"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
40 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is MOST likely Montresor's primary motivation for repeatedly suggesting they turn back?

  • To manipulate Fortunato by preying on his pride and desire to prove his expertise. (correct)
  • A genuine concern for Fortunato's well-being given his worsening cough.
  • Fear that the damp catacombs will damage the rare and valuable Amontillado.
  • A sudden change of heart, realizing the potential consequences of his planned revenge.

What is the significance of Montresor's family arms and motto?

  • It serves as a warning, foreshadowing the impending doom for those who wrong the Montresor family. (correct)
  • It reveals Montresor's deep-seated insecurity about his family's social standing.
  • It is a red herring, designed to mislead Fortunato about Montresor's true intentions.
  • It is an ironic symbol of the Montresor family's past glory and current decline.

How does the setting of the catacombs contribute to the story's atmosphere?

  • It has little impact on the plot.
  • It enhances the story's suspense through the imagery of death and decay. (correct)
  • It creates a lighthearted and jovial mood, reflecting the festive season.
  • It provides a sense of comfort and familiarity, contrasting with Montresor's sinister intentions.

What does Montresor mean when he says to Fortunato, "And I to your long life."

<p>It is a sarcastic toast, hinting at Fortunato's impending doom. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Montresor bring up Luchesi?

<p>To create a sense of urgency and manipulate Fortunato's ego. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about Fortunato's character from his actions and dialogue in the passage?

<p>He possesses excessive pride and a vulnerability to flattery, clouding his judgment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason the story takes place during the carnival season?

<p>The festive atmosphere provides Montresor with the perfect cover for his dark intentions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Based on the exchange between Montresor and Fortunato, what is the most likely symbolic significance of the cough?

<p>It symbolizes Fortunato's declining health and impending doom. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Montresor initially attempt to use as a deterrent to prevent Fortunato from entering the recess?

<p>Warning him about the excessive dampness and nitre on the walls. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action does Montresor take after Fortunato's intoxication begins to wear off, as evidencedd by a 'low moaning cry'?

<p>He speeds up the process of walling up the niche, laying the second, third and fourth tier and ignoring the sounds. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

After Fortunato screams loudly, what is Montresor's immediate reaction before he resumes his task?

<p>He hesitates and trembles, briefly contemplating abandoning his plan. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Montresor respond to Fortunato’s screams?

<p>He yells back, matching and surpassing Fortunato's volume, effectively silencing him. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Montresor pausing to sit on the bones while Fortunato is chained?

<p>To savor the sounds of Fortunato's struggle and assert his triumph. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What specific tool does Montresor use to build the wall that seals Fortunato inside the niche?

<p>A trowel (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What final action does Montresor describe concerning the last stone?

<p>He struggles with the weight of the stone before partially setting it in place. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When Montresor shines the flambeaux (torches) upon Fortunato, what does he observe?

<p>A succession of loud and shrill screams. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the narrator's primary motivation for seeking revenge on Fortunato?

<p>Fortunato insulted him after a thousand previous injuries. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the narrator's approach to enacting his revenge?

<p>Secretly planning and executing a plot with no risk to himself. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is Fortunato's expertise in wine crucial to the narrator's plan?

<p>It allows the narrator to exploit Fortunato's pride and lure him into the vaults. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the setting of the carnival season contribute to the narrator's plan?

<p>It creates a chaotic and distracting environment, making it easier to lure Fortunato away unnoticed. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the narrator's personality and motivations, what is the most likely reason he shares this story?

<p>To boast about his successful execution of a perfect crime. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator mean when he says, "A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser?"

<p>Revenge is incomplete if the person seeking revenge suffers consequences for their actions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the relationship between the narrator and Fortunato contribute to the story's suspense?

<p>Their superficial friendship masks the narrator's true intentions, creating dramatic irony. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering the context of the story, what is the significance of Fortunato's costume?

<p>It represents his foolishness and vulnerability, making him an easy target. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Montresor's primary motivation for seeking Fortunato's opinion on the Amontillado?

<p>To lure Fortunato into his vaults under the pretense of needing his expertise. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Montresor mention Luchesi's name when discussing the Amontillado with Fortunato?

<p>To make Fortunato jealous and insecure about his wine connoisseurship. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the carnival setting in the story?

<p>It provides a convenient cover for Montresor's sinister plan due to the general atmosphere of revelry. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason Montresor gives his servants explicit instructions to stay home?

<p>He knows they will disobey, ensuring they are absent when he needs privacy. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Montresor mean when he says the vaults are 'insufferably damp' and 'encrusted with nitre'?

<p>He is attempting to deter Fortunato from continuing further into the catacombs. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Fortunato's costume, including the bells on his cap?

<p>It adds to the festive atmosphere of the carnival and foreshadows his role as a jester or fool. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred from Montresor's act of putting on a mask of black silk?

<p>He intends to conceal his identity, suggesting his actions are premeditated and malicious. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase "You are luckily met" suggest about Montresor's true feelings towards Fortunato at the beginning of their encounter?

<p>It is a sarcastic remark, indicating that Fortunato has unknowingly walked into Montresor's trap. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Montresor producing a trowel from beneath his roquelaire?

<p>It is a symbol of his membership in the Masons, which he uses to taunt Fortunato. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of leading Fortunato into the deep crypt?

<p>To exploit Fortunato's drunken state and lure him to a place where Montresor can enact his revenge without witnesses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Montresor mention Luchesi throughout their journey?

<p>To make Fortunato jealous and manipulate him into continuing further into the catacombs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the bones being displaced from one section of the crypt wall?

<p>It creates a confined space where Montresor can trap Fortunato. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Montresor capitalize on Fortunato's arrogance to ensure he enters the recess?

<p>By suggesting that Luchesi could easily verify the Amontillado if Fortunato hesitates. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the chains and padlock that Montresor uses on Fortunato?

<p>To ensure Fortunato cannot escape or call for help once he realizes Montresor's intentions. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Montresor mean when he says to Fortunato, "[Y]ou are not of the brotherhood"?

<p>Montresor is referencing the secret society of Freemasons and using it to mock Fortunato. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the limited, dim light provided by the flambeaux in the catacombs?

<p>All of the above (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Amontillado

A type of pale, dry sherry from Spain.

Pipe (of wine)

A large cask, holding approximately 126 gallons, used for wine or other liquids.

Critical Turn

A professional wine taster, someone with refined taste or knowledge.

Roquelaire

A loose, cloak-like overcoat.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Palazzo

A mansion, especially a large and imposing one.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Sconces

Wall brackets holding torches or candles.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Flambeaux

Torches, often mounted on poles, used for illumination.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Catacombs

An underground cemetery consisting of chambers or galleries with recesses for graves.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Crypt

An underground burial place.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Niche

A dark space or recess.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Bewildered

Having or showing lack of understanding or awareness; bewildered.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Fettered

Joined or bound by chains or shackles.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Astounded

Struck with sudden and great surprise or wonder; amazed.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Brotherhood

Commonly held beliefs and values.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Montresor

The narrator of 'The Cask of Amontillado,' who seeks revenge on Fortunato.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Fortunato

A man with a weakness for wine who is lured to his death.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Unredressed Wrong

A wrong that is not properly avenged or compensated.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Punish with Impunity

Punishing without being caught or suffering consequences.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Connoisseurship

Insight and knowledge in a particular subject, in this case wine.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Imposture

The practice of deceiving someone, often for personal gain.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Motley

A jester's outfit, including a parti-striped dress, conical cap, and bells.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Medoc

A red wine from the Bordeaux region of France.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Arms (family)

A family's coat of arms, a symbol of their heritage and identity.

Signup and view all the flashcards

D'or

Gold (in heraldry).

Signup and view all the flashcards

Azure

Blue (in heraldry).

Signup and view all the flashcards

Serpent Rampant

A serpent in a heraldic pose, standing on its hind legs.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Nemo me impune lacessit

"No one attacks me with impunity" (Scottish royal motto).

Signup and view all the flashcards

Ejaculated

To express something suddenly or vehemently.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Trowel

Small hand-held tool with a flat, pointed blade used to apply and spread mortar.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Moaning cry

Loud, deep sounds expressing sorrow or pain.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Obstinate Silence

A period of inactivity or silence.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Hearken

To listen intently and carefully.

Signup and view all the flashcards

Study Notes

  • "The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1846.
  • The story is in the public domain in the United States and most other countries.
  • It was written by Edgar Allan Poe between 1809 and 1849.

Plot and Revenge

  • The narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge on Fortunato for a thousand injuries and an ultimate insult.
  • Montresor aims to punish Fortunato with impunity, ensuring no retribution falls upon himself.
  • Montresor never outwardly showed ill will toward Fortunato, maintaining a friendly facade.
  • The story unfolds during the carnival season.

Fortunato's Weakness

  • Fortunato prides himself on his connoisseurship in wine, a weakness Montresor exploits.
  • Montresor also is skilled in Italian wines.
  • Fortunato is portrayed as being a quack in painting and gemmary.

The Lure and Journey

  • Montresor tells Fortunato about acquiring a pipe of Amontillado, but has doubts about its authenticity.
  • Montresor suggests seeking Luchesi's opinion, knowing Fortunato's ego will drive him to prove his expertise.
  • Fortunato, already drunk and wearing a motley costume, insists on tasting the Amontillado immediately.
  • Montresor leads Fortunato through the vaults of the Montresor catacombs.
  • The catacombs are damp and encrusted with nitre.
  • Montresor uses Fortunato's cough as an excuse to suggest turning back, further enticing him.
  • They drink Medoc and De Grâve along the way.

The Trap

  • Montresor mentions his family's coat of arms: a foot crushing a serpent, with the motto "Nemo me impune lacessit" ("No one attacks me with impunity").
  • They reach a deep crypt filled with human remains, where Montresor claims the Amontillado is located.
  • Fortunato enters a niche, where Montresor chains him to the granite wall.
  • Montresor reveals a trowel, hinting at his masonic brotherhood and sealing Fortunato's fate.

The Imprisonment

  • Montresor begins to wall up the entrance to the niche using building stones and mortar.
  • As the first layer of masonry is laid, Fortunato's intoxication wears off, and he cries out.
  • Fortunato screams and Montresor matches those screams showing no empathy
  • Montresor continues building the wall, ignoring Fortunato's pleas.

The Final Act

  • Fortunato desperately tries to pass the situation off as a joke.
  • Fortunato asks for the love of God, Montresor ends him.
  • Montresor completes the wall, entombing Fortunato alive.
  • For half a century, Fortunato's remains have been undisturbed.
  • Montresor ends the story with the words "In pace requiescat!" ("May he rest in peace!").

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Quiz Team

Related Documents

The Cask of Amontillado PDF by Edgar Allan Poe

Description

"The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe about Montresor's revenge on Fortunato. Montresor exploits Fortunato's pride in wine connoisseurship to lure him into the catacombs. The story unfolds during the carnival season, as Montresor plans to punish Fortunato with impunity.

More Like This

Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Open
Browser
Browser