Black Cat

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1923

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Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Further Reading & Resources

Related Poems

"The Dog (Der Hund)" by Rainer Maria Rilke (1907)

“The Dog” is another animal or “thing poem” from New Poems. In it, Rilke presents a dog as it tries to understand the conditions of its being. The dog is responsive to the human world in a way that the cat in “Black Cat” is not, although it also appears to be unsure of its place in that world. Again, unlike the cat, the dog depends on humans.

"The Panther (Der Panther)" by Rainer Maria Rilke (1903)

At the zoo in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, Rilke closely observes a panther in its cage. This poem derives in part from his observation. Published in New Poems, it is one of Rilke’s most famous poems. It depicts the powerful animal restlessly pacing the cage, unable to exert its power or follow its natural instincts. He has been imprisoned for so long that he cannot see beyond the bars of his cage.

"The Gazelle (Die Gazelle)" by Rainer Maria Rilke (1907)

“The Gazelle” is another Rilke poem inspired by his direct observation of the animals in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. He wrote to his wife Clara in June 1907 that he found the three gazelles there so beautiful he could not tear himself away from watching them. The poem expresses appreciation of the grace and beauty of the gazelle, including the way it holds its head utterly still, in a moment of listening.

"The Swan (Der Schwann)" by Rainer Maria Rilke (1907)

Also from New Poems, “The Swan” is about the transition from life to death. Rilke compares a swan as it walks awkwardly on land to a person struggling to find his or her way in life. As soon as the swan enters the water, however, it acquires a smooth grace, as if it is now in its true element. Rilke suggests that the act of dying will produce a similar effect for humans.

"The Cat (Le Chat)" by Charles Baudelaire (1857)

“The Cat” consists of four short stanzas. The first two present a more benign portrait of a cat than Rilke was to write 50 years later. Baudelaire praises the beautiful eyes of the cat and gains pleasure from stroking it. The last two verses, however, compare the cat to a woman and refer to its cold and dangerous nature.

Further Literary Resources

Life of a Poet: Rainer Maria Rilke by Ralph Freedman (1998)

Freedman provides a detailed account of Rilke’s life and work. While he explores Rilke’s personal failings, such as his self-absorption and neglect of his wife and daughter, he also gives full justice to Rilke’s relentless struggle over the years to perfect his poetic style and give expression to his ideas.

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Stephen Mitchell (1986)

This is a collection of 10 letters written by Rilke over the period 1902-08 to a young man who had sent him his poetry and asked for advice. Rilke did not directly critique the man’s work but wrote about what were necessary qualities for a poet to cultivate in order to perfect his art. The collection, which was first published in 1929, three years after Rilke’s death, gives insight into Rilke’s ideas about poetry and his creative process.

You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin by Rachel Corbett (2017)

Corbett tells the story of Rilke’s friendship with the famous sculptor, which began in Paris in 1902, when Rilke was employed as Rodin’s secretary. Rilke absorbed the older man’s ideas about art and poetry, which led directly to the writing of New Poems. Corbett creates a vivid portrait of Parisian life in the early years of the 20th century.