“The cask of amontillado” Character Analysis Essay

Essay Prompts In a 5 paragraph character analysis essay, you will analyze a character from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado”. Once you’ve chosen your character (either Montresor or Fortunato), focus on three characteristics to write about. Your 3 body paragraphs will correspond with the three characteristics you’ve chosen. Prompt 1 – Why is Fortunato an easy target for Montresor? Prompt 2 – What qualities allow Montresor to be an effective murderer?

Directions for Getting Started Decide which character you want to write about. Brainstorm. Use direct and indirect characterization to determine 3 characteristics about your character. Set up your framework (thesis statement and 3 topic sentences) Write your body paragraphs. Write your introduction. Write your conclusion. Revise and Edit your paper.

Montresor or Fortunato? Directions: Think about which character you’d like to write about: Fortunato or Montresor. Then answer the question below. Which character did you chose to write about and why?

Brainstorm Directions: List as many qualities as you can about your character. Example: Montresor Your List: ____________________ Deceptive Clever  

Framework Directions: Write your thesis by answering the prompt that you chose. Example: Thesis Montresor is able to accomplish murder without ever getting caught because he is ________________, _________________, and __________________.

Framework Write your topic sentences using your brainstorm to help you. You may use any of the sentence starters provided. Due to the fact that Montresor is _______________, he is able to _______________ so that he can murder Fortunato. Looking closely at how Montresor/Fortunato behaves when ___________________, it is clear that _________________________.

Body Paragraphs Now that you have a framework for you essay, begin by writing your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence, quote/analysis, and a conclusion sentence. Note: each paragraph must be at least 5-7 sentences long and must contain at least 1 piece of evidence (with page numbers).

Introductory Paragraphs Begin your introduction off with an attention getter to hook your reader. Then, in 2-3 sentences, include all of the necessary information - author’s full name, the title of the work being analyzed in the story, and a brief plot summery (the ONLY plot summary of your paper) highlighting the major action of the story, especially the parts that are relevant to your analysis. Be sure to include the characters’ names (avoid using basic pronouns). The character you’ve chosen to analyze should be the subject of most of your sentences. Lastly, write your thesis. The thesis should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph. Examples of hooks: A rhetorical question A shocking or surprising generalization Fact or statistic Possible sentences starters for introducing the necessary information: In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” … In the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe…

Conclusion Paragraph Directions: Your conclusion should restate your thesis, restate the topics of each of your body paragraphs, and provide a clincher – give your reader closure. If you began your essay by asking a question, your clincher might answer the question you raised.