Applying Definitions of Honor to Poe’s “The Cask of
Amontillado”
Project Overview
Students will access a primary source of an online archive of a NPR radio
discussion on the concept of “Honor.” Having read the story “The Cask of
Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe from their literature anthology, they will be
asked to summarize two opposed views of the word “honor” and think critically
about which definition best accords with the sinister actions of the main character
of the story, Montresor.
The project will result in filling out a graded assignment sheet on the NPR
discussion “Honor” as preparation for a paper that asks students to decide which
definition of honor best accounts for Montresor’s actions.
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Student Learning Objectives
For this RWLO, the student will be able to:

Think critically about the concept of “honor.”

Summarize two different definitions of “honor.”

Apply abstract definitions to a concrete example (the Poe story “The Cask
of Amontillado”).

Compare and contrast two definitions and decide which works better for a
specific case.

Cite both a print source (a work in anthology) and an electronic source (an
online archived radio discussion) in MLA format.

Create a “Works Cited” page for the two sources in proper MLA format.
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Procedure
Time: Approximately 75 minutes (the assignment will initiate a larger paper that
will be completed outside of class over a period of several weeks).
Materials: Computers with internet access.
Prerequisites: Students should read the Edgar Allan Poe story “The Cask of
Amontillado” before the beginning of class.
Implementation: This RWLO can be used either in a computer classroom or as
a homework assignment to be completed partially outside of class and then
discussed and finished in class.
Steps:

Listen to the archived discussion of “Honor” from NPR on the internet.

Students will fill out the questionnaire provided by the instructor that asks
them to think critically about the concept of “honor.”

The students and instructor will then discuss the various definitions of
honor given in the NPR discussion.

Students will write a paper on the role that honor plays in the Poe story
“The Cask of Amontillado,” particularly focusing on the actions of the
narrator and protagonist, Montresor.
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Content Material


Student Directions:
o
Read the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe in our
literature anthology.
o
Access the website below and listen to the discussion. In case
there is a technical problem with accessing the site, I have provided
an electronic copy of the transcript of the discussion.
Referenced URLs:
o

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1892717
See handouts on following pages.
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Student Handout Page 1
Go to the following web address and listen to the NPR discussion of honor:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1892717
and look on WebCT under “Resources” and click on “Writing and Literature
Links.” Then click on “NPR Honor Discussion”.
Segment 1
What does the host, Joe Palca, mean when he says that “The word ‘honor’ has
gotten quite a workout this week”? What examples does he give? Why would he
mention this?
Why do you think the people on the mall are being interviewed on their views of
honor?
Who does Palca say will be the guests on the show? What are their
professions?
Guest 1 _______________ Profession ____________
Guest 2 _______________ Profession ____________
Guest 3 _______________ Profession ____________
Why do you think these specific guests were invited?
Segment 2
What is Cohen’s definition of honor?
Cohen’s Definition:
According to Cohen, is honor a positive or negative thing? Explain.
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Student Handout Page 2
Are there any social categories (groups by which people identify themselves) that
are affected by honor? If so, how are they affected?
Segment 3
What is Lipsky’s definition of honor?
Lipsky’s definition:
On what points do Cohen and Lipsky agree? Explain.
On what points do they disagree? What exactly is each person’s argument?
What are they debating about?
What examples are discussed? How does each guest interpret the two
examples differently?
Whose definition of ‘honor’ does Lipsky quote? Why does he use this quote?
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Student Handout Page 3
Length: 750 words minimum (900 maximum)
Content:
Having listened to a discussion on the concept of “honor” from the NPR website,
you will apply Cohen and Lipsky’s definition of “honor” to the Edgar Allan Poe
story “The Cask of Amontillado.”) Your thesis statement should argue that either
Cohen’s or Lipsky’s definition of “honor” best accounts for Montresor’s actions
and why. But keep in mind that your paper should discuss both definitions. Your
paper should provide evidence in the form of quotes from the story and the NPR
discussion. You may not use any sources other than the Poe story and the NPR
discussion of “Honor.” Both sources should be cited in MLA format and appear in
the “Works Cited” page.
Organization:
Your paper should follow a conventional structure for an academic paper. Your
thesis should be easily recognizable in the introduction (usually, it is the last
sentence).
Style/Expression:
Your paper should be written in as formal a style as appropriate for an academic
audience and the purpose of evaluation. There should be no slang,
colloquialisms, or informal expressions.
Punctuation, Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling:
Although your paper should contain few errors in punctuation, grammar,
mechanics, and spelling, you will only be penalized in this paper for fragments
and run-on (fused) sentences (including comma splices).
Format:
Your paper should be in proper MLA style. Follow very closely the sample paper
on pages 2111-2114 of The Bedford Introduction to Literature and pages 448-55
of Rules for Writers.
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Assessment
_____ Clearly identifiable thesis statement which states which definition of honor
from the NPR discussion best accounts for Montresor’s actions in Poe’s “A Cask
of Amontillado” (15 pts.)
_____ Thesis is an argument and has the right balance between being general
and being specific (10 pts.)
_____ Evidence contains examples and quotes from story and NPR discussion
(10 pts.)
_____ Evidence supports thesis (10 pts.)
_____ Organization: introduction, body w/ separate paragraphs, & conclusion
(10 pts.)
_____ Captivating opening (10 pts.)
_____ Formal style as appropriate for an academic audience and the purpose of
analysis with no slang, colloquial, or informal expressions (10 pts.)
_____ Complete and properly joined sentences—no sentence fragments or runons (20 pts. 5 pt. deduction for each fragment or run-on)
_____ Paper in proper MLA format and double-spaced in 12 pt. Times New
Roman font with 1” margins (5 pts.)
_____ Total Points
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Links to Course Competencies
This RWLO could be applied in the following courses: ENG 111 and ENG 121
(both introduction to literature and composition courses). Specifically, this RWLO
meets the following course competencies:

Communication. Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively in
verbal, nonverbal and written forms. Includes ability to use appropriate
technology that supports or facilitates communication.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Demonstrate ability to think
critically and to solve problems using basic research, analysis and
interpretation.

Information Literacy and Research. Demonstrate ability to identify,
locate and use informational tools for research.
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Supplementary Resources

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/PoeCask.html (An e-text of
the story).

http://knowingpoe.thinkport.org/writer/pov.asp (An interesting exercise on
point of view in “The Cask of Amontillado”).
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Recommendations
Recommendations for Integration:
This RWLO would work best in a lit-comp class that gives roughly equal weight to
composition and literature. It works well as an introduction to critical thinking, as it
asks students to think about familiar ideas like “honor” in a historical and
unconventional way.
Back-up:
If the web access to the archived show fails or is too slow, a transcript can be
purchased for classroom use for a reasonable price ($3.95). Search for the show
and date at:
http://www.npr.org/transcripts/
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