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The Cask of Amontillado
The Cask of Amontillado
Is REVENGE
ever justified?
Montresor, the narrator of “The Cask of Amontillado,”
Event
feels that revenge is necessary to right a wrong. Some Girl makes fun of boy.
RL 1 Cite textual evidence to
support analysis of what the
would argue that two wrongs never make a right and
text says explicitly as well as that revenge leads only to more wrongdoing. Do acts of
inferences drawn from the Act of Revenge
text. RL 4 Analyze the cumulative revenge ever resolve conflicts? Boy spills ink on
impact of specific word choices on her uniform.
meaning and tone. RL 5 Analyze
how an author’s choices PRESENT An act of revenge often causes a chain reaction,
concerning how to structure a
text create tension or surprise.
and the repercussions can go on for months or years. Effects
L 4 Determine the meaning of With a group, think of one act of revenge and chart out • Uniform is ruined.
unknown and multiple-meaning
the possible chain of effects. Share your chain of events • Girl ’s parents have
words and phrases. to buy a new one.
with the rest of the class.
370
Meet the Author
text analysis: mood
In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe creates an Edgar Allan Poe
unforgettable mood of suspense and horror. From the 1809–1849
beginning, the narrator’s talk of injuries borne, unforgivable The Genius of Poe
insults, and threatened revenge conveys a sinister feeling. Edgar Allan Poe started out as a poet but
Poe develops this mood by means of turned to writing short fiction to earn a
living. His career in fiction officially began
• the sensory details and imagery used to convey the setting in 1833, with a $50 prize for his story “MS.
• the repetition of words and the rhythm and tone of the Found in a Bottle.” At the time he was living
in poverty with his beloved aunt Maria
language
Clemm and her daughter, Virginia. With
• words describing thoughts, feelings, and actions the prize money came recognition and a job
offer from a literary magazine. By 1838, Poe
As you read, notice how Poe’s descriptions of the setting and had married Virginia and moved the family
his use of language combine to create a memorably dark tale. to Philadelphia, where he worked for several
leading literary magazines.
reading skill: paraphrase
Master of the Macabre
Poe often uses long, formal, complex sentences that are Poe may have started writing horror fiction
especially challenging to modern readers. To make sure that because that’s what the reading public
you understand the events in this story, try paraphrasing. wanted. Gothic tales were popular at the
To paraphrase is to restate information in one’s own words. time, and newspapers regularly printed
sensational reports of bizarre murders. Poe
A paraphrase is about the same length as the original text.
adapted elements of Gothic fiction, took a
It includes all the details of the original but is written in few story ideas from news headlines, added
simpler language. As you read this story, take time to his psychological insights into the mix, and
paraphrase difficult passages. Here is an example. soon became the undisputed master of the
genre.
Text Paraphrase
background to the story
“It must be understood, that You must understand that I said
neither by word nor deed had I and did nothing to make Fortunato A Different Burial Ground
given Fortunato cause to doubt my mistrust me. Although this story begins during a time of
good-will.” (lines 9–10) carnival festivities, the setting soon shifts
to the dark, cool burial vaults under the
narrator’s palace, where he also stores his
wine. In such underground cemeteries,
Review: Make Inferences called catacombs, bodies were placed in
carved recesses along the walls of burial
vocabulary in context chambers. The largest and most famous are
those of Rome, in which early
The boldfaced words help create a mood of horror. Use context
Christians were entombed.
clues to figure out the meaning of each word. Then use each
word in a sentence. Write your sentences in your Reader/
Writer Notebook. After reading the selection, check to see
Author
whether you used the words correctly. Online
1. to preclude pain 5. everlasting repose Go to thinkcentral.com..
KEYWORD: HML9-371
2. to lie with impunity 6. termination of a job
3. immolation of an enemy 7. to help anger to subside
4. abscond with money 8. to close off an aperture
371
The
Cask of
Edgar Allan Poe
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
Would you describe the
of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At
mood of this photograph
lengthh I would be avenged; this was a point definitively settled—but the very as festive or sinister?
definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded d the idea of risk. I must Explain.
not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when
preclude (prG-klLdP)
retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger v. to make impossible,
fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. a especially by taking
It must be understood, that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato action in advance
10 cause to doubt my good-will. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his impunity
face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his (Gm-pyLPnG-tC) n.
immolation. freedom from penalty
He had a weak point—this Fortunato—although in other regards he or harm
was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his a PARAPHRASE
connoisseurship1 in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For the Paraphrase the opening
most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity—to paragraph. Why does the
narrator vow revenge?
practice imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires. In painting and
What does he consider a
gemmary 2 Fortunato, like his countrymen, was a quack—but in the matter of successful revenge?
old wines he was sincere. In this respect I did not differ from him materially; I
immolation
20 was skillful in the Italian vintages myself, and bought largely whenever I could. (GmQE-lAPshEn) n. death
It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival3 or destruction
season, that I encountered my friend. He accosted me with excessive warmth,
for he had been drinking much. The man wore motley.4 He had on a tight-
fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap
and bells. I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I should never have done
wringing his hand.
10. from their sconces two flambeaux (flBmPbIzQ): from their wall brackets two lighted torches.
11. filmy . . . intoxication: eyes clouded and glazed over from drunkenness.
12. Medoc (mA-dôkP): a red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
13. d’or (dôr) French: colored gold. (Montresor is describing his coat of arms, the distinctive
emblem of his family.)
14. Nemo me impune lacessit (nAPmI mA Gm-pLPnD lä-kDsPGt) Latin: No one injures me with impunity.
15. casks and puncheons: large storage containers for wine.
16. De Grâve (dE grävP): a red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.
17. of the masons: a Freemason, a member of a social organization with secret rituals and signs.
18. producing a trowel: Montresor is playing on another meaning of mason—“one who builds with stone
or brick.”
crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth the bones had
been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one
point a mound of some size. Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing
of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in
width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no
especial use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the
colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their
circumscribing walls of solid granite.
It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry
150 into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable termination
us to see. (tûrQmE-nAPshEn) n. an
end, limit, or edge
“Proceed,” I said; “herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi—”
“He is an ignoramus,” interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily
forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In an instant he had
While at Fort Independence, Poe [who was a Feeling against Captain Green ran high
private there in 1827] became fascinated with for many weeks, and then suddenly he
the inscriptions on a gravestone on a small completely vanished. Years went by without
monument outside the walls of the fort. . . . a sign of him, and Green was written off the
Beneath this stone are deposited the army records as a deserter.
remains of Lieut. ROBERT F. MASSIE, According to the story which Poe finally
of the U. S. Regt. of Light Artillery. . . . gathered together, Captain Green had been
During the summer of 1817, Poe learned, so detested by his fellow officers at the fort
twenty-year-old Lieutenant Robert F. Massie that they decided to take a terrible revenge
of Virginia had arrived at Fort Independence on him for Massie’s death. . . .
as a newly appointed officer. Most of the men Visiting Captain Green one moonless
at the post came to enjoy Massie’s friendship, night, they pretended to be friendly and
but one officer, Captain Green, took a violent plied him with wine until he was helplessly
dislike to him. Green was known at the fort as intoxicated. Then, carrying the captain down
a bully and a dangerous swordsman. to one of the ancient dungeons, the officers
When Christmas vacations were allotted, forced his body through a tiny opening which
few of the officers were allowed to leave led into the subterranean casemate.1 . . .
the fort, and Christmas Eve found them His captors began to shackle him to the
up in the old barracks hall, playing cards. floor, using the heavy iron handcuffs and
Just before midnight, at the height of the footcuffs fastened into the stone. Then they
card game, Captain Green sprang to his all left the dungeon and proceeded to seal
feet, reached across the table and slapped the captain up alive inside the windowless
Lieutenant Massie squarely in the face. “You’re casemate, using bricks and mortar. . . .
a cheat,” he roared, “and I demand immediate Captain Green shrieked in terror and
satisfaction!” . . . begged for mercy, but his cries fell on deaf
The duel began. Captain Green, an expert ears. The last brick was finally inserted,
swordsman, soon had Massie at a disadvantage mortar applied, and the room sealed up,
and ran him through. Fatally wounded, the the officers believed, forever. . . .
young Virginian was carried back to the fort, [In 1905, workmen repairing the
where he died that afternoon. His many fort found a skeleton inside, shackled
friends mourned the passing of a gallant to the floor with a few fragments of an
officer. . . . old army uniform clinging to the bones.]
Comprehension
1. Recall Why does Montresor, the narrator, want revenge? RL 1 Cite textual evidence to
support analysis of what the text
2. Recall How does Montresor trick Fortunato into joining him? says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from the text. RL 4 Analyze
3. Summarize What does Montresor do to ensure the success of his plan? the cumulative impact of specific
word choices on meaning and
tone.
4. Summarize What happens to Fortunato?
Text Analysis
5. Make Inferences About Character What Montresor’s Character Traits Words/Actions
kind of man is Montresor? Think of four
or five character traits that you can infer 1. shrewdness He knows how to take advantage
of Fortunato’s pride.
from his words and actions. Record your
2.
answers in a chart like this one.
6. Analyze Mood What is the overall mood,
or atmosphere, of this story? In your opinion, what
h t contributes
t ib t mostt tto th
the
mood—the setting, the rhythm and tone of the language, or the descriptions
of Montresor’s thoughts, feelings, and actions? Provide details from the story
to support your opinion.
7. Make Judgments Review your paraphrase of lines 1–8. Does Montresor
achieve the kind of revenge he wants? Cite details to support your answer.
8. Evaluate Narrator Consider whether Montresor is a reliable or an unreliable
narrator. Is the reader to believe, as Montresor does, that his revenge is
justified? Give evidence from the story.
9. Evaluate Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows
something that a character does not. Identify three examples of dramatic
irony in this story. What is the effect of the irony on your experience as a
reader?
10. Compare and Contrast Poe often drew inspiration for his tales from the real
world. Compare the details of “The Story Behind ‘The Cask of Amontillado’”
on page 380 with Poe’s story. How similar are these accounts?
Text Criticism
11. Critical Interpretations In defining the short story as a literary form,
Poe emphasized that every word should contribute to a “unity of effect or
impression.” How well does Poe achieve a “unity of effect” in this story? Give
examples from the text to support your answer.