Literature Subject

1. THE CASK OF
AMONTILLADO
By Edgar Allan Poe ( 1846 )

2. POE THE AUTHOR
• Poe introduced horror and detective fiction.
• This story was his last story; published in 1846
• Poe’s primary concern was “unity of effect,”
which means that every element of a story should
help create a single emotional impact.
• Poe’s greatest fear is being buried alive!
• Poe passed away on October 7, 1849

3. SETTING
• Carnival is a holiday. It has evolved to
the Christian observance of Lent.
• In anticipation of fasting (not eating
meat for forty days), Christians would
overindulge to bid farewell to meat-
eating.
• Carn= Meat Val= Farewell

7. PRE-READING VOCABULARY

8. CASK
• a container made and
shaped like a barrel,
especially one larger
and stronger, for
holding liquids.
• Syn. Barrel, jug

9. AMONTILLADO
•variety of sherry (wine)
from the 18th century
• Syn. wine

10. IMPUNITY
•exemption from
punishment
• Exemption, pardon

11. MOTLEY
•costume of a
jester (joker)
•costume

12. NITER
• a mineral from
potassium, an old word
for sodium.
Poe uses it to refer to the
Saint of the Niter
• Syn. Minerals

13. MASON
•craftsman who works
with stones
• Syn. Brick Layer

14. CATACOMB
• an underground cemetery
or passageway, especially
one consisting of tunnels
and rooms with recesses
dug out for coffins and
tombs.
• Syn. Tombs

15. CRYPT
• chamber or vault,
especially one beneath
the main floor of a
church, used as a burial
place, a location for secret
meetings, etc.
• Syn. Catacomb

16. NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
•Latin phrase
•Translation: No one can harm me
unpunished.
•An eye for an eye.
•Revenge

17. FIGURATIVE DEVICES
• Foreshadowing –
• to show or indicate beforehand
• Think about The Most Dangerous Game

18. POINT OF VIEW
•This story is told in first person point of view.
•Montresor is the narrator.
• Pronouns: I, me, we, our

19. VERBAL IRONY
• Verbal irony
•occurs when a speaker or narrator
says one thing while meaning the
opposite.

20. SITUATIONAL IRONY
• Situational irony
•occurs when an event contradicts the
expectations of the characters or the
reader.

21. DRAMATIC IRONY
• Dramatic irony
•occurs when the reader or audience
knows more about circumstances or
future events in the story than the
characters within it.

22. VIDEO – AFTER WE READ IT! 
• https://vimeo.com/14854607