The Cask of

Amontillado
BY EDGAR ALAN POE
“... But when he ventured upon insult,
I vowed revenge.”

Page
1
WORDS TO PONDER UPON

Page
2
CARNIVAL
Carn + Val
Flesh (meat) + Farewell
Page
3
It is a secular holiday, but it evolved from
the Christian observance known as Lent.
Traditionally, the fasting during Lent
involves abstaining from consuming meat
in anticipation of the solemnity of lent, the
celebration of carnival evoked.
Page
4
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A CARNIVAL?

People indulge in excess feastivities, by

drinking wine and bingeing on food.

Page
5
JESTER

a professional joker or “fool” at a medieval

court, typically wearing a cap with bells on
it and carrying a mock scepter.

Page
6
COAT OF ARMS

the distinctive heraldic bearings or shield of

a person, family, corporation, or country.

Page
7
NITRE

Potassium nitrate, especially as a naturally

occurring mineral.

Page
8
CASK

a large container like a barrel, made of

wood, metal or plastic and used for storing
liquids, typically alcoholic drinks.

Page
9
TROWEL

A trowel is a small hand tool used for

digging, applying, smoothing, or moving
small amounts of viscous or particulate
material. Page
10
CATACOMBS

an underground cemetery consisting of a

subterranean gallery with recesses for tombs, any
chamber used as a burial place is considered a
catacomb, although the word is most commonly
associated with the Roman Empire. Page
11
CATACOMBS

Catacombs are not only the resting place of the

dead but also serves as a storage place for wines,
since it does well in places where the temperature
stays a constant cool year round.
Page
12
Have you ever been betrayed
before?

Page
13
THE PLOT SUMMARY

Page
14
THE EXPOSITION

Page
15
THE EXPOSITION

During Carnival in Italy, Montresor runs into

Fortunato, and offers to share a very nice bottle of
Amontillado wine with him. However, this bottle is
in his catacombs. It is late at night and Fortunato
seems ill. Page
16
THE CONFLICT

Page
17
THE CONFLICT

The narrator, Montresor, claims that Fortunato has

gravely insulted him, and is plotting to get his
revenge. Although, he doesn't tell the reader what
Fortunato has done, he makes it known that it was
unforgivable. Page
18
RISING ACTION

Page
19
RISING ACTION

Montresor lures Fortunato down into the dark and

eerie wine vault. As suspense builds, Montresor
keeps asking if Fortunato would like to turn back
because he seems ill. Fortunato continues to drink
wine to ease his cough. Page
20
THE CLIMAX

Page
21
THE CLIMAX

When they reach their destination, the walls of the

catacombs were encrusted with nitre andthere is
no Amontillado, but there is a hole in the wall.
Montresor shackles Fortunato inside, and begins to
seal up the wall with bricks. Page
22
THE FALLING ACTION

Page
23
THE FALLING ACTION

As the last few bricks are laid, Fortunato screams

for Montresor to stop, but it is too late. Montresor
has enacted his revenge.

Page
24
 THE
RESOLUTION/ENDING
Page
25
THE RESOLUTION/ENDING

Montresor walks away with only the sound of

Fortunato’s jingling jester bells echoing in the
tomb. He replaces the bones of the crypt. In the
end, he claims that no one has disturbed them for
50 years; he has gotten away with his plot! Page
26
QUICK QUESTIONS

Page
27
What was Montresors mens ria or criminal
intent?
Do you think anyone celebrating outside
will be able to hear anything occuring in
Montresors catacomb?
Page
28
THE SETTING

Page
29
THE SETTING

The story is set during the carnival season in Italy,

a time of celebration and merriment. Montresor
encounters Fortunato on the streets amid the
celebration, then lures him back to his home before
descending into the catacombs. Page
30
 THE
CHARACTERIZATION
Page
31
THE CHARACTERIZATION

MONTRESOR - Montresor is an astute,cunning and

intelligent man and as a villain he is manipulative
and vengeful. He is intensely loyal to his family and
their coat of arms. The coat of arms shows a foot
crushing a snake as it bites the ankle, representing
Montresor's response to Fortunato's insult.
Page
32
THE CHARACTERIZATION

Montresor is under the belief that who ever

wronged them shall face immediate
consequences. Who over provokes them shall
face punishment.

Page
33
THE CHARACTERIZATION

In the story, Montresor is the narrator... An

UNRELIABLE NARRATOR to be specific. It is a
character who tells a story in such a way that
we can't trust whether what he's saying is
true. Sometimes these narrators have a
mental illness Page
34
THE CHARACTERIZATION

He is a cold, unrepentant murderer, telling the story 50

years after the fact. Except for one tiny moment in the
story, he shows no remorse for what he's done. After he
has only one brick left to complete the wall that will seal
off Fortunato forever, he says, 'My heart grew sick...' but
he immediately blames that twinge of guilt on the
Page
35
dampness of his surroundings.
THE CHARACTERIZATION

FORTUNATO -The traits that eventually led to

Fortunato’s death are his friendliness, carelessness,
naïve foolishness and pride. Fortunato's
friendliness is one of his character traits that made
him gullible to Montresor's trick. When Fortunato is
being walked into the catacombs he says,"You?
Page
36
Impossible! A mason?"
THE THEME

Page
37
THE THEME

revenge, substance abuse, remorse, delusion,

pride, and freedom create a chilling story and
possibly give us a glimpse into the author's mind.

Page
38
THE THEME

The main individual, Montresor, was insulted by

another character, Fortunato, and this led
Montresor’s pride to devour him and seek revenge
causing a horrible tragedy; death. Poe illustrates
the theme that PRIDE STEERS TO A MAN'S
COLLAPSE THROUGH THEIR CARELESS ACTIONS
Page
39
THE SYMBOLISMS

Page
40
Carnival
Catacombs
Fortunato's Jester Outfit
Wine
Fortunato's Name
Montresor's family crest and motto
Nitre Page
41
Vault
THE SYMBOLISMS

One of the first symbols that show up in his

short story is the CARNIVAL. Carnivals are
massive celebrations, and they are viewed as
lively and fun. When we think of the carnival in
this way, we can say that it represents life and
energy. Page
42
THE SYMBOLISMS

In this story, the energy and liveliness of the

carnival are juxtaposed with the
CATACOMBS, a symbol of evil and death. This
all makes sense because Montresor, who
killed Fortunato, took him from the carnival
and murdered him in the catacombs. Page
43
THE SYMBOLISMS

One iconic symbolism was FORTUNATO'S

JESTER OUTFIT, This outfit, which includes a
''conical cap and bells,'' symbolizes
Fortunato's foolishness.

Page
44
THE SYMBOLISMS

Another symbol of foolishness is WINE.

Fortunato was drunk and did not think twice
about following Montresor into the catacombs
and was eventually too inebriated to fight
back against being entombed.
Page
45
THE CHARACTERIZATION

FOETUNATO'S NAME can also be seen as an ironic

symbol, and it represents the misfortune that
Fortunato endured at the hands of Montresor. In
Italian, fortunato means fortunate, or lucky.

Page
46
THE SYMBOLISMS

A final symbol that is worthy of mentioning is

MONTRESSORS FAMILY CREST AND MOTTO,
which represents Montresor's plan to kill
Fortunato and his desire for revenge.

Page
47
THE SYMBOLISMS

Also on the crest is a Latin motto that states,

Nemo me impune lacessit. In English, this
motto means, ''No one attacks me with
impunity.''

Page
48
THE SYMBOLISMS

the NITRE symbolizes the web of deceit or the

trap into which Fortunato has been led by
Montresor.The walls of the catacombs were
"encrusted" with nitre.

Page
49
THE SYMBOLISMS

The VAULTS also signified that he is getting

closer to imprisonment, where his freedom
will be taken away from him when he dies.

Page
50
THE ANALYSIS

Page
51
THE ANALYSIS

The terror of “The Cask of Amontillado,” as in many of Poe’s tales,

resides in the lack of evidence that accompanies Montresor’s claims
to Fortunato’s “thousand injuries” and “insult.” The story features
revenge and secret murder as a way to avoid using legal channels for
retribution. Law is nowhere on Montresor’s—or Poe’s—radar screen,
and the enduring horror of the story is the fact of punishment without
proof. Montresor uses his subjective experience of Fortunato’s insult
Page
to name himself judge, jury, and executioner in this tale. 52
THE ANALYSIS

which also makes him an unreliable narrator. Montresor confesses this

story fifty years after its occurrence; such a significant passage of time
between the events and the narration of the events makes the narrative
all the more unreliable. Montresor’s unreliability overrides the rational
consideration of evidence, such as particular occurrences of insult, that
would necessarily precede any guilty sentence in a non-Poe world. “The
Cask of Amontillado” takes subjective interpretation—the fact that
different people interpret the same things differently—to its horrific
Page
endpoint. 53
THE ANALYSIS

Poe’s use of color imagery is central to his questioning of

Montresor’s motives. His face covered in a black silk mask,
Montresor represents not blind justice but rather its Gothic
opposite: biased revenge. In contrast, Fortunato dons the
motley-colored costume of the court fool, who gets literally
and tragically fooled by Montresor’s masked motives. The color
schemes here represent the irony of Fortunato’s death
Page
54
sentence.
THE ANALYSIS

Fortunato, Italian for “the fortunate one,” faces the

realization that even the carnival season can be
murderously serious. Montresor chooses the setting of
the carnival for its abandonment of social order. While
the carnival usually indicates joyful social interaction,
Montresor distorts its merry abandon, turning the
Page
carnival on its head. 55
THE ANALYSIS

The repeated allusions to the bones of Montresor’s

family that line the vaults foreshadow the story’s
descent into the underworld. The two men’s underground
travels are a metaphor for their trip to hell. Because the
carnival, in the land of the living, does not occur as
Montresor wants it to, he takes the carnival below
Page
ground, to the realm of the dead and the satanic. 56
THE ANALYSIS

To build suspense in the story, Poe often employs

foreshadowing. For example, when Fortunato says, “I shall not
die of a cough,” Montresor replies, “True,” because he knows that
Fortunato will in fact die from dehydration and starvation in the
crypt. Montresor’s description of his family’s coat of arms also
foreshadows future events. The shield features a human foot
crushing a tenacious serpent. In this image, the foot represents
Page
Montresor and the serpent represents Fortunato. 57
THE ANALYSIS

It's a bit strange, though, because with a little

research, one will discover that this is actually
the motto of Scotland's Royal Stuart family.
So although it's likely that Montresor is lying
about his family's motto, it nonetheless seems
Page
to represent his desire for revenge. 58
THE ANALYSIS

Although Fortunato has hurt Montresor with biting insults,

Montresor will ultimately crush him. The conversation about
Masons also foreshadows Fortunato’s demise. Fortunato
challenges Montresor’s claim that he is a member of the Masonic
order, and Montresor replies insidiously with a visual pun. When
he declares that he is a “mason” by showing his trowel, he means
that he is a literal stonemason—that is, that he constructs things
Page
out of stones and mortar, namely Fortunato’s grave. 59
THE ANALYSIS

The final moments of conversation between Montresor and

Fortunato heighten the horror and suggest that Fortunato
ultimately—and ironically—achieves some type of upper
hand over Montresor. Fortunato’s plea, “For the love of God,
Montresor!” has provoked much critical controversy. Some
critics suggest that Montresor has at last brought
Fortunato to the pit of desperation and despair, Page
60
THE ANALYSIS

indicated by his invocation of a God that has long left

him behind. Other critics, however, argue that Fortunato
ultimately mocks the “love of God,” thereby employing
the same irony that Montresor has effectively used to
lure him to the crypts.

Page
61
THE ANALYSIS

These are Fortunato’s final words, and the strange

desperation that Montresor demonstrates in response
suggests that he needs Fortunato more than he wants to
admit. Only when he twice screams “Fortunato!” loudly, with
no response, does Montresor claim to have a sick heart. The
reasons for Fortunato’s silence are unclear, but perhaps his
willing refusal to answer Montresor is a type of strange victory
Page
in otherwise dire circumstances. 62
THE ANALYSIS

“Words have no power to impress the

mind without the exquisite horror of
their reality” - from The Narrative of
Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, 1838
Page
63
TEST QUESTIONS

Page
64
1. What is the main conflict that drives the
majority of the story?
A. Montresor vs society

B. Montresor vs nature
C. Montresor vs Fortunato
D. Montressor vs Luchesi Page
65
2. When the narrator first saw Fortunato at the
carnival, what was his condition?
A. he was drunk
B. he was terrified
C. he was exhausted
D.he had been in a fight Page
66
3. What is the Montresors' family motto?

A. "No one can harm me unpunished"

B. "Family above all"
C. "Strength and honor"

D. "In wine, there is truth" Page

67
4. What is one of Fortunato's notable
characteristics?
A. He is an opera singer
B. He is a wine connoisseur
C. He is an expert in vaults

D. He is a renowned chef Page

68
5. This word means freedom from punishment,
penalty or harm?
A. Impurity
B. Impunity
C. Impulse

D. Implore Page
69
6. Which event is considered the climax (most
exciting moment) of the story?
A. As the last few bricks are laid, Fortunato screams for Montresor to
stop
B. Montresor walks away with only the sound of Fortunato’s jingling
jester bells echoing in the tomb.
C. Montresor lures Fortunato down into the dark and eerie wine vault.
As suspense builds, Montresor keeps asking if Fortunato would like to
turn back because he seems ill.
D. Montresor shackles Fortunato inside, and begins to seal up the wall
Page
70
with bricks.
7. Why does fortunato go into the vault?

A. To find peace and quiet

B. To seek revenge againts montressor
C. To prove he knows wine
D. To learn more about Catacombs Page
71
8. A catacomb is a type of...

A. Underground river
B. Drink cellar
C. Underground cemetery

D. Stonework Page
72
9. What character flaw does Montresor exploit
with Fortunato in order to convince him to enter
the catacombs?
A. Curiosity

B. Compassion
C. Apathy
D. Pride Page
73
10. Why wasn't it unusual that people were
drinking and having a good time in the streets
during the story?
A. It was during Montresor's birthday
B. It was during a carnival
C. It was during the wine festival

D. It was Christmas Page

74
11. Who is the narrator of the story?

A. Montressor

B. Fortunato
C. Luchesi
D. None of the above Page
75
12. Just as Montresor finishes walling Fortunato into the
catacombs to die: “My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the
catacombs that made it so.” What insight into the narrator’s point
of view does this line provide the reader?
A. Montresor had to much carnival food
B. Montresor is afraid of the dark
C. Montresor momentarily feels emotional about what he has done
to Fortunato
D. Montresor has been suffering from a chronic illness Page
76
13. The name Fortunato, which reminds you of
the word, fortunate, is an example of which
literary device?
A. Foreshadowing
B. Hyperbole

C. Irony
D. Imagery Page
77
14. When Fortunato says:"the cough is a mere
nothing; it will not kill me, I shall not die of a
cough."What literary device is being used?
A. Foreshadowing
B. Hyperbole

C. Alliteration
D. Prognosticate Page
78
15. Based on what you know about Montresor,
what can you conclude about his feelings towards
people that have wronged him?
A.One must not let injustice take over your decision
making.
B.Holding grudges is a waste of time.
C. Wrongdoers must be punished and the wrongs
avenged.
Page
79
D.If the injustice is intentional, revenge is never justified.
16. Which of the following would be the BEST
choice of themes for the story?
A. Montresor buried Fortunato alive.
B. Always follow your instincts and do what you feel
is best in life.
C. The desire for revenge can make individuals
perform extreme acts.
D. A person's ego can cause great misfortune in their Page
80
life.
17. What impact does the lack of clarity regarding
Fortunato's original wrongdoing have on the
story?
A. It makes it hard for the reader to determine if the narrator's
behavior is justified
B. It makes the reader suspect that the narrator is overly cruel and
violent
C. It makes it easy to assume that Fortunato is the true villain in the
story
D. It makes the events to come seem trivial in comparison to the
Page
narrator's suffering 81
18. How might one describe the narrator's final
method of taking revenge on Fortunato?

A. It plays on Fortunato's vanity

B. It ensures that Fortunato will suffer

C. It shows the narrator's regretful sympathy

D. None of the above Page
82
19. When they're venturing into the vaults and the
narrator proposes that Fortunato should turn
back, what is the overall impact of his suggestion?
A. It makes Fortunato feel like he's braver than the narrator
B. It makes Fortunato think the narrator doesn't want to
show him the wine
C. It makes Fortunato second-guess his own physical
strength
D. It makes Fortunato more likely to unquestioningly push
Page
on 83
20. The narrator's vaults were very damp due to
the fact that they were encrusted with what?

A. nitre
B. nitrate

C. moss
D. dew Page
84
Thank you!
BY: GROUP 4
OYANIB, BRYCE
PACQUIAO, NICO JAY
PAQUIBOT, REMY
PILAPIL, KEIRTH LAURENCE
SAMACO, DANILO JR.
TAPIL, MIKYLA
TRAZO, VENICE LORRAINE
TRIBUNALO, CLHAIRE SAY JANE Page
TUBURAN, CHERISH DIADEM
85
YRAY, BYZELL DANEZZ