“The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allen Poe

What is Amontillado? Sherry or a type of wine Why would a story be named after an alcoholic beverage?

The Setting: Catacombs Catacombs are underground tunnels or rooms dug out as tombs or sometimes used for religious worship. From www.m-w.com: 1: a subterranean cemetery of galleries with recesses for tombs —usually used in plural 2: something resembling a catacomb: as : an underground passageway or group of passageways

Who are masons? From www.m-w.com: Definition of 1: a skilled worker who builds by laying units of substantial material (as stone or brick)

What are the free masons? Refers to the oldest fraternity Much mystery and controversy surrounding them Originally a secret society Fraternity based on specific moral and spiritual beliefs such as belief in a supreme being and in brotherly relationships

Coat of Arms

A coat of arms is: A unique symbol meant to represent the person wearing it Used to be worn on the breastplate of armor, but is now a drawing or image that is meant to define a family, person, country, etc.

How is the story ordered? Montresor and Fortunato meet at carnival. Montresor tricks Fortunato into going into the catacombs. Montresor leads Fortunato to the deepest part of the catacombs. Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall and then builds a wall around him. Montresor leaves Fortunato to die.