...enlighten the reader of Edgar Allan Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado.” The theme of “Tell All the Truth but Tell it Slant” is on a different level than “Cask of Amontillado,” but still gives good insight. Dickinson is discussing more about what truth is and how it relates to the human race. She describes the power of truth and how to best tell it to someone, especially if they don’t like what they are about to hear. For example, she says, “The Truth must dazzle gradually/or every man be blind.” This is saying that the truth is sometimes hard for people to hear, so it should be brought upon them gradually, or not at all. This associates with Poe’s work and the overall theme of having to “slant the truth.” In “Cask of Amontillado” this is drawn out when the main character, Montresor, is lying when talking to his adversary, Fortunato....
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...February 2013 The Masque of the Red Death vs. The Cask of Amontillado “The Masque of the Red Death” and “The Cask of Amontillado” written by Edgar Allan Poe are somewhat different. The major themes of these stories differ significantly, as does the emphasis placed on each character which dealt more to The Cask of Amontillado” than to “The Masque of the Red Death” Regardless of this, the stories are similar in many ways. For instance, both belong to the literacy of the gothic genre, it shared a small theme, and the characters shared a lot of the same characteristics. Poe known as a great writer how was his overall literary style determined for these two short stories? The similarities of both tales belong to the gothic genre. This is true from large number of features presented in either one or both of the stories. The most prominent were the dreary, damp, and decaying catacombs of the “The Cask of Amontillado” and the dark themes such as death and insanity, which was a consistent presence in both stories, in the forms of madness of Montresor and Prince Prospero and death of Fortunato and Prince Prospero, along with his guest who took shelter from the Red Death in Prospero’s palace. Other features common to the gothic literature of the narratives were mysteries in the shape of the mysterious shrouded figure in “The Masques of the Red Death” and how Montresor would avenge himself against Fortunato in “The Mask of Amontillado” and the fact the setting was in a palace; just like...
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...piece of Gothic fiction I decided to discuss is, “The Cask of Amontillado.” It was published in 1846 by the famous short-story writer and poet, Edgar Allan Poe. The second piece of Gothic fiction I chose to discuss is, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” It was published in 1966 by Joyce Carol Oates. In Gothic literature there any many characteristics to its writing and famous short-stories such as “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” contain many of those Gothic fiction characteristics. Summary “The Cask of Amontillado” is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. Montresor is the main character of the story and also acts as the narrator. The story begins by him vowing his vengeance towards Fortunato for insulting him. Montresor hides his animosity towards Fortunato so he does not expect anything. He maintains a deceiving presence towards Fortunato and plots to exploit Fortunato’s weakness for luxurious wines. Carnival season came upon the city and Montresor finds Fortunato at the carnival. He invites him to try some of his sherry at his home. Montresor doubts Fortunato’s skill with wines which makes him want to prove him wrong. Montresor dresses up in a disguise and leads Fortunato to his home. Once they reach the home of Montresor, he leads Fortunato down to the catacombs. Montresor encourages Fortunato to drink alcoholic beverages, resulting in him becoming intoxicated. Fortunato realizes that Montresor is not who he thinks he is...
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...Montresor from the tale, “The Cask of Amontillado”. The whole tale leads up to a really big decision, a decision of pure perverseness. Perverseness first off, is doing something willfully against what is good or actually right. Poe uses this theme in many of his tales, it is shown in many different and odd ways. So in the tale about “The Cask of Amontillado” Montresor wants to get revenge on the second character named Fortunato. Fortunato hurt Montresor in some way that was not really described with in the text. But because of this unknown incident Montresor is going to take things to the next level via trickery and lies, in which the perverseness will begin to show. In the beginning of the tale we were given some background information on both characters, Montresor and Fortunato. Then it leads to Montresor lying to Fortunato about a great cask of the best wine, Amontillado. Montresor knew Fortunato could not resist the temptation of getting his hands on some amazing wine, Fortunato is rich so why wouldn’t he take the offer? Although just believing was not enough for him so he had to go see the cask and taste it which is what Montresor wants. Montresor claimed the Amontillado was down in the way back of the catacombs, so they started heading there to the wine where no one ever goes. Montresor started this mission by slowly getting Fortunato drunker and drunker. As the two made their way down the stairs into the catacomb; Montresor offers more wine to Fortunato in order for him to be...
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...Allen Poe has herd after reading his short story “The Cask of Amontillado”. “The Cask of Amontillado” is the story of man, Montresor, and his brutal revenge against his former friend, Fortunato, who had insulted him. Poe’s story is riddled with examples of dramatic, verbal and situational irony which highlight the brutal revenge and brings humor into the story. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that one of the characters does not. Such is the case in “The Cask of Amontillado” as the story begins with Montresor stating “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(510). This statement sets up dramatic irony throughout the story as the reader knows Montresor has sworn revenge on Forunato, while Fortunato believes they are still friends. This irony is evident through the whole story as Montresor pretends to be friends luring Fortunato to his cellar where he would eventually trap and kill him. The irony enhances the brutality of the murder as the reader knows throughout Montresor is planning some revenge while Fortunato believes he is going to sample his friends wine. Secondly Poe weaves verbal irony, a statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different from the meaning that is ostensibly expressed, throughout to add humor to the story. The story is filled with verbal irony as Montresor is planning on killing Fortunato so almost every word he speaks is ironic as he convinces...
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...story “The Cask of Amontillado” revolves around the vengeful Montresor, who after being insulted by his friend Fortunato one too many times, decides to retaliate. He does so by manipulating Fortunato into following him deep into his underground vaults in order to trap and entomb behind a wall of quickly placed cement. At first glance, this story reads as a straightforward, disturbing tale of revenge. However, when looking deeper at the actions of the character and the ironic undertones of the story, the theme of pride becomes very apparent. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Poe displays how a person’s pride can lead to their ultimate downfall. “The Cask of Amontillado” is shrouded in dramatic and verbal irony. Tension build as the reader, knowing that Montresor is full of bad intention, has no choice but to sit and watch Fortunato’s fate unfold. Throughout the story Montresor, feigning concern for Fortunato’s health,...
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...The “Cask of Amontillado” is a gothic tale of revenge and horror, the true genius of which lies in Poe’s abundant use of symbolism and irony. * Symbolism in "The Cask of Amontillado" Fortunato's Outfit: Fortunato's carnival garb is described as follows: "The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells." In short, Fortunato is dressed as a fool, a symbolic representation of what he is. The Setting: The "supreme madness of carnival season" represents the supreme madness of the narrator's mind. It is the backdrop of carnival season that lends the story its fantastic nature, a nature trumped only by the madness of Montresor's revenge. The Cask of Amontillado: The word cask, a sturdy cylindrical container for storing liquids, and the word casket have the same root. The Amontillado represents two causes of Fortunato's demise: (1) Fortunato is extremely drunk, more than likely drunk on wine. It is probable that his venturing into the catacombs has little to do with his desire to serve Montresor. Fortunato understands that the trip will produce one of two results--free Amontillado or Montresor's humiliation; (2) Fortunato's passion for good wine leaves him susceptible to flattery, flattery which Montresor provides. Montresor: In French, mon tresor means my treasure. The treasure the narrator possesses is the knowledge of the perfect revenge. The Montresor Family Motto, "Nemo me impune lacessit": Fortunato...
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...Symbolism in The Cask of Amontillado Symbols play an important part in literary works. Most stories are full of them, and each one adds detail and background to the story. Some of them are obvious, and others are hidden away like treasures waiting to be found. Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado is full of all types of symbolism, some examples being the setting, clothing, and even the character names. The biggest symbol in the Cast of Amontillado is the cask itself. Not only is it something spoken of in the story, it is also mentioned in the title, showing its importance. Its dictionary meaning would be a large barrel like container used for storing liquids. However, in the story it means so much more. Symbols usually have connotative meanings as well, which have particular meanings based on the context. In this story, the cask’s connotative meaning is much more important than its denotative meaning. The cask was used to lure Fortunato to his death. The word cask shares the same root as casket, which is used to hold dead bodies for burial. While it did not hold Fortunato‘s body, it was the object that tricked Fortunato into falling into Montresor’s trap. This ended with Fortunato being buried alive, in what ended up being similar to a casket. The cask in this story is an example of a literary symbol, as a cask would not normally be associated with a casket. The meaning of the symbol was wholly established in the story....
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...to literature and literary analysis(551) Hem lal pandey 31th july,2015 “ The cask of Amontillado” as a gothic story The story “The cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a fine example of his Gothic writing. As the story features numerous characteristics of gothic literature. For example dark setting, imagery, underground chamber, violent and revenge, the theme of death and decay, extreme circumstances of terror oppression and the motif of double. The story “the cask of amontillado” carries a perfect example of Gothic setting. As the main action takes place in damp catacomb, which is dark and snoopy. As it is mention in the story “it was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of carnival season” (Kirszner and Mandell 119) thus the story appears an entirely Gothic story when it’s revenge content is supported with it’s atmosphere which is melancholic and dreadful. Montressor assures Fortunato to provide amontillado and takes him to the underground vaults and winding staircase. He says; I took their scones two Flambeaux, and giving one to Fortunato bowed him through several suits of rooms to the archway that led into vaults I passed down a long and winding staircase … we came at length to the foot of the descent and stood together on the damp ground of the catacomb of the montresors. (Kirszner and mandell 192-193) Montressor and fortunato passed through “walls of piled bones with cask and puncheons intermingling into the inmost recesses of the catacombs”(kirszener...
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...someone to scare them at a haunted house. The short story “Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe leaves the reader anxious about what may happen. On the celebratory day of Carnival, Montresor leads drunken Fortunato through a dirty catacomb with the promise of giving him the precious wine, amontillado. Fortunato is chained to the wall and trapped in the catacombs by Montresor. He builds a wall of bricks around Fortunato and leaves him to die. Montresor does this because Fortunato has insulted him. The mood of the story is anxiety because the reader has a feeling that something bad is going to happen from the beginning of the story. This story makes the reader anxious by use of irony and the choice of setting....
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...wrote several critiques of Hawthorne’s work. On a personal level, Poe often disagreed with how often Hawthorne used allegory. As a literary element that many people use, Poe was not a fan. He once stated that: “I allude to the strain of allegory which completely overwhelms the greater number of his subjects, and which in some measure interferes with the direct conduct of absolutely all.” (Poe, 1847) It seems as though Poe regarded Hawthorne’s work as works of allegory. To say that this was the only literary element he employed, however, would be false. Throughout history, authors have endeavoured to master other forms of literary elements, to become the master of those elements, and equal to none in them. By comparing “The Cask of Amontillado” with “Young Goodman Brown”, is to study two masters, at odds with their specific forms of writing, but each a master in his own right. Each story shows how two people that can be so far apart on a scale, can use the same literary elements in similar and different ways without compromising their work as a whole. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is vital in the world of literature. Foreshadowing is always about being subtle. How can an author slip in a clue or help build a story to a dramatic, yet unforeseen conclusion? Foreshadowing in the hands of a master seems to be a piece of elegance and can be so subtle that the reader wonders how he or she missed...
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...That many have also created the darkness inside of him to write gothic. They are very similar to how he uses his gothic qualities to tell the audience how the short stories have led up to the ending because of the misery Poe may have been feeling. Poe gets his main characters to murder cold heartedly and feel nothing but pleasure of doing such horrendous acts to their victims. In “Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado” Poe represents his betrayal by not letting the victims suspect what will happen to them until the very end, when it is too late. The narrator states,“He shrieked once - once only. . . I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done” (“The Tell-Tale Heart” 75). The old man must have seen who had betrayed him. Poe mentions in “The Cask of Amontillado,” “It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato” (“The Cask of Amontillado” 112). Poe states that so the audience can understand that Fortunato acknowledges on what is taking place for him. Poe makes sure Fortunato know that his own friend betrayed him by taking him to his doom. Edgar Allan Poe may have written the “The Tell-Tale Heart” because he must have known his own father betrayed him by never being in his life and his families. In “The...
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...Edgar Allan Poe Essay 9. The mood of “The Cask of Amontillado” is one of rising horror. What descriptive details help produce this mood? “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, was about a man named Montresor who was seeking revenge on another man named Fortunato. Fortunato had insulted Montresor is some sort of way so he arrived at the carnival with a masterful and evil scheme to get rid of him. Throughout this story there are many events that make you gasp and sit on the edge of your seat. Horror is the mood in this graphic short story. One descriptive detail in the story that is filled of horror was when they arrived at Monstresor’s house and they explored his vaults. It was filled with dead corpses. While I was reading this I felt a little disturbed. If I was the one walking through multiple dead bodies lying on the ground I would feel very uneasy and petrified. This event showed horror. Another example of a horrid scene was when both of the men walked into Monstresor’s crypt. A crypt is usually a place where people are buried and they contain coffins. Fortunato had a little too much to drink so he didn’t exactly notice his unpleasant surroundings. Also, there were human bones on the walls. Lastly, the most horrifying, descriptive scene in this short story was the ending. Montresor wanted revenge on Fortunato so bad that he was willing to take his life. He trapped Fortunato inside the wall and began to place stones over top of him. Since...
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...The Cask of Amontillado by: Edgar Allan Poe In The Cask of Amontillado, Edgar Allen Poe manipulates the story to be the way he wants it to be by using the point of view of the narrator, the setting, and a common monotonous sentiment throughout the story. Poe is successful in maintaining a spirit of perverseness. The point of view plays a very important role in influencing the reader's perception of the story. The first line of the story is a good example of how the narrator attempts to bring the reader to his side, right from the start. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (101). Montresor, the narrator of the story, immediately tries to win the reader to his side, by telling him/her that Fortunato has “ventured upon insult,” and apparently crossed the line. This attempt is clever, but the reader never gets a sense of what Fortunato has actually done to the narrator, or whether Montresor is creating it in his own mind. The point of view of the story can also affect the emotional attachment that the reader gets, or fails to get, in this case, for a given character. When a reader is involved in a story, the point of view from where the story is being told is crucial to the feelings the reader has. In this story, Montresor dominates the progression of the story in every regard. This being the case, it is difficult for the reader to develop a liking for another character, unless Montresor...
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...Developed by Sigmund Freud, psychoanalytic criticism is used in literature to reveal the motives, motifs, and themes in a work of literature. This analysis focuses on the inner workings of the human mind. The short story, “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe, depicts Freud’s conclusion of psychoanalytic criticism. The sole motive for the killing of Fortunato is due to Montresor’s projection of his own failures. To Montresor, Fortunato represents his own downfalls and the way his life used to be––fortunate. Montresor’s motive for killing Fortunato began as an id; an unconscious instinct. It is only natural for a man to be jealous of something he once had. In this case, Montresor is jealous of the life Fortunato lives because this is the lifestyle his family is used to. Not only is it natural to be jealous, but it is also instinctive to feel the pressure of the burdens in a person’s life. Montresor feels as if he is being buried alive by the stress of his misfortunes. Because Montresor feels buried alive, he feels he needs kill Fortunato the same way. This jealousy is proven in the third paragraph of the short story, “In painting and gemmary, Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack but in the matter of old...
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