The document discusses the setting and context of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado". It takes place during Carnival, a secular holiday that evolved from Lent and is a time of excess and indulgence. The narrator plans to carry out his revenge against the offender in the catacombs, or underground burial chambers, beneath his estate, taking advantage of the atmosphere where inhibitions are lowered. The story features an unreliable narrator who may not be providing an accurate account of events.

2. MOOD – The emotion(s) you feel while reading. Setting, objects, details, images, & words all contribute toward creating a specific mood.

3. Amontillado - a dry wine from Spain Cask - a container to hold liquid

4. “… but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” “The Cask of Amontillado” is the narrator’s story of his ability to carry out a chilling plot of revenge against his offender.

5. Unreliable Narrator -1 st person narrator that for some reason tells an incorrect version of the story -Usually the reader trusts that the narrator is giving an accurate version of the story. -With a U.N. the reader can’t trust the narrator.

6. Reasons a narrator may be unreliable: The narrator… may be a different age than the people in the story, such as a child attempting to explain adult actions may have prejudices about race, class or gender may have low intelligence may suffer from mental illness or a personality disorder may be trying to hurt one of the characters due to a grudge

8. Carnival

9. Carnival Carnival is a secular holiday; evolved from the Christian observance known as Lent. Lent is a solemn 40-day period of fasting prior to Easter.

10. What happens during Carnival? Carnival is a time of EXCESS and INDULGENCE. Binging upon food and alcohol is common. Partying in the streets and masquerading are enjoyed.

11. The combination of alcohol and costumes creates an atmosphere where people tend to let down their inhibitions.

12. European Carnival traditions survive in the United States in the form of Mardi Gras.

13. “ The Cask of Amontillado” is set during the “ supreme madness ” of Carnival. In such a riotous atmosphere, it is easy to see how a crime could go unnoticed .

14. The narrator plans for his revenge to take place in the catacombs beneath his estate. What are catacombs ?

15. Catacombs : Cities of the Dead

16. In Europe, catacombs, underground burial chambers, became popular alternatives to cemeteries.

18. The wealthy could opt for family catacombs beneath their estates.