romanticism
Somebody (the protagonist): Wanted (what’s his her goal/need?):
But (what’s getting in the way?): So (how’s everything turn out?):

4. “Rappaccini’s Daughter” Plot Arc
The moment of highest tension.
The turning point.
Here, decisions are made, and there’s “no going back.”
the CLIMAX
The series of conflicts or struggles building toward the climax (sometimes subplots are added here to increase interest/depth), is called
the RISING ACTION
In this part, decisions made in the climax are worked out. All events occurring after the climax are called
the FALLING ACTION
The time and place in which the story takes place is called
the SETTING
How are things at the beginning? The author sets up background, setting, characters, and relationships in
the EXPOSITION
“Rappaccini’s Daughter” Plot Arc
How are things at the end? Here, any mysteries are
cleared up and conflicts are resolved. This is
the RESOLUTION

5. Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Protagonist (main character or hero; wants/needs something and faces an obstacle/conflict; usually changes or learns)
Antagonist (person or thing working against the protagonist achieving what he/she wants)
*Story Elements*
Point of View (1st = I, me; 3rd = he, she, and they; 3rd can be limited or omniscient)
Conflict (the struggle between opposing forces; man vs. ________)
Theme (central message or moral conveyed through the story)
Title: “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Mood (feelings the story makes the reader feel)
Tone (attitude conveyed by the narrator toward the subject)
Change? (If the protagonist changes, how does he/she change?)
Learned? (If he/she learned something, what was it?)
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Genre: Short Story / Gothic
Somebody (the protagonist): Wanted (what’s his her goal/need?):
But (what’s getting in the way?): So (how’s everything turn out?):

6. “The Fall of the House of Usher” Plot Arc
The moment of highest tension.
The turning point.
Here, decisions are made, and there’s “no going back.”
the CLIMAX
The series of conflicts or struggles building toward the climax (sometimes subplots are added here to increase interest/depth), is called
the RISING ACTION
In this part, decisions made in the climax are worked out. All events occurring after the climax are called
the FALLING ACTION
The time and place in which the story takes place is called
the SETTING
How are things at the beginning? The author sets up background, setting, characters, and relationships in
the EXPOSITION
“The Fall of the House of Usher” Plot Arc
How are things at the end? Here, any mysteries are
cleared up and conflicts are resolved. This is
the RESOLUTION