Name: ___Teacher Key_________________ Date: ____________ Mods: __________
Short Story Notes Applied to “The Cask of Amontillado”
PLOT LINE MODEL:
a. reconstructed past- the thousand injuries had taken place over a period
of time;
b. exposition- Reader learns in first line of the story Montresor’s motive for
revenge: he has been insulted by Fortunato; both men are wealthy and
skillful in their knowledge of wine.
c. complication- Montresor will seek revenge without a chance for
retaliation.
d. turning point- Montresor meets Fortunato in the village and takes him to
his palazzo.
e. climax- The chaining and wall construction in the catacombs.
f. resolution- Montresor has taken his revenge; Fortunato has met his dire
fate
g. projected future- Montresor is content and will not be insulted again;
Fortunato has met his grim fate and “for the half of the century no mortal
has disturbd them”
h. rising action- All events leading to Montresor’s seizing of Fortunato
before chaining him to the wall in the catacombs.
i. falling action- All events that take place after the last brick is placed in the
wall.
FIGURES OF SPEECH:
a. simile: XXXX
b. metaphor- XXX
c. imagery- “The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled wine”; “two
filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication”;
d. irony- The handshaking of a friend vs. enemy; Montresor does not care
about Fortunato’s cough or health; Fortunato will die but not from a cough.
e. flashback- “For half of a century no mortal has disturbed them”.
f. foreshadowing- disguising himself and insuring disappearance of the
servants ensures that evil act will be carried out.
g. theme- pride and ego, loss of self-control may lead to severe
consequences.
POINT OF VIEW:
a. First person- Told from first-person point of view. Poe never steps
outside of his narrator. In doing so, Poe allows the reader to truly
understand the deep psychosis of Montresor’s mind.
b. Third person- XXXX
10. TYPES OF CONFLICT
A. Internal- Character vs. self (Each of the characters struggle with ego and
pride.)
B. Externala. character v character- Montresor vs. Fortunato
b. character v nature- Fortunato vs. cough
c. character v society- XXX
d. character v supernatural- XXX
11. CHARACTER TYPES
a. static- Neither Montresor (protagonist) or Fortunato (antagonist) change
throughout the story.
b. dynamic- XXX
c. stereotype- XXX
CHARACTERIZATIONa. direct- Montresor will get vengeance without any chance of retaliation. “I
must not only punish, but punish with impunity.”
b. indirect- Montresor and Fortunato are extremely prideful. Montresor’s
has been insulted and Fortunato is a connoisseur. Both men are wealthy.
c. inferred- Fortunato’s clown costume is appropriate, for Montresor plans
to make a fool of him.
ASPECTS OF CHARACTER:
A. Protagonist: Montresor
1. Physical- Dressed in a black cape and hood.
2. Psychological- Vengeful, evil in character and intent, uses reverse
psychology to bait his victim; cold and calculated.
3. Sociological- One can assume he is wealthy with a long family
heritage. Examples: family crest, palazzo (a palace or luxurious
home).
B. Antagonist: Fortunato
1. Physical: Dressed in a motley (costume of a jester).
2. Psychological: Friendly and Egotistical, a connoisseur of wine,
prideful, drinks excessively which leads to foolish thoughts,
behavior and actions.
3. Sociological: Montresor tells the reader through dialogue with
Fortunato that he is rich, respected, admired, beloved.
LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING
a. literal level- Montresor acted in a cold, calculated manner to ensure that
he would get revenge for the insults of Fortunato.
b. interpretative level- Don’t let your emotions and ego guide you, loss of
self-control can lead to danger and foolish behavior.
c. applied level: How can this relate to your life?
ATMOSPHERE:
TONE- dark, cold, death, catacombs, illness, dark capes
WORLD VIEW: (Views will vary)
a. Romantic- (American Romanticism) Montresor feels justified in his
actions and views his actions as an act of justice.
b. Realistic- Murder because of hurt pride and bruised ego’s occur
throughout the world on a daily basis.
c. Naturalistic- XXX