Mood. Mood, or atmosphere, is the feeling or emotion the writer creates in a literary work. This atmosphere pervades the literary work and causes the reader to expect events in keeping with that mood. Most often several elements of the story contribute to the mood, including the setting, behavior of characters, and events. As you read “Pets,” look for these examples of each of these three elements. How would you describe the mood they create?
Protagonist and Antagonist. A protagonist is the main character in a story. The protagonist faces a struggle or conflict. A character who struggles with the main character is called an antagonist. As you read “Pets,” identify the protagonist. Then determine the antagonist(s) in the story. What is the struggle they face?
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• Science Connection. The cats in this story contract a highly contagious, often deadly virus called feline distemper. The illness, found primarily in cats, causes fever, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Distemper destroys white blood cells, which fight disease, and can cause nervous system damage, other infections, and death. Veterinarians offer a vaccination against the disease and in some cases can also successfully treat the illness with antibiotics as well as other measures for advanced cases.
• Some people believe that the souls of the dead can remain on the earth as ghosts. Scientists have studied evidence that ghosts exist, and ghosts have become a popular subject in literature. No one has ever proven the existence of ghosts, but evidence in photographs, audio recordings, and various unexplained occurrences has led many to believe that ghosts are real. Believers say that certain souls have chosen—for reasons often unknown—to remain on the earth after they have died. Some stay, it is believed, to remain close to family members and loved ones. This story suggests that even pets may stay to be near their owners.
• Many pet owners choose to have their pets buried in pet cemeteries after they die. This tradition has spanned centuries. Researchers have uncovered pet cemeteries used in ancient Greece and in ancient Egypt.
What is the most remarkable pet you’ve ever owned or wished to own?
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