In describing Poe's fiction, G.R. Thompson defines Poe's use of irony as, "A basic discrepancy between what is expected or apparent and what is actually the case." He calls Poe, "A satiric ironist," using satire to make a, "Fuller use of comic distortion." Thompson goes on to identify, "Literary irony," as "A writer's verbal and structural mode of purporting to take seriously what he does not take seriously, or at least does not take with complete seriousness." Irony, Thompson says, "Is more often than not philosophically characterized by a skepticism engendered by seeing opposite possibilities in a situation... It is in this sense that the term irony describes Poe's characteristic mode of writing." The opening of "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allan Poe, establishes an ironic tone that continues until the end of the tale. The Narrator wonders if his horrible story would ever be considered a, "Series of mere household events." The casual way he contemplates his actions, immediately informs the reader that the opinion of the narrator and the facts of the story he is relaying, may turn out to be something completely unexpected. He tells us in the beginning of the story that, "Tomorrow I die." Obviously, something extraordinary has taken place or he would not be in that fateful position. The reader quickly comprehends that the narrator's view of the story, and what actually occurred may be two very different versions of some gruesome event. The fact that the narrator is in jail and has been sentenced to death, only adds to the irony of his musings. He looks back on the events with, "Awe," yet thinks that in the future people will understand and sympathize with him. The reader knows that the narrator will die in the beginning. It is revealed he only has hours before his death. He has come to terms with, and accepted responsibility for the consequences of his actions. In the very first paragraph, he points the finger of blame at, "These events