English 9H
Ms. Bugasch
December 10, 2013
“B” Day
Goals
1. To introduce “The Cask of
Amontillado”
2. To introduce and review Vocabulary
Unit #6
FFW
Take out homework: Vocab. Unit #6
Pass out “Cask of Amontillado” vocabulary
Answer the following question in your notebook:
1. What is the worst type of revenge
to seek for a person? Physical?
Emotional? Psychological? Other?
Explain and defend your answer.
Homework Review
• Review Vocab. Unit #6 –
Completing the Sentence
Setting and Background
• Much of the action in the story takes place in catacombs
• These long passageways and side tunnels stretch out like cities of the dead
• Many wealthy European families held funerals in catacombs beneath the
manor
• The dead were then laid to rest, surrounded by the bones of their
ancestors
• Most extensive known catacombs are found outside Rome
• The story takes place in a nameless Italian city in an unspecified year
(probably in the 18th century)
• The story begins around dusk, one evening during the carnival season
(similar to the Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans) in an unnamed
European city.
• The location quickly changes from the lighthearted activities associated
with such a festival to the damp, dark catacombs under Montresor's
palazzo which helps to establish the sinister atmosphere of the story.
Characters
• Although several characters are mentioned in this story, the
true focus lies upon Montresor, the diabolical narrator of this
tale of horror, who pledges revenge upon Fortunato for an
insult.
• When the two meet during the carnival season, there is a
warm greeting with excessive shaking of hands which
Montresor attributes to the fact that Fortunato had been
drinking. Montresor also appears to be "happy" to see
Fortunato since he is planning to murder him. Fortunato's
clown or jester's costume appears to be appropriate not only
for the carnival season but also for the fact that Montresor
intends to make a "fool" out of him.
Theme
• "The Cask of Amontillado" is a powerful tale of
revenge. Montresor, the sinister narrator of
this tale, pledges revenge upon Fortunato for
an insult. Montresor intends to seek
vengeance in support of his family motto
Point of View
• Poe writes this story from the perspective of Montresor who
vows revenge against Fortunato in an effort to support his
time-honored family motto: "Nemo me impune lacessit" or
"No one assails me with impunity." (No one can attack me
without being punished .)
• Poe does not intend for the reader to sympathize with
Montresor because he has been wronged by Fortunato, but
rather to judge him.
• Telling the story from Montresor's point of view, intensifies
the effect of moral shock and horror. Once again, the reader is
invited (as was the case in "The Tell-Tale Heart") to delve into
the inner workings of a sinister mind.
Literary Elements
• Mood- the mood of a work of literature is the
primary feeling that the reader experiences
while reading it.
• In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe carefully
chooses words and details to create a mood of eerie
suspense.
• Ex/ “We passed through a range of low arches,
descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at
a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused
our flambeaux rather to glow than flame.”
• Description- a portrait painted in words of a
person, place, or object.
– In the story, description creates the eerie mood
Reading Strategy:
Breaking Down Confusing
Sentences
•
When you approach Poe’s writing,
you may need to break down
confusing sentences.
I = Narrator
He = Fortunato
• To do this:
» Read sentences in
meaningful
sections, not word
by word.
» Figure out the
subject– who or
what the sentence
is about. Then,
determine what
the sentence is
saying about that
subject.
» Rearrange, change,
or take out words
to make the
sentence clearer.
Introducing the Selection
“The Cask of Amontillado”
• Lured by the promise of a fine wine, Fortunato
journeys into the depths of the Montresors’
catacombs- underground tunnels that house
the dead.
– What happens when Fortunato is led through the
dark, dank catacombs?
– Is his host really a madman bent on revenge?
“The Cask of Amontillado”
Literary Focus: Unreliable Narrator
• When you read a story told
by a first- person narrator- a
character who tells the
story by using I- be sure to
ask yourself if the narrator
can be trusted.
• Sometimes, writers
purposely use an unreliable
narrator, a narrator who
does not tell the truth
• Like people in general, an unreliable narratorMay not know the whole truth or may choose
to deceive us
Unreliable Narrator
• To find clues about whether a narrator is
reliable, pay attention to the narrator’s…
–
–
–
–
–
Actions
Statements
Voice, Style of Speaking
Diction- word choice
Tone- attitude
Unreliable Narrator
• Read the following passage. What clues indicate that the
narrator may be unreliable?
Ex./ You’ll never believe what happened to me on my way to
work this morning. I was minding my own business, driving
in the middle lane of the highway, when this fool cut me off.
His rear bumper was an inch from my car. I could have been
killed!
I dropped my cell phone, and leaned on my horn. He ignored
me like he had done nothing wrong! So, I switched lanes and
sped up to pull alongside him.
As soon as my car was even with his, I yelled out the window at
him; again, he ignored me! I could not believe it!
Listen closely to the following passage
from the story…What hints that the
narrator may not be reliable?
“The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne
as I best could; but when he ventured upon
insult. I vowed revenge. You, who so well
know the nature of my soul, will not suppose,
however, that I gave utterance to a threat.”
“The Cask of Amontillado”:
Reading focus- drawing
conclusions
• When you read, act like a detective
• You gather evidence and draw conclusions, or make decisions
based on that evidence
• To decide if Poe is a reliable narrator, look closely at
• What the narrator says and does
• What Fortunato, the narrator’s enemy, says and does
Find it in your reading..
• Poe carefully uses language to create a portrait of the
story’s narrator.
“It must be understood that neither by word nor deed
had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my goodwill. I
continued, as was my want, to smile in his face, and
he did not perceive that my smile now was at the
though of his immolation.”
As you read, collect other examples of words and
phrases that help reveal the narrator’s personality.
“The Cask of Amontillado”
Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
• As you read, jot down titles of stories,
artwork, songs, and so on that remind you of
Poe’s style
• Think about posting them online at School
Rack
Homework
1. Vocabulary Unit #6 – Completing
the Sentence
2. Do worksheets – Reading Strategies
3. Schoolrack