Id, Ego, and Superego in Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat is used as a primer to teach students how to analyze a literary work using the literary tools of plot, theme, characterization, and psychoanalytical criticism. In the first session, students use a plot handout to identify the elements of plot and theme for The Cat in the Hat. Session Two introduces psychoanalytic criticism as students classify the characters from the story, using the Id, Ego, and Superego. Students then develop an argument stating the psychological personality for each character. They gather evidence supporting their arguments by identifying examples of indirect characterization in the text. Finally, students refine their analysis and develop an analytical essay.