The Cask Of Amontillado Comprehension Test - Part 2 Of Midterm

Edgar Allan Poe is the author of "The Cask of Amontillado." Poe was an American writer known for his dark and macabre tales. "The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story that revolves around the themes of revenge and betrayal. Poe's writing style, characterized by suspense and psychological depth, made him one of the most influential writers in American literature. His works continue to be celebrated for their exploration of the human psyche and their ability to evoke a sense of terror and unease in readers.

Based on Montresor's actions throughout the story, such as luring Fortunato into the catacombs, chaining him to a wall, and burying him alive, it is evident that he is evil and unbalanced. These actions demonstrate a deep-seated hatred and a complete lack of empathy or remorse. Montresor's meticulous planning and enjoyment in carrying out his revenge further support the conclusion that he is twisted and mentally unstable.

Montresor knows that Fortunato's weakness is his pride and ego of being a wine connoisseur. This is evident in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado" where Montresor lures Fortunato into his family catacombs under the pretense of tasting a rare wine called Amontillado. Montresor manipulates Fortunato's vanity by appealing to his expertise in wines and his desire to prove himself as a connoisseur. This ultimately leads to Fortunato's downfall as he becomes blinded by his own arrogance, allowing Montresor to carry out his revenge.

The conflict that the whole story revolves around is Man versus Man. This means that the central conflict in the story is between two or more characters. It could be a physical or verbal battle, a clash of ideologies or goals, or a competition for power or resources. The story focuses on the interactions, struggles, and conflicts between individuals, highlighting the tensions and challenges that arise from their relationships and interactions with one another.

The quote "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge" indicates that the narrator is directly involved in the events and is speaking from their own perspective. The use of "I" and the personal connection to the actions and emotions suggest a first-person point of view.

The evidence that Montresor's thoughts of Fortunato's death make him smile supports the opinion that he is insane. Smiling at the thought of someone's death is not a normal or rational reaction, indicating a disturbed mental state. This behavior suggests that Montresor derives pleasure or satisfaction from the idea of causing harm to Fortunato, which aligns with the characteristics of insanity.

Montresor vows revenge because Fortunato insulted him. Insults can be deeply hurtful and damaging to one's pride and self-esteem. Montresor's decision to seek revenge suggests that he was deeply offended by Fortunato's words or actions, and he desires to restore his honor and dignity by inflicting harm upon Fortunato in return. This insult may have been severe enough to provoke Montresor's strong desire for vengeance, leading him to plan and execute a sinister plot against Fortunato.

Edgar Allan Poe relied upon irony when naming the character "Fortunato". Irony is the use of words or situations to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal or expected meaning. In this case, the name "Fortunato" is ironic because the character meets a tragic fate, contrary to what his name suggests. This creates a sense of dramatic irony for the readers, as they are aware of the irony in the character's name while the character himself remains oblivious to it.

Montresor stops working when Fortunato begins rattling his chains because he wants to enjoy the sounds of suffering from Fortunato. This suggests that Montresor takes pleasure in the pain and torment he inflicts upon Fortunato, further emphasizing his sadistic nature and the extent of his revenge.

The correct answer, "I must not only punish but punish with impunity," shows Montresor's true character because it reveals his determination to seek revenge and his belief that he should not face any consequences for his actions. This quotation demonstrates Montresor's cold and calculating nature, as he plans to carry out his punishment without fear of being caught or punished himself. It highlights his sinister and vengeful intentions, which are central to his character in the story.

Montresor is the narrator in "The Cask of Amontillado." This is evident from the first-person perspective used throughout the story, as Montresor recounts his plan to seek revenge on Fortunato. The story is told from Montresor's point of view, allowing the reader to experience his thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Montresor's narration provides insight into his sinister and manipulative nature, as well as his twisted sense of justice. His narration creates a sense of suspense and tension, as the reader is taken on a dark journey into Montresor's mind.

The given statement by Fortunato is an example of irony. Irony is the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal or expected meaning. In this case, Fortunato dismisses the seriousness of his cough, claiming that it is insignificant and will not lead to his death. However, the irony lies in the fact that the readers know that his statement is false, as his cough is a symptom of his impending doom in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado."

The symbol of a blue background, a golden human foot crushing a serpent biting its heel on Montresor's family coat of arms suggests that Montresor's family takes pride in their ability to seek revenge on those who have harmed them. The imagery of the foot crushing the serpent represents their power and dominance over their enemies, while the serpent biting the heel symbolizes the harm inflicted upon them. This indicates that they view revenge as a way to assert their superiority and maintain their honor.

Based on the given answer, it can be concluded that Montresor believes that wrongdoers should be punished and their wrongs should be avenged. This suggests that he holds a strong belief in seeking justice and taking action against those who have wronged him. He does not believe in holding grudges or letting injustice affect his decision-making process. Additionally, the answer implies that Montresor believes revenge is justified when the injustice is intentional.

The correct answer is "The desire for revenge can make individuals perform extreme acts." This theme is supported by the fact that Montresor, the protagonist in the story, seeks revenge against Fortunato and goes to great lengths to carry out his plan. This demonstrates that the desire for revenge can drive individuals to commit extreme and morally questionable actions.

The correct answer is "All of the above" because the question is asking which of the options apply to the setting of the story. The options given are Carnival Season, Catacombs, and Italy in the 1800's. Since all three options are mentioned, it can be inferred that all of them apply to the setting of the story.

The word "suspenseful" best describes the mood of "The Cask of Amontillado" because the story is filled with tension and anticipation. The narrator's plan to seek revenge on Fortunato creates a sense of unease and suspense throughout the narrative. The reader is kept on edge, wondering what will happen next and how the narrator will carry out his plan. The dark and eerie atmosphere, along with the constant foreshadowing of Fortunato's impending doom, adds to the overall suspenseful mood of the story.

Montresor and Fortunato are alike in their shared appreciation for expensive wine. This similarity is highlighted in the story "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe, where Fortunato's love for wine is exploited by Montresor as a means to lure him into his trap. This common interest in wine serves as a point of connection between the two characters, albeit a deceptive one, ultimately leading to Fortunato's downfall.

The quote "For 50 years no one has touched those bones" is an example of a flashback. A flashback is a literary device in which the narrative shifts to a previous time period to provide additional context or information. In this case, the quote indicates that the story took place 50 years ago, providing insight into the time frame of the events being described.

Montresor responds to Fortunato's offer to judge the wine by pretending to not want to trouble him and suggesting that Luchesi should help instead. This response is a form of manipulation and deception on Montresor's part. By downplaying Fortunato's ability to judge the wine and suggesting an alternative, Montresor is setting the stage for his plan to seek revenge on Fortunato. This response helps to establish Montresor's malicious intentions and his desire to carry out his sinister plot without raising any suspicions from Fortunato.

In this part of the plot, Fortunato follows Montresor deep into his catacombs despite heavy foreshadowing of the danger that awaits him. This builds tension and suspense, as it shows Fortunato's ignorance of the impending danger and Montresor's plan for revenge. It is a crucial part of the rising action, where the conflict between the two characters escalates and leads to the climax of the story.

The correct answer is Montresor's ancestors. This can be inferred from the context of the question, which mentions "the skeletons in the walls of the catacombs." Since catacombs are often used as burial places for deceased family members, it can be concluded that the skeletons belong to Montresor's ancestors.

Montresor's unreliability as a narrator is evident because he does not disclose all the information about the past. This implies that he may be withholding important details or manipulating the truth to suit his own agenda. As readers, we cannot fully trust Montresor's account of events, as he may be biased or have ulterior motives. His selective narration raises doubts about his credibility and makes him an unreliable narrator.

Montresor carefully plans his revenge by making sure his servants are not at home, attaching a padlock and chains to the wall of the catacombs, and hiding the trowel beneath his cape. However, he does not obtain a real cask of Amontillado as part of his preparation for revenge.

In the given statement, the reader learns that Montresor feels insulted by Fourtunato. This information is provided at the beginning of the story, establishing the conflict and setting the stage for the events to come. Therefore, this occurrence is part of the exposition, which introduces the characters, setting, and conflict of the story.

Fortunato's costume of a jester for Carnival is important because it symbolizes multiple aspects of his character. Firstly, his constant jesting and boasting about his knowledge of wine is represented by the jester costume, as jesters are known for their humor and wit. Secondly, his foolish decision to venture into the catacombs despite having a severe cold is reflected in the jester costume, as jesters were often seen as foolish or silly characters. Lastly, Montresor's manipulation and deception of Fortunato, playing him for a fool, is symbolized by the jester costume. Therefore, the costume serves as a symbol for all of these aspects of Fortunato's character.

Verbal irony is the correct answer because Montresor's statement, "I drink...to your long life," is ironic because he is actually planning to murder Fortunato. This statement is meant to be understood as the opposite of what Montresor truly intends, making it an example of verbal irony.

In this part of the plot, Montresor reveals to the reader that Fortunato's bones have remained undisturbed for at least 50 years. This indicates that the events of the story have reached a conclusion and the conflict between Montresor and Fortunato has been resolved. The resolution is the part of the plot where loose ends are tied up and the story comes to a close.

In Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the climax occurs when Montresor walls up Fortunato in a recess in the wall of the catacombs. This is the turning point of the story where the tension reaches its peak and the most significant event takes place. It is the moment of ultimate revenge and cruelty, as Montresor carries out his plan to punish Fortunato for his perceived insult. The climax is the highest point of conflict and sets the stage for the falling action and resolution of the story.

In this part of the plot, Fortunato laughs nervously at what he hopes is a joke by Montressor. This occurs during the falling action of the story. Falling action is the part of the plot where the conflict starts to resolve and the tension begins to decrease. It is after the climax and leads towards the resolution. In this case, Fortunato's nervous laughter indicates that the tension between him and Montressor is starting to subside, and the story is moving towards its resolution.