Teacher: Amanda Quantz
Course: English 9
Date: 10/08/09
Topic: “The Cask of Amontillado” – Mood/Tone
Rationale: Students will read the background information about “The Cask of Amontillado.”
This short article reveals that Poe’s short story was based on real events, and they will compare
and contrast the two to make connections to mood and tone in the fictional story. We will
continue by using a handout to find the elements of mood and tone in Poe’s short story. The
students will then show what they’ve learned by completing the mood/tone assignment. This
will help them explain the mood and tone of the story in two ways: by showing an illustration of
what is happening and by explaining what was included in the drawing and why it relates to
these concepts.
Objectives:
1. To allow students to connect and compare and contrast “The Cask of Amontillado” to its
real-life story.
2. To allow students to establish mood and tone in the story “The Cask of Amontillado.”
Material:
1. Textbook that includes “The Cask of Amontillado”
2. Loose-leaf paper for note-taking
3. Mood/Tone handout
4. Blank paper
5. Coloring supplies
Procedures:
1. Anticipatory Set – (9-12 min) Draw a card, and ask that student to summarize the story
that was read yesterday. Let them know that this was a true story. Then have students
open their books to page 783. Read “The Story Behind ‘The Cask of Amontillado’” by
Edward Rowe Snow. Each student reads a paragraph.
2. Activity One – (5 min) Pass out the mood/tone handout and answer the two questions at
the top as a class. Go over the definitions of mood and tone, and ask students if they
need clarification on these terms.
3. Activity Two – (9 min) Go over the first row in the table as a class. The students will
then have six minutes to work in partners to complete the table.
4. Activity Three – (6 min) As a class, go over the remainder of the table on the mood/tone
handout.
5. Activity Four – (12 min) Explain the mood/tone assignments and allow the students to
begin working. This will give them the opportunity to ask questions about the
assignment and anything else in the story before finishing the assignment at home.
6. Activity Five – (5 min) Review vocabulary worksheet for tomorrow’s quiz.
Assignments and Reminders:
1. If the mood/tone assignment is not completed in class, then it is homework and due on
Monday, October 12th.
2. The chapter four vocabulary quiz is on Friday.
Evaluation: The assignment on mood and tone will be graded. I will check to see that students
have an idea of the mood and tone in “The Cask of Amontillado” through their drawings and
explanations. The drawing will not be graded for artistic skill but for representing the mood and
tone of the story. I will also ask students if they need further clarification of mood and tone as
well as make sure they do not look confused during the lesson.