“The Cask of Amontillado” 1. Hyperbole is the use of exaggeration to make a point. Look at the first paragraph. What phrase used by the narrator is an example of hyperbole? Write down the full sentence that includes the hyperbolic element. Does this line make you more sympathetic or less toward the narrator/murderer? Why? The phrases used by the narrator to demonstrate hyperbole is “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. This line makes me feel less sympathetic toward the narrator/murderer. I feel less sympathetic for him since why does he even wants to seek revenge over an insult. Although the narrator states he was been insulted by Fortunato numerous time as he exaggerates how many time he has been offended however it only occurred one time. Therefore, I don’t feel sympathetic after all it wasn’t like Fortunato harm or hurt someone in family as it was just an insult which is petty.
2. Montresor tells us, “A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. ” In your own words, explain what this means. The phrase Montresor says means although he needs to be “avenge” he must not only kill his victim but also get away with the crime. (“A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser”). As with the second part of the phrase as it means how Fortunato should know exactly what happened and what have cause him to be murdered.
3. What is it about Montresor that makes him an especially effective enemy to Fortunato? Give an example from a book you’ve read or a film/T. V. show you’ve seen in which this type of villain exists. Montresor is especially effective enemy to Fortunato because in Fortunato completely trusts Montresor. For instance, within the film I have watch was Star Wars which displays a antagonist that was very similar to Montresor as he wanted to revenge and befriend the protagonist and later lured him into a trap and got him ambushed and he got killed. 4. Fortunato, who has been out drinking and enjoying Carnival, is wearing a clown’s hat.
Symbolically, why is this an interestingand appropriate-costume choice by the writer, Edgar Allan Poe? When Fortunato was dressed as a jester, or a clown it symbolizes that he was a fool which lead him to fall right into Montresor’s trap. As a fool is a common term that is known as clowns. This is interesting and appropriate costume choice by the writer since throughout the beginning of the story because Fortunato was drunk and was having a good time. However, Montresor takes advantage of this and Fortunato has no idea that Montresor is mad at him.
On the point of the writer appropriate costume choice for Fortunato to be a clown/joker which indicated that he was a fool and the costume for him would fit perfectly. 5. To whom, do you suppose, is Montresor telling this story? Upon what evidence do you base your assumption? I assume that Montresor is telling this story to someone through an letter. The evidence I believe that it is an letter since in a line Montresor says “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.
You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. ” These few lines identify a specific person that Montresor is addressing to. With these facts we can conclude that it maybe a letter or an written work as well as near the end of the story Montresor indicates that it has happened fifty years after. 6. Name three of the many clever things Montresor does to lure Fortunato into his trap. Montresor does three clever things to lure Fortunato into his trap. At first, he grabs Fortunato attention by telling him about a “pipe of Amontillado” that he as acquired. As this moment Montresor questions Fortunato to taste-test the Amontillado if it is truly authentic. With knowing Fortunato prides himself to be a connoisseurship in wine which is the second clever thing to lure him. Last and foremost, Montresor with his final clever thing to lure Fortunato is that he would offer Fortunato drinks to keep him drunk to be unaware of what is going on. Afterall, Montresor is a deceiving and tricks Fortunato into his trap.
7. How did Montresor ensure that no servants would be around to witness the crime? Montresor ensure that no servants would be around to witness the crime by giving them strict orders to not come home since he will not be back all night because it is Carnivale. For that reason all of his servants were gone from the house so they could party and have fun. In addition, Montresor lied to his servants so they would leave the house in order to avoid suspicion in the process. Hence why there were no servants around at that time to witness the crime. 8. Poe uses several elements of foreshadowing. Write down (or paraphrase) two lines that foreshadow the grisly event at the end of the tale.
There are several specific moments of foreshadowing throughout the story. First of all, the a specific moment of foreshadowing was when states he will “vowed revenge… punish with impunity. ” As this first part of foreshadowing shows how Montresor leaves clue about what he is planning to do later on. Another example of foreshadowing is when he leads Fortunato down to the catacombs as there were no servants in the house that see him, as Montresor said “These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned. Afterall, with these two foreshadowing line it both had clues which may be cause something later on.
9. Locate and write down a line that includes verbal irony. There are many examples of verbal irony throughout the story. While Montresor and Fortunato travels deeper within the catacombs Fortunato said “Enough,” he said; “the cough’s a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough. ” As Montresor replies with “True—true,” I replied… “. The irony is that he is well aware of how Fortunato will die, for Montresor himself will cause his death.
10. This is the Montresor family’s coat of arms. Symbolically, why is this an appropriate image for our narrator? The Montresor family’s coat of arms seem to representative Montresor himself. For this reason the image in the middle shows he dominates his enemies by luring them and crushing them by killing them or even torturing them. Therefore, I think this is an appropriate image for our narrator as it represents the narrator. 11. When Montresor offers the Medoc wine to Fortunato, what is the reason he gives for wanting the other man to drink? What is the real reason? Why does Montresor also have a drink?
When Montresor offers the Medoc wine to Fortunato, the reason he is wanting to make him drink so Fortunato will become drunk in order Montresor to be able to deceive and manipulate him. For that reason having Fortunato drunk, Montresor would able to lure him into his home thinking to taste-test the pipe of Amontillado however he is leading Fortunato to his death. Montresor also has a drink to not make it suspicious as well as not make Fortunato think it is a trick rather believe they are just having a fun time. 12. At the end of the story, what makes Montresor feel sick?
At the end of the story, Montresor felt that his heart grew sick after the dampness of the catacombs. However in case of the he claims that the dampness makes him feel sick, there is the possibility that the idea of having to kill someone has contributed to his ill feelings. Afterall, there maybe many outcomes that can be a factor which would cause Montresor to feel sick. 13. Is Montresor a reliable or unreliable narrator? Explain your answer. I think Montresor is an unreliable narrator as he is clearly mentally unstable who ends up murdering his friend over an insult.
On the point that he has killed his friend, for that reason I wouldn’t have confidence in him as he is not trustworthy. Furthermore, there is no evidence that indicates that Fortunato had insulted or do anything of great harm to Montresor. Therefore, Montresor, is a perfect example of an unreliable narrator whose actions reflects the way that his madness or character influences what he tells us. 14. Poe is a master at creating an eerie, suspenseful mood in his stories. Dig back into the text of this story and write down two lines that help establish this mood.
Yes, I want you to write down the full line. “The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. ” (pg. 4) “We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to glow than flame. ” (pg. 5) 15. Montresor acts as judge, jury, and executioner of Fortunato. Is there any crime/offense that Fortunato could have unwittingly committed that would make Montresor’s rage seem reasonable to you? Do you think individuals are ever justified in taking justice into their own hands?
Explain your thoughts. There is no crime/offense that Fortunato could have unwittingly committed that would make Montresor’s rage seem reasonable since Fortunato only “insulted” Montresor however there is no evidence that indicates that he did anything. Afterall, it was something irritating about him and his madness to the point that he believed he had to kill him. I think individuals are not justified when in taking justice into their own hands because most of the time it can lead to major problems. Therefore, I don’t think it is not right for individuals to take justice into their own hands.