The Cask of Amontillado
by: Edgar Allan Poe
Vocabulary
Precluded
Retribution
Accosted
Afflicted
Page 5
Explicit
Recoiling
Termination
Subsided
Edgar Allan Poe
►1809-1849
►He
is considered the father of the
modern detective story.
►Both of his parents died at the
age of three
►Lived with his wealthy uncle, John
Allan
►Attended the University of Virginia
►Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
left Virginia after only 8
months and joined the army
►The Raven and Other Poems
(1845) won him fame as a poet
►Poe was known as a complex
person, tormented and alcoholic
yet also considerate and humorous,
a good friend, and an affectionate
husband.
Background
►Catacombs
began in the Middle Ages
but then they were known as charnels
►Many funerals were held in
catacombs
►Wealthy Europeans had these
catacombs under their house and
filled with ancestors
►The most extensive known catacombs
can be found outside of Rome
Characters/setting/plot
►Montresor
vs. Fortunato
►Carnival season in Europe
►Montresor has vowed revenge
on Fortunato and because of the
carnival season and his virtuoso
in wine, Montresor is able to fool
Fortunato and kill him within his
catacombs
Literary Analysis
►The
mood of a work of
literature is the primary feeling
that the reader experiences
while reading it.
►What
is the mood of this story?
How can the reader gain
sympathy for Fortunato?
►The
narrator does not specify
what wrongs Fortunato has
done to him (Injury and insult)
►Fortunato is a drunken fool; he
is unaware of what is going on
►Fortunato is dressed as a jester
What is the mood of this Poe
story?
►The
mood is creepy, spinetingling and suspenseful. The
narrator is determined to get
revenge. Montresor’s coolness
and calmness about him
suggests that he will succeed in
revenge.
Mood
►How
does the conversation on
page 8 add to the mood of the
story?
►How does the setting add to
the mood?
►What senses does Poe appeal
to, to add to the mood?
Activities
► Review
and assess on page 12
► EdHelper review
http://www.edhelperblog.com/cgi-bin/vocab.cgi
► Research Carnival, the season before Lent and
write an essay
► Good review
http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/english/b
lettiere/cask%20of%20amontillado.doc
► Essay questions
http://faculty.delhi.edu/mckennmm/LITR%2011
0/Cask%20of%20Amontillado.doc