Cat Person

How does Roupenian explore shame in the story? Who feels shame, under what conditions, and to what ends? Use examples from the text to support your argument.

Why does Margot imagine a future boyfriend to tell this story to? What themes does this fantasy play into?

Discuss the role of movies in the story. When do movies show up, who references them, and what purpose do they serve?

Why does Robert confess his feelings for Margot after they have sex? What purpose does this confession serve?

Why does Roupenian allow Robert to have the last word? How does this change the tone and impact of the story?

How would “Cat Person” change if told from Margot’s first-person perspective? Why does Roupenian choose the narrator that she does, and how does this narrator influence our understanding of the piece?

Does Roupenian portray the intercourse between Margot and Robert as consensual? Why or why not?

What role do cell phones play in this short story? How would it be different if it was set before text messaging became popular?

What role does male fragility play in this story? Cite examples from the text.