The Cask of Amontillado"

-- by Edgar Allan Poe

Exercises in Analysis and Interpretation

1. According to Montresor, what makes a perfect crime?
According to Montresor, a perfect crime was one in which you did not get implicated. In other
words, this means that if you want to get revenge, you have to do so without anyone noticing so
that you will not get in trouble.
2. At what point in the story do you find Montresor most
disturbing? Explain
I thought that he was most disturbing when he mocked Fortunatos cries for help. This showed
that he truly had nothing but hate in his heart for the man, and did not show even an ounce of
sympathy. Montresor simply laughed at Fortunato as he tried to reason with him. Also,
Montresor chose one of the most horrible types of death, because he wanted to make sure that
he suffered. Also, he kept making dark jokes about Fortunato and his not so fortunate future.
3. How does Montresor lure Fortunato into the catacombs?
Montresor tells Fortunato that he just acquired a rare bottle of wine, and he wasnt sure if it was
real. Fortunato wanted to taste the rare and expensive wine, so he was willing to risk his life for
it.
4. What character traits in Fortunato make him fall prey to
Montresor?
Fortunatos drunken nature and greed are what caused him to fall prey to Montresors plans.
The fact that he was drunk made him neglect the obvious dangers of going into the catacombs
alone. Also, Fortunato wanted to taste the Amontillado, so he risked his health to get it. This
greed was what made him continue the journey despite the fact that Montresor gave him the
chance to turn back around.
5. Part of the story's most horrifying effect comes from Poe's
use of irony. What do we know that Fortunato does not
know about why he has been invited into the vaults? When
did you figure out what Montresor was up to? Why
We know that Montresor wanted revenge on Fortunato for disgracing him and his family name.
Fortunato was not aware that Montresor was creating a plan so that he would have to pay for
his insults. I found out that Montresor was planning to take revenge Fortunato when he called
him into the catacombs, but I found out that he was going to kill Fortunato after he tried to get

him as drunk as he could. This event made it obvious that Montresor wanted to make sure that
Fortunato would not be able to defend himself.
6. Which of Montresor's comments to the unsuspecting
Fortunato are ironic-that is, which ones mean something
different from what they seem to mean? Be specific
your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I
was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back
This quote shows irony, because Montresor knew that Fortunato would turn back. Also, he
shows an underlying tone when he says as once I was. He was blaming Fortunato for all of his
misfortune, and all of the things that Montresor listed that he did not have anymore.
I shall not die of a cough. True --true, I replied; and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you
unnecessarily --but you should use all proper caution. A draught of this Medoc will defend us
from the damps.
When Fortunato says that he will not die of a cough, Montresor agrees heartily, because he
knows how Fortunato will die.
7. This story is full of other examples of irony. Explain the
ironic use Poe makes of the following: Fortunato's name, his
costume, and the fact that a carnival takes place in the streets
above the murder
Fortunatos Name: His name sounds like fortunate, which is the complete opposite of what is
going to happen to him. His name also resembles fortune, representing his greed and need for
wealth.
Fortunatos Costume: His costume is of a court jester, which reflects his personality. It shows
that Fortunato is a fool, and how Montresor is entertaining himself at the expense of the fool.
Carnival: The carnival is a symbol of paradise, or heaven. The descent into the catacombs
represents a descent to hell, because that is where Fortunato will meet his fate. Another relation
to this is Montresors clothing. He was wearing a black cloak and mask, which resemble that of
an Executioner or the Grim Reaper.
8. To whom could Montresor be talking, fifty years after the
murder, and for what reason
Use specific references from
the story to support your answers
We can tell that the person that Montresor is confessing to is close to him, because he says
you, who so well know the nature of my soul. Since the story is fifty years after the actual
event, it probably was not his parents. It might be him confessing to his wife or kids, because he
is dying. Another possibility is that he wrote a letter or diary to himself, and he is reading it to
himself after all these years.
9. Montresor from "The Cask of Amontillado" and General
Zaroff from "The Most Dangerous Game" share certain
qualities, yet they are different in many ways. How are their
actions, attitudes, and personality traits alike and different?
Separate doc (see next Classroom Assignment:

Use two interlocking circles (a Venn diagram) to list them.

Also, use similar strategies to attract Rainsford and
Fortunato. How does each man use a shared interest to lure and trap his "guest