Abstract

Since its first publication in 1943, "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe has received favorable response from readers. The story unfolds with a criminal’s interior monologue before execution. He was born docile and had a great affection for animals, but alcohol changed him to a cruel person after marriage. First he cut out one of his favorite black cat’s eyes and finally hung it because of the spirit of perverseness. Later he brought back a similar cat which constantly reminded him of his cruel deed. One day in extreme fury, he murdered his wife for she hindered him from killing the second cat. Though calmly and successfully concealed his wife’s corpse, he revealed his evil deeds out of insanity on the last day of investigation. "The Black Cat"，as a representative work of short horror novels, has a profound influence on literary creations of later generations. This thesis is to explore Edgar Allan Poe’s styles in writing short novels by analyzing the themes, language skills, unique narrative approach featured by dramatic monologue, and reflection of Poe’s literary theory of "The Black Cat". It will further manifest Poe’s contribution to the development of American psychoanalysis novels.

Key words: Edgar Allan Poe; black cat; perverseness; theme; psychoanalysis

摘要

自1943年首次发表以来，埃德加•爱伦•坡的《黑猫》就引起了读者的热切关注。故事以一位死刑犯临刑前夕的心理自白展开。他本来生性温和、喜爱动物，但是婚后因酗酒成性，秉性变得暴虐无度。受内心怪癖性情的驱使，他先是剜掉钟爱的一只黑猫的眼睛直至最终将黑猫吊死。后来他捡回了一只相似的黑猫，这让他不由得想起自己犯下可耻行径，心灵备受煎熬。一天，盛怒中，他欲砍死那只黑猫却砍死了出来阻拦的妻子。尽管自恃天衣无缝地匿藏了妻子的尸体，但是却在警察来调查的最后一天，因精神错乱而暴露了自己的罪恶行径。《黑猫》作为短篇恐怖小说中的代表作，对后世的文学创作具有深远的影响。本文通过分析《黑猫》，对埃德加•爱伦•坡的短篇小说创作方式进行探讨。并且通过分析小说的恐怖主题，语言技巧，以戏剧性独白为主的叙事方式和爱伦•坡的“统一效果论”在其作品中的应用和体现，进一步显示出爱伦•坡在美国心理分析小说发展历程中的贡献。

关键词：埃德加•爱伦•坡； 黑猫； 怪癖； 主题； 心理分析

Chapter I  Introduction
1.1.    Background Information
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 and died in 1849. He was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Poe is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.