The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis

1. The Cask of Amontillado Literary Analysis • Plot- sequence of events in a literary work • Irony – difference between expectation and reality • Verbal irony: Something said or written that uses sarcastic humor • Dramatic Irony: a plot device in which the audience's or reader's knowledge of events or individuals surpasses that of the characters. 

2. More Lit. Terms… • Narrator- voice outside the story who narrates it • Protagonist- the main character • Mood-feeling created in the reader by a literary work • First person point of view- the narrator participates in the action of the story. He/she can’t tell us the thoughts of other characters.

3. Almost done… • Theme- central message or insight into life revealed in literature • Foreshadowing - to indicate or suggest something, usually something unpleasant that is going to happen

4. Poe’s use of irony • Poe chooses the words in his story very carefully. The title of the story and the main characters names were not given by accident.  Many times the words or phases he used gave the reader a clue of what was to follow.  He also used double meanings of words to lead to his sarcastic humor. 

5. Analyze the following lines or scenes from the story. • I continued as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile NOW was at the thought of his immolation. • The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. • I said to him -- "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to day! • I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors. • “Come," I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi" • "The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." "True -- true," I replied • “I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us." "And I to your long life” • "Nemo me impunelacessit." • Once more let me IMPLORE you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you. • The Cask of Amontillado-TITLE • Fortunato – Name of main character

6. Group Question • Think about whether or not Montresor is a reliable narrator. Do any details suggest that he might have imagined “ the thousand injuries” and the insult– or even the whole story? Can you find evidence in the story to support Montresor’s claim that Fortunato did in fact injure and insult him?