Poes Cask of Amontillado Lecture notes additional information

Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” Lecture notes & additional information

What the heck is that!? The unfamiliar words & phrases of “Cask” • Utterance – “Ugh!” a short not fully formed word • Immolation – to kill of offer as a sacrifice • Nitre – sodium nitrate – a naturally occurring compound that is caustic and is used in the making of fertilizers, explosives, glass & the preservation of meat. • Flambeaux – a crude torch • Rapier – a short sword • Roquelaire – a small cloak • Fettered – to chain, shackle

What is Carnival? • Ever seen Rio? Heard of Fat Tuesday & Mardi Gras? • Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life.

What is Carnival? • Comes from the Italian words carne levare – Carne = meat – Levare = do away with • Celebrated in countries with a high Catholic population. • How can Carnival help to define the setting?

The brotherhood? - Freemasonry • Fraternal organization • Obscure origins • Began in 16 -17 th centuries? • Medieval Era? (1390) • Heavy into symbols and rituals

Want to be a member? • Must petition lodge • Members cannot ask or recruit (misconception) • Person is investigated by the brotherhood – Assurance of good character – Secret ballot election – Sometimes only one rejection is needed to deny membership (others 3) • Linked to charitable organizations – Shriners hospitals, etc. • Was this the reason Montressor was upset? – Denied membership? !? !?

Montresor • Do most people have family crests & mottoes? • Does Montresor feel obligated by his family’s crest? – Is his revenge hereditary? • Motto? – Latin for “no one attacks me unpunished” • Loose modern translation – “Nobody f*%@’s with me. ” • What do we know about Montresor that HE tells us? • What connotation does his name have? – French translation – Mon = My – Tresor = Treasure

Fotunato • What does his name sound like? • What does Montressor tell us about him? • What kind of person is he? • Does he even have a clue?

Irony • The story is dripping with irony.