“The Cask of Amontillado”
By Edgar Allan Poe
Catacombs

A network of caves, grottos, or
subterranean place that is used
for the burial of the dead

Etruscans used to bury their
dead in underground chambers.
Christians revived the practice
because they did not want to
cremate their dead due to their
belief in bodily resurrection.
Hence they began to bury their
dead, first in simple graves and
sometimes in burial vaults.
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Have you seen Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade?
Catacombs
Catacombs
In the days before electricity…
…one would light up dark, damp catacombs
with flambeaux.
What is a cask?

A wooden barrel or
container

The word comes from the
Spanish cáscara which
means tree bark, in the
sense that the bark
surrounds and holds the
tree in the way that a
cask surrounds and
holds wine
Amontillado…

a pale, dry sherry

named after the
Montilla region of
Spain where this style
of wine originated in
the 18th century
Fetters

a kind of physical
restraint used on the feet
or ankles to allow walking
but prevent running and
kicking

also called shackles or
footcuffs
Retribution
n.
Something justly deserved; recompense.
Something given or demanded in repayment,
especially punishment.
Theology Punishment or reward distributed in
a future life based on performance in this
one.
Revenge
Impunity




Definition: exemption or immunity from harm, especially
punishment or retribution, as a result of one's actions or
words
Note the root word punity, which has the same origin as
punished. When you add the negative im-, "not," impunity
has the connotation of not being punished for what you say
or do.
Examples: Freedom of speech enables people to say and do
controversial and often disturbing things with impunity.
Crime is so rampant that it feels like criminals are terrorizing
the city with impunity.
Edgar Allan Poe

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Poe was born in
1809
Orphaned at a very
early age
Adopted, sent to
various schools,
including West
Point
Enlisted in army
Published several
successful poems
Poe’s Life
 At
age of 27, he married his 13
year old cousin
 Became owner of newspaper
 Wife died of tuberculosis
 Poe turned to drink
 Died at a young age of rabies
Poe’s story of
REVENGE
Setting: Carnival Season in Italy

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It is a festival season.
Occurs immediately before
Lent; the main events are
usually during February or
March.
Involves a public
celebration or parade
combining some elements
of a circus and public
street party.
People often dress up or
masquerade during the
celebrations.
Carnival or Carnevale


Carnival is mostly
associated with Roman
Catholic and, to a lesser
extent, Eastern Orthodox
Christians.
The world's largest
carnival celebration is held
in Brazil but many
countries worldwide have
large, popular
celebrations.
Carnival Costumes and Masks
The characters

Montresor and
Fortunato- two good
Italian names!
This is Fortunato. Let’s
remember to talk about the
irony of his name when we’re
finished reading!
Montresor’s Coat of Arms and
family motto

“A human foot d’or, in a
field azure; the foot
crushes a serpent rampant
whose fangs are
imbedded in the heel” (9).

“Nemo me impune
lacessit” (9).

Latin meaning “No one
attacks me with impunity.”
No one attacks me without
being punished.
Freemasons vs. Masons

Freemasonry is a fraternity,
or brotherhood, that aims to
make good men better and
to support each other.

A mason is a person
whose trade is building with
units of various natural or
artificial mineral products,
as stones, bricks, cinder
blocks, or tiles, usually with
the use of mortar or cement
as a bonding agent.