How Is Irony Used In The Cask Of Amontillado

415 Words1 Page

Throughout "The Cask of Amontillado," by Edgar Allan Poe the author uses many literary techniques to create mood. Irony is used to contrast between appearance and reality. Foreshadowing and symbolism are used in many different effective ways to show mood. Allegory and Motif are used in different situations to affect the mood of the story and give us a visual of the setting. Mood overall is very powerful in this story and the literary devices are an important aspect to it. Irony is shown as the contrast between appearance and reality. Montresor chooses the carnival season, a time of celebration, to carry out his revenge. He uses almost the idea of reverse psychology to make sure his servants will not be home. An example of irony is in Montressor's requirements for successful revenge, that he must not be punished for his crime, and Fortunato must realize why he's being killed. When Montressor confesses his crime fifty years later, he enjoys retelling it, so he breaks the rules of confession. On the other hand Fortunato never knows why Montressor kills him, and he dies too quickly, showing that Montressor doesn't get successful revenge in either case. …show more content…

Montresor says "A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel." His family motto shows that no one will harm him without punishment. Both show how Montressor will seek his revenge later and symbolize the kind of man he

Show More
Related

  • Examples Of Verbal Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

    204 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the story “The Cask of Amontillado”, the author uses lots of verbal irony to emphasize the evil intentions of Montresor.One of the examples of verbal irony in the story that he uses is “The cough’s a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” and “true--true, I replied.” The effect of this irony is it that Montresor already knows how Fortunato will die.Another example of verbal irony used in the story was when they did a toast to each other. “I drink”, he said, to the buried that repose around us.”

    Read More

  • Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado Essay

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    Another example of verbal irony lies in Montresor's conversation with Fortunato. Montresor tells him, "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met." "(Baym) Fortunato seems to interpret these words to mean that Montresor likes him and is glad to have run into him. On the other hand, Montresor, is happy to see Fortunato but for his own despicable reason: that of murder.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Dramatic Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

    498 Words  | 1 Pages

    Dramatic Irony is irony when the audience knows something which the characters do not. An example of dramatic irony in The Cask is when Montresor expresses concern for Fortunato’s help. This is ironic because everyone except Fortunato knows that Montresor is not really concerned about his health. Montresor says, “Come, I said, with decision, we will go back; your health is precious” (Poe 238). Montresor lying about being concerned of Fortunato’s death is also ironic because, Montresor is concerned about luring Montresor into the catacombs to carry out his murder plan. Fortunato does not want Montresor to die of a cough, but wants to kill him himself. Montresor does not have the slightest clue that Fortunato is planning to murder

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Hamlet And The Cask Of Amontillado

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Montresor is a man who feels pride in himself and in his family, so when Fortunato—an acquaintance of Montresor— “venture[s] upon insult,” Montresor “vow[s] revenge” against him (1). Montresor hastily decides that he must kill Fortunato, even though his use of the word “venture” implies that Fortunato had not yet insulted him, but nearly did. Montresor’s impulsive need for revenge causes him to formulate a plan to murder his acquaintance. He keeps Fortunato intoxicated by “presenting him…[with] wine,” he “fetter[s] him to the granite,” and he “plaster[s] up… [a wall of] new masonry” to trap Fortunato in the catacombs (39, 71, 89). All of these acts are signs that the need for revenge has made Fortunato insane. A person who has any sense of morals would not commit crimes such as Montresor’s. His impetuous decision to exact revenge caused him to lose his

    Read More

  • Symbolism and Irony in The Cask of Amontillado

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    Wood, Kerry.” Literary Analysis : Irony In ‘ The Cask Of Amontillado’ by Edgar Allan Poe.”Humanities 360. Helium, Inc., 9 Nov 2007. Web.17 Mar 2014.

    Read More

  • The Cask Of Amontillado Essay

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    In her article, Renee utters that when the thought of vengeance build up in an individual’s brain, it coerces him insane and does not tolerate him to present it a second thought. The first sentence of the story, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge,” clearly describes the whole theme of the story as a deeply enrooted revenge in Montresor’s mind” which is an absolute portrayal of retribution that occurs due to arrogance and jealousy. Author sees himself as a superior individual and was victimized by a superiority complex which is quite visible through the phrases which he wrote in the story that Montressor expresses superiority as showed his victim as a foolish person by attributing weird physical appearance and dress appearance in which he described his dress code of “tight fitting parti striped dress and head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.”

    Read More

  • Mystery, Irony, and Imagery in The Cask of Amontillado

    1818 Words  | 4 Pages

    "The Cask of Amontillado" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's greatest stories. In this story Poe introduces two central characters and unfolds a tale of horror and perversion. Montresor, the narrator, and Fortunato, one of Montresor's friends, are doomed to the fate of their actions and will pay the price for their pride and jealousy. One pays the price with his life and the other pays the price with living with regret for the rest of his life. Poe uses mystery, irony, and imagery to create a horrifying, deceptive, and perverse story.

    Read More

  • Montresor Character Analysis

    1214 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vengeance and pride are fundamentally important to this short story. From the inception of the tale it is clear that the narrator is a proud, vindictive man; opening with, “the thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge,” the narrator immediately alerts the reader to the dark aspects of his own character. Because “insult” and not “the thousand injuries” caused the narrator to “vow” revenge, the reader can infer Montresor is prideful because, although he already had conflict with Fortunato, insult was what made the tense situation unbearable for Montresor––so much so that he vowed to take action. Use of the word “vow” is significant because it indicates that the grievance was meaningful in the mind of Montresor, allowing for the reader to more easily identify with the actions to be revealed throughout the course of the story; if the reader believes that Montresor was provoked in a profound way, ...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Literary Devices In The Cask Of Amontillado

    917 Words  | 2 Pages

    For instance, Montresor’s family crest is a serpent biting into an ankle treading upon it. The emblem is symbolic of Montresor’s response to being bitten by Fortunato’s foolish pride. The snake on the crest and the family’s motto, “No one wounds me with immunity,” both address Montresor’s seemingly inherited nature to retaliate. Another instance of symbolism in the story, is the reference to the secret society, the Freemasons. As a sign to prove his fellowship, Montresor pulls out a trowel to show his brotherhood. Ironically, this is the same trowel that will seal Fortunato’s tomb. The final major symbol in “The Cask of Amontillado,” is the Amontillado wine. The way the wine is created is through the deprivation of oxygen, the same way Fortunato is killed. The thought put into the murder portrays Montresor as a genius, but also shows the regard he has for his victim. Montresor sees his victim like a cheap bottle of sherry instead of the fine Amontillado that is revered and mature. Taking it upon himself, Montresor decides to mature Fortunato and views it as a masterpiece. The death of Fortunato is Montresor’s art (Lewis

    Read More

  • “The Cask of Amontillado” --- Full of Irony

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe is a famous writer in writing detective stories and horror stories. One of his horror stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” was talking about how a man took his revenge to his friend. However, to look deeply in this story, I found that this story was not just simply a horror tale about how a man gets his revenge in the safest way. Instead, it also demonstrates much irony in several areas: the title, the event, the season, the costume, the environment, the characters’ personalities, a man’s dignity and cockiness and at the end, the public order. he are

    Read More

  • The Theme of Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado”

    1638 Words  | 4 Pages

    The first indirect factor that could contribute to Montresor’s vengeful act, and thus the story’s theme of revenge, is the character of Montresor. Montresor tends to harbor feelings of resentment and has a hard time not taking things out of context (Womack). He also plans the murder of Fortunato in advance and devises it in such a way that he will not be caught. In killing Fortunato, Montreso...

    Read More

  • Examples Of Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

    698 Words  | 2 Pages

    Murder is no way to get back at someone. Even if somebody is mad, they can find another way to cope with it. One may think that murder is the only option but if they just take time to calm down and think, then they will realize that doing that kind of thing to someone isn't worth the consequences. In Edgar Allan Poe's story “The Cask Of Amontillado,” Montresor has been wronged by Fortunato too many times, and he finally has had enough. Everything that he says to Fortunato the reader knows that he means the complete opposite. Poe uses Montresor’s use of irony to foreshadow Fortunato’s not so fortunate death.

    Read More

  • Cask Of Amontillado Irony

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    The main use of dramatic irony is throughout the story and is when Fortunato thinks Montresor is leading him to the cask of amontillado but the reader knows there is know cask of amontillado. Fortunato ask question about Montresor being apart of the mason and in paragraph 64 he proves it by saying “It is this,”I answered, producing from beneath the folds of my roquelaire a trowel” and this is dramatic irony because the reader knows that the trowel will be used in a way to kill Fortunato but he only sees it as proof that he is in the masonry. The last use of dramatic irony is on paragraph 5 “My dear Fortunato , you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today” and this is dramatic irony because Montresor thinks of Fortunato as a fool and he is even wearing a jester outfit but Montresor compliments his looks. Dramatic irony is a main part of this story and it is used a lot and in many different

    Read More

  • What Does Montresor Symbolize

    581 Words  | 2 Pages

    First, Montresor’s thoughts symbolize his true hatred. This is clearly seen in the first paragraph of the story, before the reader even gets a chance to meet the victim. Montresor states in his thoughts to the reader, “But when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(236). Since this thought is given at the very beginning of the story, readers can

    Read More

  • The Cask Of Amontillado Symbolism

    585 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edgar Allan Poe's strong use of symbols throughout "The Cask of Amontillado" is what makes this story worthy of examination. The clever use of these devices by the author to shape this horrifying and gripping short story has made this piece be regarded as a classic American horror story, which revolves around the theme of vengeance and pride.

    Read More

More about How Is Irony Used In The Cask Of Amontillado

Open Document