IB English B
Bruce Xiao
Mr. Heipel
Reading Questions for “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe
Answer the questions in complete sentences with details and explanations.
1. We see that the story is told from the ___first___ person point of view.
2. What is the setting of the story? Why do you think Poe chose that time of year specifically for
the story?
The setting was in a wine cellar.
Because Furtunato was drunk,so that Montresor could easily kill Furtunato.
3. The phrase, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could,” is an example of
what literary term? Explain your answer.
This literacy term called hyperbole,which exaggerated the content.
4. What does the phrase, “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” mean?
This phrase means no hurry for revenge.
5. According to Montresor, what has Fortunato done to deserve revenge?
Because Fortunato humiliate Montresor.
6. What does the narrator's smiling at the thought of Fortunato's death tell you about his character?
What might this tell you about his mental state?
He is an evil person and he has a crazy mental state.
7. Describe Fortunato’s character. How is his costume an important part of his character.
Fortunato is bad person and he played jokes on people frequently.
8. Why is Montresor glad to see Fortunato? What conclusion can you draw about the narrator’s
character?
Because Montresor could take revenge on drunk Fortunato.
The narrator’s character is full of craziness
9. What is the topic of conversation between Montresor and Fortunato?
The topic of drinking alcohol conversation.
10. How does the narrator lure Fortunato to his palace? What does the narrator's (Montresor’s)
strategy tell you about him?
The narrator use rebellious psychology to force Fortunato to his palace.
lt showed that the Montresor is familiar with Fortunato.
11. Why does the narrator mention Luchesi? What is the outcome for doing so, for mentioning
Luchesi?
Because Montresor a actually wants to stimulate Fortunato with Luchesi, so that Fortunato will have more
desire.
12. Why does Montresor appear concerned about Fortunato’s health? Is he being truthful or not?
Montresor pretended to cocerned about Fortunato’s health and he was not truthful.
13. How did Montresor know that the house would be empty?
Because he told his servant that he won’t go home in advance and his servant all got off the work.
14. How is this statement ironic, “The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a
cough.” Explain.
This statement is very ironic because Fortunato didn’t know he will die later.
15. Why does Montresor make sure Fortunato has drunk a lot of wine while traversing through the
catacombs?
The purpose of making sure Fortunato had drunk a lot of wine is to help Montresor kill Fortunato more easily.
16. What images appear on Montresor's coat of arms? What do the images and motto suggest
about the Montresors?
The image on his arm is of a human foot stepping on a snake biting its heel, which means that no one could
insult or humilate Montresor's family.
17. What is Luchresi’s TRUE role in the story?
Luchesi’s role is to make sure Fortunato go to the catabomb.
18. Why does Montresor say to Fortunato, “Once more let me implore you to return,” even after
he has secured him safely with the chains? What does the timing of such words lead you to infer
about Montresor’s TRUE character?
He is an evil person and he has a crazy mental state.
19. Why do you think that Fortunato is laughing towards the end of the wall being finished?
Because he had already finished his revenge.
20. What do these lines infer, “For half a century no mortal has disturbed them [the bones].”
Frotunato will stay here forever and couldn’t escape from the catabombs forever.
21. Find TWO examples of each of the following: verbal irony and dramatic irony.
Verbal irony:
1) The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.
2) "Once more, let me implore you to return. No?"
Dramatic irony:
1)Audience know that the Frontunato will be murdered by Montresor, but the Montresor didn’t know the truth.
2) Audience know that the Luchesi’s role is to make sure Fortunato go to the catabomb.