Stylistic Analysis of The Black Cat

Stylistic Analysis of

“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe

Language and Literature Course

Supervised by
Mr. Gulraiz Qadir
Prepared by
Khujasta Kokab
BS-LHR-89
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES- LAHORE

1.Introduction
1.1.Background of the Research

Stylistic Analysis is a normal part of literary studies. It is practiced as a part of
understanding the possible meaning in a text, context, novel, poem etc. It is also generally
assumed that the process of analysis will reveal the good quality of the writing. Stylistic plays a
key role in understanding & interpreting literature. Stylistic is an area of study that is growing
and developing fast. It central concern is that how the text is being portrayed by means of
linguistic or literature choice. It covers literary devices as well as discourse studies. The study of
Stylistic analysis includes many scholars and critics. The study of stylistic analysis include that
by studying or teaching the study of stylistic for the students of literature is essential in term of
interpreting literature.
Edgar Allan Poe is very famous writer, critic, poet and very well known in the literature world.
He is famous of his “Gothic” style. He has written many famous and well known short-stories
and The Black Cat is one of them. The Black Cat has showed the dark and twisted ways of
Edgar Allan Poe.
1.2.Statement of the Problem:

Stylistic Analysis is basically the identification of language usage in particular speech or
writing. Edgar Allan Poe is quite famous for using literary devices in his writings. The
research aims to find out the each parameter of stylistic analysis in the text “ The Black Cat”
by Edgar Allan Poe.
1.3.Research Objectives:
To unveil the literary devices ( Parallelism, Repetition, Metaphor & Personification, Pardox,
Symbols& Allusion, and Foreshadowing ) of “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe.
1.4.Research Question / Hypothesis:

What are the literary devices used by Edgar Allan Poe in his short-story “ The Black Cat”.
1.5.Significance ( gap)
The research is significant as it would bring the parameters of stylistic analysis of the short-story The
Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe.
1.6.Delimitation/ Limitation:
Edgar Allan Poe has worked on many short-stories, on his themes, stylistic analysis,
summary, and on many other but this research will work on his specific short-story The
Black Cat. The research has highlighted few parameters of the short-story The Black Cat.
2. Literature Review
Stylistic Analysis in linguistic & literature refers to the identification of pattern of usage in text,
context, writing and poetry. It sharpens the understanding & appreciation of literary work. It
evaluate studies and highlight the significance of work under different circumstances and
quantifies the frequency of different features of the text. The purpose of stylistic analysis is to
identify and clarify the elements, themes and devices which are being used in the text. It is the
part of literature which helps to bring out the hidden meaning of the text.
According to M. Ibrahim Khattak, Mehnaz and Mohammad Asrar Khattak “Stylistic Analysis
offers both clearly-defined concepts and an explicit vocabulary that enables us to be more
precise about how stylistic innovation are produced with in the text.” Stylistic Analysis has the
advantage to embellish and to convey the message with in the text. It allows us to identify the
usage pattern in speech or text.
According to Katie Wales in "A Dictionary of Stylistics," the goal of "most stylistics is not
simply to describe the formal features of texts for their own sake, but in order to show their
functional significance for the interpretation of the text; or in order to relate literary effects to
linguistic 'causes' where these are felt to be relevant." Basically, studying a text closely helps to
unearth layers of meaning that run deeper than just the basic plot, which happens on the surface
level.
Meyer, Leonard B. says, “Stylistic is a replication of pattering whether in human behavior that
results from a series of choices made with some sets of constraints ….An individual’s style of
speaking and writing for instance, results in large part from lexical, grammatical and syntactical
choices made within the constraints of the language and dialects he has learned to use but does
not himself create.”
The element of stylistic analysis in literary work is that what are up discussion in any literary
text, context or writing such as:
 Foreshadowing: a hint or idea which is dropped by writer what is going to happen later in
the text
 Mood: the atmosphere or the attitude described in the text by the writer
 Symbolism: element or a tool used by the writer to show or reveal about something else
 Theme: A main, central or big idea of the text
 Tone: the writer's attitude toward the subject or manner with choosing vocabulary and
presenting information, such as informal or formal
 Rhyme: when the same sounds appear in two or more words
 Rhythm: having a musicality to the writing such as by using stressed and unstressed
syllables in a line of poetry or sentence variety or repetition in a paragraph
Edgar Allan Poe’s style is created through his use of punctuation, sentence structure, word
choice, tone, and figurative language. Punctuation-wise; dashes, exclamation marks,
semicolons, and commas are a favorite of Poe. His sentences vary greatly; their structures are
influenced by punctuation. Much of his word choice sets the tone of his works. Figurative
language colors his writings with description. Such is observed in the similarities between two
of his most well-known short stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart”
To begin with, Poe valued punctuation in its ability to make a point. Proper use of punctuation
has allowed the reader to feel the full effect the sentence was supposed to have. All this is
demonstrated in the first sentence of “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “True!—nervous—very, very
dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” Here, the dashes
take the place of a comma to create the tension of the story on the first line. It draws the reader
in, so that the reader has to determine whether or not the narrator is sane.
“The Cask of Amontillado” written in 1846. The theme of this story is about REVENGE.
The subject of revenge is particularly potent material and allows the writer to demonstrate the
meaning of hatred and the steps someone would take in order to have a terrible revenge.
“The Black Cat” which was complied in 1843 falls under the horror genre. The theme of this
story is about REVENGE. The theme of revenge can definitely be seen represented by the cat
itself. There are hidden objects that allow the reader to solve puzzles that allude to the
murder. The cat is called Pluto [Roman name for the God of the underworld] and symbolic of
the devil and hell.
3. Methodology
3.1 Research Paradigm

Paradigm of this research is qualitative as it unveil the parameters of stylistic analysis of The
Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe.
3.2 Method
To do Stylistic Analysis of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe the “ Text and Sentence Analysis”
will be used in this research.
3.3Sample
Eight to nine parameters will be required as a sample in this research.
4. References :
1.Helenblackcat.blogspot Stylistic Analysis of The Black Cat. March 12, 2013, retrieved on
December 4 from http://helenblackcat.blogspot.com/
2.J.Cummings, Michael. The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe: A Study Guide. 2005, retrieved on
December 4, 2013 from https://cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides7/BlackCat.html
3.Poeinterest.wordpress. Edgar Allan Poe writing style. October 10, 2010, retrieved on
December 8, 2013 from https://poeinterest.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/writing.jpg
4.Niwar A Obaid. Stylistic Analysis of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe retrieved on
December 11, 2013 from https://www.academia.edu
5. QIAN Liu Stylistic Analysis of The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe: received: October 23,
2017. Published: December 01, 2017. http://www.tjprc.org/

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What is the research paradigm used in the analysis?

What method will be used to analyze the text?

Stylistic Analysis of

“The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe

Language and Literature Course

Mr. Gulraiz Qadir

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF MODERN LANGUAGES- LAHORE

1.1.Background of the Research

1.2.Statement of the Problem:

1.4.Research Question / Hypothesis:

3.1 Research Paradigm

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