Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Class Notes for November 6th; Essay Format for "The Cask of Amontillado"



From the beginning we know that Montresor plans revenge on Fortunato, however, we never really  know why he hates Fortunato so much – aside from the insults he supposedly has given him. It is during Carnival, a time of great celebration and gayety, that Montresor decides to lure Fortunato by the promise of amontillado into the catacombs to kill him.

The name of the narrator is Montresor; Mon tre sor  sounds a bit like “monster”.

In the first paragraph, please include:

The title of the short story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, and the name of the author, Edgar Allen Poe.

A brief synopsis of the story – no more than three or four lines.

The thesis statement so that we know what your essay is going to be about.

A reference to Poe’s use of irony, setting, and the unreliable narrator to create the mood of “The Cask of Amontillado”.  Example: Poe’s use of irony, the eerie setting and Montresor’s unreliability as a narrator helps to create the gothic dark mood of his “The Cask of Amontillado”.

In the second paragraph, or the first body paragraph, please include:

A thesis statement so that the reader knows what the paragraph is about.

If you are discussing irony, be sure to develop the thesis of Poe’s use of irony.

Give specific examples of irony from the story either through quotation or by paraphrasing.

Then explain or discuss the quotation or the paraphrase to show how it is ironic.
Example: Poe uses situational irony from the very beginning of the short story, from the title – the word casket derives from the word cask – to the setting – Carnival is a time of gayety and not one normally associated with a murder – and the name of the victim, Fortunato, who is clearly not fortunate.

If you want to do more paragraphs on the various ironies Poe uses, you may; you might do one paragraph on the many examples of verbal irony:

Examples of verbal irony:

Montresor tell Fortunato that they must go back for Fortunato is sick and he cannot be responsible if anything happens to him.

Montresor “implores Fortunato to turn back as they descend deeper into the catacombs.

There are many, many more examples of verbal irony in “The Cask of Amontillado.”


Please mention briefly the examples of dramatic irony.

Examples:

Fortunato says that he will not die of a cough, which is true, he won’t die from a cough.

Montresor tells Fortunato the family’s Latin motto, which is "No one attacks me without punishment. Dramatic irony is displayed because Fortunato fails to understand  how Montresor intends to apply that motto to him. 

Montresor pulls out a trowel, a mason's tool, and tells Fortunato that he is a member of  the Masons, a secretive and exclusive organization; Fortunato, unaware of Montresor's true intentions toward him, fails to grasp the sick joke. 

In the final paragraph, briefly go over the main points in your essay, and then write your concluding thought. 

Do not include new information in your final paragraph. 





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