The Catbird Seat

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the story.

Personal Response

At the end of the story, Mr. Fitweiler is quick to conclude that Mrs. Barrows is psychologically disturbed. This is largely based on his long-standing opinion of Mr. Martin as an infallible worker. While past behavior can be a helpful indicator of trustworthiness, it’s clear in “The Catbird Seat” that outward appearances can be deceiving.

Think of a situation in your own life in which you were quick to believe one person’s side of the story without first considering the facts or investigating the situation. Alternatively, think of a situation in which you were in Mrs. Barrows’s shoes: someone quickly believed the other party without giving you the benefit of the doubt. Once you have a situation in mind, explain it and describe what you would have done differently, or what you wish someone else involved would have done differently. Reflect on lessons you learned from “The Catbird Seat” that may help you navigate such a situation in the future.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may need time to think about a personal situation that applies. Give suggestions to get them thinking, such as sibling rivalries in which a parent believed one sibling over the other, friendship issues in which a friend was loyal to one person without giving the other a chance to explain, etc. If students are having a hard time thinking of a relevant example, consider allowing them to talk about a situation someone they know experienced, or something a book or movie character endured. This prompt can be used for group discussion, individual free-writing, or both. Encourage students to think deeply about lessons they’ve learned both from their own experiences and from “The Catbird Seat.” Ask them how they can apply what they’ve learned when they encounter a similar situation in real life. (This prompt connects to the theme Delusion and Psychological Disturbance.)

Post-Reading Analysis

1. From what point of view is “The Catbird Seat” narrated? Whose side of the story does the reader get to see? How does the perspective from which the story is told influence your opinions of the characters? What are your opinions of the characters? In what ways could the narration be considered unreliable?

Teaching Suggestion: Although the story is told from a limited, third-person point of view, it is filtered through Mr. Martin’s perspective. Therefore, the reader learns the details of Mr. Martin’s work and Mrs. Barrows’s personality through the inner life of Mr. Martin, who, based on his reasoning for planning to kill Mrs. Barrows, is likely somewhat unstable, and therefore unreliable. Encourage students to discuss Mr. Martin’s perspective of Mrs. Barrows. Then have them share their personal opinion of Mrs. Barrows based on their knowledge that Mr. Martin’s perspective is both biased and paranoid. You may have them answer these questions in essay/paragraph form, or using bullet points and a T chart for their opinions of the characters.

2. How would you describe the tone of the story? Is it serious? Ominous? Ludicrous? Melancholy? Foreboding? Comical? Identify the tone and provide a few examples from the text to support your analysis.

Teaching Suggestion: Overall, the story's tone is comical and ludicrous. Mr. Martin’s murder plot would be considered evil if his reasons for murdering Mrs. Barrows weren’t so ridiculous. Students should find plenty of examples to point them towards this answer, such as the elements of Mrs. Barrows’s personality that Mr. Martin believes are punishable by the death penalty, the fact that the rivalry between Mrs. Barrows and Mr. Martin lives completely inside of Mr. Martin’s mind, and the stark contrast between the story’s mundane office setting and the plotting of Mr. Martin. Students may answer in a traditional paragraph form or a bullet-point list. You may also allow students to discuss their thoughts with a partner before forming their answers.