THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe Born 1809 Died 1849 Orphan at the age of two Never adopted but lived with a childless couple Dropped out of college after a gambling debt Expelled from military training Made living from selling short stories Author, not the narrator of the story, “The Cask of Amontillado” Developed characters whose sanity is questionable Father of the short story genre

Poe Continued Moved in with his aunt and 12 year old cousin Virginia (cousin) becomes his wife at age 13 Poe gained fame for his writing Virginia dies from Tuberculosis Poe became depressed an alcoholic Most of his stories deal with death, murder, and cannibalism Remembered for being the first American writers to become a major figure in world lit

Amontillado Sherry wine from the Amontillado Mountains Only made in Spain

Cask Means a wooden container for storing wine

Niter Potassium Nitrate Salt Known as saltpeter Salt of the rock Minerals that leach through soil Hangs from ceiling of catacombs

Trowel Hand tool used by brick masons

European Carnival

Carnival “Carn” means meat “Val” means farewell A secular holiday like Mardi Gras(not religious) Evolved from the Christian practice of Lent 40 day fast prior to Easter (giving up something one enjoys) Traditionally, fasting during Lent involves not eating meat Anticipation of Lent led to extravagant farewell celebration

More on Carnival is a time of excess indulgence Bingeing upon food and alcohol People partied in the streets Wore masques (masquerade) Combination of anonymity and alcohol--- people felt they could get away with …?

Catacomb “Cities of the dead” undergroun d Sites for Early Christian worship In the late 18 th century, people who could not afford proper burials were dumped there The wealthy had catacombs under their estates where they buried their own relatives

Catacomb

More on Catacombs Wine was often stored in the catacombs Wine does well where temperatures stay constantly cool year round

The Masons Secret Society – by invite only Member of the fraternity of Freemasons, a worldwide charitable organization OR…. One whose occupation is to build with stone or brick

Setting Italy “It was dusk one evening during the supreme madness of the Carnival. ” A crime could easily go undetected The narrator plans revenge

Fortunato Haughty wine connoisseur (expert) His name suggest good fortune or luck Verbal Irony Dressed up as a jester for carnival (his hat has bells on it that jingle)

Luchesi Not an actual character Helps drive the plot!

Montresor Monster Mountain Treasure Narrator (First person point of view) Will question his sanity