Cask of Amontillado

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Cask of Amontillado

V5- Short Stories 

Edgar Allan Poe 

• One of the first "professional" writers 
• American 
• Gothic literature 
• The father of the horror genre 
• Died a mysterious death 
• Suffered from mental illness
• context of 19th century America affected work

Could you summarize the key points of the story?

Which "Humorous" elements are present in "Cask of Amontillado"?

Humor, Irony, Satire and Sarcasm

• "Humorous" aspects of the text are dark 
• Created by the situation --> Irony 
• For example: Fortunado (fortunate), "It won't kill me", nemo me impune lacessit
• Satire: imitating people to expose their stupidity --> not really 
• Sarcasm: insincere speech --> I am a mason too! 
• Don't look up  

How "reliable" do you feel our narrator is?

0100

The unreliable narrator 

• He does not specify the "thousand injuries" or "insult"
• Fortunado is drunk, but seems to be amicable 
• Fortunado does not quite seem to understand the revenge 
• Narrator does not tell Fortunado why he is taking revenge (or even that it is revenge) 
• Narrator seems to relish in suffering of his friend
• Narrator seems to be jealous and proud  

What makes our narrator an effective villain?

Charming and manipulative

Hiding true intentions until the end 

Carefully plans the demise of others

How worthy of hatred do you think Fortunado is?

0100

Fortunado 

arrogant 

drunk 

extravagant 

gossip/puts others down 

seems to be a good friend to narrator

friendly (holds arm, smiles) 

actually doesn't agree with flattery (you are rich, etc.) 

What words do you think of when you hear "carnival"?

Catacombs 

Cold 

Dreary 

Surrounded by death 

Claustrophobic 

Why? Creates contrast, makes the tombs seem that much darker and deadly 

Atypical horror story elements 

Wine 

Lights 

Carnival attire 

No monsters/supernatural

What is the theme of "Cask of Amontillado"? Theme is more than one word!

Moral of the story 

"Jealousy and rivalry can only be resolved when the other is dead"

"Murder is an empty and unsatisfactory enterprise"

"Drunkeness is dangerous and can dull the senses"

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer"

What did you think about the story?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

In your own presentation 

You would need to add 5 CITO-type questions, they are reading comprehension questions. 

For example: 

What tone does the author use when describing Italians in paragraph 3? 

A. Admiring                        C. Suspicion 

B. Deference                      D. Disdain