By Edgar Allan Poe

Exposition  First three lines: “The Thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.  Revenge means death  What do we learn about the character telling the story? Montressor’s motive for revenge- he has been insulted by Fortunato

Characterization  What kind of character is the narrator?  Devious, acts as though he is still a friend of Fortunato  Page 95 bottom of last paragraph of the first column

Characterization  What kind of character is Fortunato?  Prided himself on his expert knowledge (connoisseurship of wine)  Does Montressor use this against him?

Setting  Dusk  One evening  During the supreme madness of the carnival  Why does Poe choose this as the setting?

Irony  Fortunato wore motley. Page 96 second paragraph  What does motley mean?  Fortunato wore a clown costume.  Why is this ironic? What type of irony?

Why is Montressor so happy to see Fortunato?  Page 96 “I was so pleased to see him that I thought o should never done wringing his hand.”  Verbal Irony: “ My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.”

Luchesi  How does this character play a role in the plot?  Bottom of page 96 first column  Plays on Fortunato’s ego and baits him saying he will go to someone else to determine if the wine is really a rare Amontillado  Montressor hopes Fortunato will insist on doing it himself

Foreshadowing  Second Column fourth paragraph  Disguise self; no servants home

Setting  Damp, dark catacombs (burial place) for the Montressors family

Verbal Irony “Come,” I said, with decision, “we will go back; your health is precious.” Montressor does not care about Fortunato’s health

Motivation  “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are as happy as I once was.”  What could add to his motivation to kill Fortunato through revenge?

Irony  “Enough,” he said; “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.”  Why is this statement ironic?  Fortunato will die of a cough but by murder

Irony  Bottom of first column on page 97  “I drink,” he said, “to the buried that repose around us.”  “And I to your long life.”  What kind of irony is this?  Verbal

Coat of Arms  Picture and family motto  Symbolism  Montressor’s evil character and intent is just like his family’s coat of arms A huge human foot in a field. The foot crushes the serpent whose fangs are embedded in the heel.  Top of second column page 97

Family Motto page 97  “Nemo me impune lacessit.”  Latin  No one can attack me without being punished

Reread aloud second column page 97  What TWO meanings does masonry have here?  Which man uses the Freemasons meaning?  Which man interprets the masonry meaning? Why does this add to the plot? Montressor will use his skills in masonry to wall up his victim.

Why is it so easy for Montressor to chain Fortunato?  Intoxicated  Not expecting it to happen

Was this murder premeditated?  Read the second column on page 98  Middle of the passage  “True,” I replied, “The Amontillado.” “As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken…”

How can you tell Montressor is deranged?  Bottom of second column on page 98  As Fortunato furiously and uselessly tries to shake out the chains, Montressor sits down among the bones to take pleasure in torturing his victim.

Does Montressor feel remorse?  Page 100 last paragraph of the story  Read aloud “No answer still…”

Irony  The title “Cask” comes from the same root as coffin  Verbal  We know Fortunato is aware and approves the fact that Montroessor’s family motto vows revenge  Dramatic

Irony  The Amontillado never exists in the story  Situational  Fortunato insists that Luchesi cannot judge sherry from Amontillado- Fortunato cannot judge a friend from foe  Situational

Irony  Montressor’s insistence that he is a mason is juxtaposed (placed side by side as a comparison) with Fortunato’s secret sign of the masons  Situational

Irony  Montressor’s crime takes place during a major celebration  Situational

Irony  The confidence of Montressor is shaken when he becomes upset by the last jingling of the bells on Fortunato’s hat  Situational

Irony  We realize as the story progresses that Fortunato’s clown costume is symbolic of being a fool walking to his death  Dramatic