The Cask of The Cask of AmontilladoAmontillado

Group 3 WikiGroup 3 WikiSteffane Ramnaryan, Hayley Bhola, Sharifa Steffane Ramnaryan, Hayley Bhola, Sharifa

Jabar & Rechelle FinlayJabar & Rechelle Finlay

By Edgar Allan Poe

♪ ♪ SummarySummary ♫ ♫

Montresor was a vintage wine collector who felt Montresor was a vintage wine collector who felt wronged and insulted wronged and insulted by Fortunato, a wine by Fortunato, a wine connoisseur. Therefore he secretly plotted connoisseur. Therefore he secretly plotted murderous revengemurderous revenge!! - while feigning friendship. - while feigning friendship.

Knowing Fortunato’s pride in his expertise, he used Knowing Fortunato’s pride in his expertise, he used the lure of the possibility of rare wine called the lure of the possibility of rare wine called Amontillado to draw “the Quack” into his trap. Amontillado to draw “the Quack” into his trap.

Montresor brought him to the depths of the Montresor brought him to the depths of the Catacombs and intoxicated him, Catacombs and intoxicated him, ☢☢ chained him to chained him to wall and built a brick wall to trap him inside, wall and built a brick wall to trap him inside, where he suffocated and died painfully. where he suffocated and died painfully. ☠☠

♫♫ A Short Story Is…A Short Story Is…

♬♬ Descended from the novel but Descended from the novel but llimited in length and scope. It begins close to the height of the action with only a small number of characters. Typically, a short story centers on a single occurrence and the characters develop in relation to their responses to said event.

♪♪ Material / Setting Material / Setting ♫♫

TimeTime Early 1800s Early 1800s early evening early evening

PlacePlace An Italian city during a carnival An Italian city during a carnival

prior to Lentprior to Lent“It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of Carnival”

♪♪ Material / Setting Material / Setting cont’dcont’d

Mileu / CharactersMileu / Characters MontresorMontresor FortunatoFortunato

ThemeTheme Pride – both men were proudPride – both men were proud Vengence – Montresor wanted to avenge Vengence – Montresor wanted to avenge

his wounded pridehis wounded pride Deception – Montresor kept a pretext of Deception – Montresor kept a pretext of

being Fortunato’s friendbeing Fortunato’s friend

♫♫ Structure Structure ♪♪

Narrative techniqueNarrative technique 11stst Person Person

Episodes or ScenesEpisodes or Scenes Meeting scene: at a carenage or promenade in Meeting scene: at a carenage or promenade in

the eveningthe evening

At the palazzo (Montresor’s manor): going At the palazzo (Montresor’s manor): going down to the vaultsdown to the vaults

♫♫ Structure Structure cont’dcont’d

Catacomb scene: Live burial. Fortunato Catacomb scene: Live burial. Fortunato is holed into the wall and left to die.is holed into the wall and left to die.

♪♪ Suspense Suspense ♫♫

Instances of suspenseInstances of suspense Throughout the first three quarters of the story, Throughout the first three quarters of the story,

we wonder what Montresor is really bringing we wonder what Montresor is really bringing Fortunato to the vaults forFortunato to the vaults for

Wondering if he would successfully get him to Wondering if he would successfully get him to the catacombs and succeed with his immolationthe catacombs and succeed with his immolation

Climax points Climax points Moment of burial and death Moment of burial and death ☠☠

the duration of the tierring of the bricksthe duration of the tierring of the bricks Momnet of realization that death was coming and Momnet of realization that death was coming and

hoping it was a joke.hoping it was a joke.

♫♫ Symbols Symbols ♪♪ Cask – symbolized a casketCask – symbolized a casket

The word The word caskcask, meaning , meaning wine barrelwine barrel, , is derived from the same root word is derived from the same root word used to form used to form casketcasket, meaning , meaning coffincoffin. . Thus, the cask figuratively represents Thus, the cask figuratively represents Fortunato’s casket. Fortunato’s casket.

Jester outfit (motley) – Fortunato was thought of generally Jester outfit (motley) – Fortunato was thought of generally as a foolas a fool

The mask Montresor puts on – putting on a mask The mask Montresor puts on – putting on a mask of false friendshipof false friendship

♪♪ Symbols Symbols cont’dcont’d

The Amontillado – The Amontillado – symbolized a rare attitudesymbolized a rare attitude Family crest – Montresor’s supposed Family crest – Montresor’s supposed

crest symbolized revengecrest symbolized revenge“Nemo me impune lacessit” -No one provokes me with impunity

Freemasons – worldwide fraternal Freemasons – worldwide fraternal organisation (Montresor used it to gain organisation (Montresor used it to gain trust), trust),

and a mason is also a bricklayer.and a mason is also a bricklayer.The trowel is a bricklaying toolThe trowel is a bricklaying tool

♪♪ Symbols Symbols cont’dcont’d

The flagon of “De Grave” – Montresor The flagon of “De Grave” – Montresor gave fortunato this wine as they gave fortunato this wine as they went deeper into the catacombs to went deeper into the catacombs to ‘help with his cough’. De Grave ‘help with his cough’. De Grave however literally means of / from the however literally means of / from the grave.grave.

♪♪ Perspective Perspective ♫♫

ProudProud Defensive – Montresor is defending Defensive – Montresor is defending

his case. The readers take his side his case. The readers take his side though he is the murderer.though he is the murderer.

Biased – Because the story is told in Biased – Because the story is told in first person, there is only Montresor’s first person, there is only Montresor’s account given.account given.

♫♫ Language & Style Language & Style ♪♪ ImageryImagery

The descriptive words used in the story are expressive and The descriptive words used in the story are expressive and evocative:evocative:

The “supreme madness” of carnivalThe “supreme madness” of carnival ……bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that

led into vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, led into vaults. I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp to the foot of the descent, and stood together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montressors." That excerpt ground of the catacombs of the Montressors." That excerpt develops the setting in the eerie catacombs of the Montressors develops the setting in the eerie catacombs of the Montressors

Dialogue: DramaDialogue: Drama Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health is precious. Your Montresor says, “We will go back. Your health is precious. Your

are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as I once are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as I once was. You are a man to be missed.” Fortunato then tells was. You are a man to be missed.” Fortunato then tells Montresor not to worry: “The cough is a mere nothing; it will Montresor not to worry: “The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I will not die of a cough.” To this reply, Montresor not kill me. I will not die of a cough.” To this reply, Montresor says, “True–true.” The reader at this point can almost see a says, “True–true.” The reader at this point can almost see a devilish gleam in Montresor’s eyes, for he knows exactly how devilish gleam in Montresor’s eyes, for he knows exactly how Fortunato will die.” Later, Montresor opens a bottle of wine and Fortunato will die.” Later, Montresor opens a bottle of wine and toasts Fortunato: “To your long life,” he says.  toasts Fortunato: “To your long life,” he says. 

♪♪ Language & Style Language & Style cont’dcont’d

IronyIrony Fortunato’s name actually means ‘Fortunate’Fortunato’s name actually means ‘Fortunate’ Fortunato was going on about how Luchresi couldn’t Fortunato was going on about how Luchresi couldn’t

tell the difference between sherry and Amontillado, tell the difference between sherry and Amontillado, but he couldn’t tell the difference between a friend but he couldn’t tell the difference between a friend and a foe.and a foe.

Fortunato asks Montresor whether his is a mason, Fortunato asks Montresor whether his is a mason, meaning a member of the fraternal order of meaning a member of the fraternal order of Freemasonry. Montresor says he is indeed a mason. Freemasonry. Montresor says he is indeed a mason. However, he is using the word to mean a craftsman However, he is using the word to mean a craftsman who builds with stone and mortar (because he will who builds with stone and mortar (because he will be building Fortunato’s “tomb,” a stone wall.) be building Fortunato’s “tomb,” a stone wall.)

♪♪ Language & Style Language & Style cont’d cont’d

Tone: Eerie, Dark, Suspenseful, Tone: Eerie, Dark, Suspenseful, Misleading, MacabreMisleading, Macabre The description of the catacombs:The description of the catacombs:

“…“…passed through long walls of piled skeletons, with passed through long walls of piled skeletons, with casks and puncheons intermingling…”casks and puncheons intermingling…”

“…“…we passed through a range of low arches, we passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt in which the foulness of the air…” – this a deep crypt in which the foulness of the air…” – this gave the impresson that other bodies had been trapped gave the impresson that other bodies had been trapped down there, indicating that the Montresors did indeed down there, indicating that the Montresors did indeed punish those who fell to insult.punish those who fell to insult.

"The succession of loud and shrill "The succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the screams, bursting suddenly from the throat…“throat…“

♪♪ Words Learnt During the Words Learnt During the Exercise Exercise ♫♫

AmontilladoAmontillado Aperture Aperture Circumscribing Circumscribing FetterFetter Flambeau Flambeau Immolate Immolate Puncheon Puncheon Rheum Rheum Roquelaure Roquelaure