The Cask of Amontillado
by Edgar Allan Poe
Feature Menu
Introducing the Selection
Literary Focus: Unreliable
Narrator
Reading Focus: Drawing
Conclusions
Writing Focus: Think as a
Reader/Writer
TechFocus
The Cask of Amontillado
Introducing the Selection
Who has a bigger effect on your life—
friends or enemies?
The Cask of Amontillado
Introducing the Selection
Click on the title to start the video.
The Cask of Amontillado
Introducing the Selection
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?
[End of Section]
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 always
tell the truth.
The Most Dangerous Game
Literary Focus: Unreliable Narrator
Like people in general, an unreliable narrator
may not know
the whole truth
or may purposely
choose to deceive us.
The Most Dangerous Game
Literary Focus: 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, and
• tone—attitude.
The Cask of Amontillado
Literary Focus: Unreliable Narrator
Read the following passage. What clues indicate
that the narrator may be unreliable?
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 some
foolcut
cutme
meoff.
off.
this fool
His rear bumper was an inch from my car! I could’ve been
killed!
I dropped my cell phone
phone,and
andleaned
leanedon
onmy
myhorn.
horn.He
Heignored
ignored
me like he’d 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 couldn’t believe it!
The Cask of Amontillado
Literary Focus: Unreliable Narrator
Listen closely to the following passage from the
story.
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.
What clues hint that the narrator may not be
reliable?
[End of Section]
The Cask of Amontillado
Reading Focus: Drawing Conclusions
When you read, you act like a detective.
You gather evidence and draw conclusions, or
make judgments, based on that evidence.
The Cask of Amontillado
Reading Focus: Drawing Conclusions
To decide if Poe’s narrator is reliable, look closely at
• what the narrator says and does, and
• what Fortunato, the narrator’s enemy, says.
What details suggest that the narrator is unreliable—
perhaps even insane?
The Cask of Amontillado
Reading Focus: Drawing Conclusions
Into Action: Keep track of specific details to help
you draw conclusions about the story’s narrator.
Into Action: Conclusions About Montresor’s Reliability
What the Narrator
Says and Does
“The thousand
injuries of
Fortunato I had
borne as best I
could. . . .”
What Fortunato
Says and Does
Fortunato joins the
narrator and treats
him as a friend.
My Conclusions
The narrator may
be imagining that
Fortunato has
mistreated him.
[End of Section]
The Cask of Amontillado
Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
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 Fortunado cause to doubt my
goodwill. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in
his face, and he did not perceive that my smile
now was at the thought of his immolation.
As you read, collect other examples of words and
phrases that help reveal the narrator’s personality.
[End of Section]
The Cask of Amontillado
Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
TechFocus
As you read, jot down titles of stories, artwork,
songs, and so on that remind you of Poe’s style.
Think about how to post this online.
[End of Section]
Vocabulary
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
impunity n.: freedom from punishment or harm.
retribution n.: punishment for a wrong; justice;
revenge.
impose v.: (used with upon) take advantage of.
implore v.: beg.
obstinate adj.: stubborn.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
The word impunity is often used in connection with
legal testimony and trials.
Imagine that a criminal agrees
to testify against himself—only
if he is to be treated with
impunity.
What does the criminal want?
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Caroline mistakenly believed that she would be
treated with impunity if she stayed out late.
What is likely to happen when
she’s late returning home?
a. Her parents will ask whether
she enjoyed herself.
b. Her parents will have nothing
to say to her.
c. Her parents will complain and
then punish her.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Caroline mistakenly believed that she would be
treated with impunity if she stayed out late.
What is likely to happen when
she’s late returning home?
a. Her parents will ask whether
she enjoyed herself.
b. Her parents will have nothing
to say to her.
c. Her parents will complain and
then punish her.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
People who seek retribution often feel that
someone has committed an injustice. This belief may
be real or imagined.
A person seeking
retribution is likely to
believe that the
punishment, or payback,
is fair.
What are some reasons that a person might seek
retribution?
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
In retribution for getting kicked off the team,
Jenna started a nasty rumor about her coach.
Why did Jenna start the rumor?
a. She wanted to get attention.
b. She wanted revenge.
c. She thought it would be funny.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
In retribution for getting kicked off the team,
Jenna started a nasty rumor about her coach.
Why did Jenna start the rumor?
a. She wanted to get attention.
b. She wanted revenge.
c. She thought it would be funny.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
If your classmate repeatedly asks for help with her
homework, she may be imposing upon you.
You may have helped her once or twice, but she
appears to be taking advantage of your generosity.
Have you ever felt
imposed upon by
someone?
What made his or her
behavior an
imposition?
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Is imposed the best word choice in the following
sentence?
Robert imposed upon us by
offering to help us move.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Is imposed the best word choice in the following
sentence?
Robert imposed upon us by
offering to help us move.
If Robert had imposed, he’d
have taken advantage.
The word imposed is a poor
choice here.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
The verb implore is often used when one person or
group wants something from another. The person
or group may beg or plead a case.
For example, you
might implore
your teacher for an
extension on a
project’s deadline.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Devin implored me to be on his team because I’ve
been playing soccer since I was five.
How do you think Devin
sounded when he asked?
a. eager
b. uninterested
c. hesitant
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Devin implored me to be on his team because I’ve
been playing soccer since I was five.
How do you think Devin
sounded when he asked?
a. eager
b. uninterested
c. hesitant
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Someone may be considered obstinate if he or she
holds tightly to a particular attitude, opinion, or
issue.
This obstinate person
is unlikely to listen to
other points of view.
Is there an attitude,
opinion, or issue to
which you hold tightly?
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Is the word obstinate used correctly in the
following sentence?
Sarah thought her mother
was being obstinate: She
had refused to let Sarah
go out until her room was
clean.
The Cask of Amontillado
Vocabulary
Is the word obstinate used correctly in the
following sentence?
Sarah thought her mother
was being obstinate: She
had refused to let Sarah
go out until her room was
clean.
Sarah probably thought her mother was being
stubborn by making her clean the room before
going out. Obstinate is used correctly.
The End