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Literary devices that create suspense in the cask of amontillado
Edgar Allan Poe writing style
Edgar Allan Poe writing style
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The setting of a story lays the foundation for how a story is constructed. It gives a sense of direction to where the climax is headed. The setting also gives the visual feedback that the readers need to picture themselves into the story and comprehend it better. Determining the setting can be a major element towards drawing in the reader and how they relate to a story. A minor change in the plot can drastically alter to perception, interpretation, and direction of the message that is delivered. These descriptive elements can be found within these short stories: “the Cask of Amontillado”, “The Storm”, “The Things They Carried”, “Everyday Use”, and “The Story of an Hour”. In “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor made up in his mind that he would carry out his act of revenge on Fortunato. Whatever offense Fortunato committed against Montresor drove him to the brink. The hatred inside was somewhat poetic. Montresor schemed to every detail how to carry out his revenge. The setting of the story is a dark, gloomy night at a celebration during carnival season. Montresor would be detailed in describing the monetary status of his enemy, his wardrobe or costume he wore to the celebration. He would set the mood as cheerful. Despite the ill feelings he has towards the now drunken Fortunato, Montresor pretends to care for his company to lure him towards his cunning plan. He strokes Fortunato’s ego and his love for wine to draw him towards the cellar. The dark, damp halls, the claustrophobia, and the human skeletons lying about the earth were all a foreshadowing of Motresor’s plan for the drunken Fortunato. It enhanced suspense to the story, building up to the climax which would be Fortunato entering into his grave. As they further enter the hal... ... middle of paper ... ...een and heard for miles. Sheets of rain pour down outside. Bobinot and his son Bibi is stuck at the store as the storm flows. Alcee, Calixta’s old lover, just so happens to be near Calixta’s home as the storm approaches. As everyone is forced to ride out the storm in their current location, Alcee spends the storm with Calixta. It became a slippery slope, as the two former lovers created sparks between each other. The climax of the story lead to them having sexual intercourse; just as the storm outside reached its peak in symbolic fashion. This then builds suspense for the reader trying to figure out whether or not the husband will discover his wife cheating on him. Ultimately, Alcee leaves before Bobinot comes home, therefore no one figures out what happens during the storm. There is situational irony that goes along with the story really enhances the suspense.
Montresor does not want Fortunato to die from anything other than his own plan of slow death by asphyxiation. Symbolism in "The Cask of Amontillado" This story by Poe has numerous examples of symbolism. For example, the manner in which Fortunato is dressed is ironic for a man with his societal prominence.
The Tell-Tale Heart and The Cask of Amontillado are two stories written by Edgar Allen Poe in the 18th century. Both of these stories are primarily focused on the mysterious and dark ways of the narrator. Since these stories were written by the same author, they tend to have several similarities such as the mood and narrative, but they also have a few differences. For instance, the characteristics of both narrators are different, but both stories portray the same idea of the narrator being obsessive over a certain thing.
In the Cask of Amontillado, our narrator’s situation is one he is quite happy being in. Our narrator is Montresor, an Italian man rich with pride, and you quickly learn through his narration that he is intelligent, conniving, and extremely sinister. Throughout the story, everything Montresor does is motivated by one thing, his own thirst for vengeance. Montresor explains his actions are a result of Fortunato constantly abusing him and finally going too far, but he never explains anything Fortunato has done to insult him. When we meet Fortunato, he is extremely friendly towards Montresor, albeit a little intoxicated, so much that he makes Montresor’s story of “a thousand injuries” seem unbelievable (Cask 1). Compared to Gilman’s narrator whose spiral out of control was triggered by her forced seclusion from the outside world, it seems that Montresor’s insanity come from inside his own head. There is no evidence that suggest any attempts by Fortunato to belittle or insult Montresor in any way. I believe that Montresor may have been jealous of Fortunato’s success in life, and that is what drove him to vengeance. For example, on their way to the catacombs Fortunato makes a hand gesture of the Masons, a secret brotherhood, which Montresor doesn’t understand. Fortunato ask if Montresor is a Mason and for him to prove it, and Montresor lies and shows his trowel (Cask 5). This proves that
Is there really a perfect crime? This is the main point in Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.” The story is a dark tale of a presumably insane man who suffers from, according to him, “the thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could” (Poe 75). One of the major factors in telling this story is the setting. The story is set primarily in the Montresor family catacombs, which provides the dark setting, filled with human remains, and this reflects where Montresor commits his crime, where no one will expect. Furthermore, the narration also helps in telling the story. It is first person point of view, so the story is heard entirely from him. Readers will go into Montresor’s thoughts and be curious about why he wants to kill Fortunato so badly. Furthermore, the symbolism of the story is very important and many symbols in symbolizing Montresor killing Fortunato. Finally, the insane Montresor tried to pull the perfect crime but fails; he does not pull the perfect crime, he fails his goal when he realizes he is doing a bad thing.
Poe's, The Cask of Amontillado is a story about fear and revenge. The story begins with Montressor's vow of revenge, foreshadowing future actions. "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult vowed revenge..." Montressor had to be sure not to raise suspicion of what he was going to do Fortunato. Montressor knew that Fortunato had a weakness that he could use towards his advantage.
1. What can the reader infer about Montresor’s social position and character from hints in the text? What evidence does the text provide that Montresor is an unreliable narrator? We learned from paragraph 23 to 24 that Montresor owns a Palazzo and also has lot of retainers based on that evidence, the reader can infer that Montresor is a very wealthy and successful man. About his character, the reader can imply that Montresor is a heartless, cold blooded, sneaky, manipulative, and untrustworthy man, as well as a man who hold on to grudges. Moreover, Montresor is an unreliable narrator, because he reveals in the first paragraph that he intends to have a revenge on Fortunato, but he did not indicate or clearly prove to the readers how Fortunato
Montresor in "The Cask of Amontillado" is similar to the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" in that his obsession with consuming the soul of Fortunato influences his every action. However, it is with Fortunato himself that he is obsessed. He feeds off of Fortunato's pain, unlike the narrator in "The Tell-Tale Heart" who's obsession is with destroying a menacing inanimate object. Montresor's entire conspiracy is focused around making Fortunato suffer, and for him to know just who is causing this suffering. This is why he goes to such lengths to put together this intricate strategy. It could have been so much easier to kill Fortunato in some easier, quicker way. Instead, he dedicates himself to torturing Fortunato. He creates a plan that leads Fortunato into the depths of the catacombs beneath his home, and kills him in an excruciating manner.
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the greatest writers of the nineteenth century. Perhaps he is best know for is ominous short stories. Two of these stories were "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Raven." In these short stories Poe uses imagery in many different forms to enhance the mood and setting of the story. In my essay I will approach three aspects of Poe's use of imagery. These three are when Poe uses it to develop the setting, to develop the mood, and to develop suspense. Through out all of Poe's stories he uses imagery to develop the setting. If the setting is established well, you can understand the story better. Some examples of when Poe used imagery to develop the setting in "The Raven" as well as "The Cask of Amontillado." Some imagery from "The Cask…" were "It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of carnival season…" he uses that excerpt to establish the time. Later on, the narrator says "…bowed him through several suites of rooms to the archway that led into vaults. I passed down a long and wi...
Unlike “The Tell Tale Heart” were the narrator loved the old man just hated his eye, the narrator of “The Cask of Amontillado” hated Fortunato but did things that make it look like he loved him. Montresor approaches Fortunato with claiming to have acquired something that could pass for Amontillado. Here Montresor may seem like he is being nice but he really just using Fortunato’s love for wine against him. As they went through the catacombs Montresor gave Fortunato enough wine so that he would be drunk and would be oblivious of what was happening as they went deeper and deeper into the catacombs. Fortunato never expected this to be the plan but just as a simple act of kindness from Montresor. As mentioned in the introduction of this paper the narrator of this story wanted revenge. Why does the Montresor want revenge? Well it is mention in the story on page three “THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” but never gives us a full reason just that Fortunato insulted the Montresor in some
The Cask of the Amontillado slowly revealed the darkness in Montresor at the beginning paragraph of the story, and towards the end, it was vividly evident. Montresor even found pleasure chaining Fortunato and plastering a wall around him, to be locked up for eternity. Fortunato said, “For the love of God, Montresor!”(1244) This was right before Montresor was about to put the last brick in the wall to finish his dark deed. Montresor replied, ““Yes,” I said, for the love of God!””(1244) Montresor found a dark pleasure in the slow and painful murder of Fortunato, the
Montresor is very egocentric throughout the story, only caring about the wrongs Fortunato has committed. We know Montresor is very manipulative “Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.” (Poe 227). Montresor plays into Fortunato’s ego knowing that he will want to be the judge of the Amontillado. Montresor deceptively lures Fortunato into the catacombs using his love for wine to lead him to his death. The narrator states “There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honor of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house” (Poe 227). Montresor knew his servants disobedient nature and used the carnival to persuade them into leaving the estate when his back was turned. This shows Montresor’s cunning and deceptive nature and his calculated planning to carry out this crime. This shows the amount of planning and effort Montresor has gone through to exact revenge on the unwitting
Revenge can be an act of sanity or insanity. Insanity is a state of mind where a person lacks emotion and the ability for a higher level of thought. Conversely, sanity is a state of being where a person is in complete control of their emotions and cognitive functions. In the short story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the main character, Montresor, murders Fortunato for insulting him. Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs under his mansion during Carnival in Italy with the promise of Amontillado. Montresor walls Fortunato into a niche, thereby killing him. Montresor is sane because he is able to think of a plan to kill Fortunato and feel regret after the deed is done.
The short story “The Cask Of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is about how Montresor feels that he need revenge to right a wrong. Fortunato did him wrong and he feels that it is necessary to retaliate. Fortunato was drunk and Fortunato used that time to take his revenge. Montresor took Fortunato to a room that really didn't have space and had no one in there. Montresor dexterous and intelligents makes him an effective villain in this short story.
Edgar Allan Poe’s brilliant take on revenge and consuming rage in “The Cask Of Amontillado” is a riveting story, a combination of horror and morbid fascination that’ll give you the willies. Montresor is a man possessed by violent tendencies, driven by his desire for retribution because he is a homicidal individual and not because Fortunato insulted him. Throughout the story, Fortunato is under the impression they are the best of friends, oblivious to the fact he had insulted Montresor, proving that Montresor disguises his bloodlust under convincing excuses. Perhaps this simply shows concite on Fortunato’s part, but rich and renowned people like Fortunato are clever enough to know who they have insulted or injured, and make use of that fact
I viewed the story more as an anti-aristocratic commentary than just a tale of revenge. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a carefully crafted story that is laced with dramatic and verbal irony. Dramatic irony occurs when we become aware of what will become of Fortunato even though the character continues his descent into the catacombs in pursuit of the Amontillado. Further adding to this effect is calling the character Fortunato, who is anything but fortunate, and dressing him in a clown or a fool's costume. There are numerous examples of verbal irony within Montresor's words. Montresor expressing concern about Fortunato's health, and several times suggesting that they should turn back. Montresor gives one of the most memorable lines of the story in response to Fortunato saying, "I will not die of a cough." Montresor says, "True--true...." Another example can be seen when Montresor toasts Fortunato's long life he says "In pace requiescat!" ("Rest in peace!"), which is the last irony of a heavily ironic tale In conclusion, "The Cask of Amontillado" is a powerful tale of revenge. Montresor, the sinister narrator of this tale, pledges revenge upon Fortunato for an insult. Montresor intends to seek vengeance in support of his family motto. It is important for Montresor to have his victim know what is happening to him. Montresor will derive pleasure from the fact that Fortunato dies slowly. Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour When I first began reading "The Story of an Hour," Mrs. Mallard seemed to me an old woman and, as we are told in the very first line, "afflicted with a heart trouble."