The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

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The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
Feature Menu
Introducing the Selection Literary Focus
Unreliable Narrator Reading Focus Drawing
Conclusions Writing Focus Think as a
Reader/Writer TechFocus
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The Cask of Amontillado Introducing the Selection
Who has a bigger effect on your lifefriends or
enemies?
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The Cask of Amontillado Introducing the Selection
Click on the title to start the video.
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The Cask of Amontillado Introducing the Selection
Lured by the promise of a fine wine, Fortunato
journeys into the depths of the Montresors
catacombsunderground tunnels that house the
dead.
What happens when Fortunato is led through the
dark, dank catacombs? Is his host really a
madman bent on revenge?
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The Cask of Amontillado Literary Focus
Unreliable Narrator
When you read a story told by a first-person
narratora character who tells the story by using
Ibe sure to ask yourself if the narrator can be
trusted.
Sometimes, writers purposely use an unreliable
narrator, a narrator who does not always tell the
truth.
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The Most Dangerous Game Literary Focus
Unreliable Narrator
Like people in general, an unreliable narrator
may not know the whole truth
or may purposely choose to deceive us.
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The Most Dangerous Game Literary Focus
Unreliable Narrator
To find clues about whether a narrator is
reliable, pay attention to the narrators

• actions,

• statements,

• voicestyle of speaking,

• dictionword choice, and

• toneattitude.

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The Cask of AmontilladoLiterary Focus
Unreliable Narrator
Read the following passage. What clues indicate
that the narrator may be unreliable?
Youll never believe what happened to me on my
way to work this morning. I was minding my own
business, driving in the middle lane of the
highway, when some fool cut me off. His rear
bumper was an inch from my car! I couldve been
killed! I dropped my cell phone and leaned on my
horn. He ignored me like hed done nothing wrong!
So I switched lanes and sped up to pull alongside
him. As soon as my car was even with his, I
yelled out the window at him again, he ignored
me! I couldnt believe it!
Youll never believe what happened to me on my
way to work this morning. I was minding my own
business, driving in the middle lane of the
highway, when this fool cut me off. His rear
bumper was an inch from my car! I couldve been
killed! I dropped my cell phone, and leaned on
my horn. He ignored me like hed done nothing
wrong! So I switched lanes and sped up to pull
alongside him. As soon as my car was even with
his, I yelled out the window at him again, he
ignored me! I couldnt believe it!
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The Cask of Amontillado Literary Focus
Unreliable Narrator
Listen closely to the following passage from the
story.
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as
I best could but when he ventured upon insult, I
vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature
of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I
gave utterance to a threat.
What clues hint that the narrator may not be
reliable?
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The Cask of Amontillado Reading Focus Drawing
Conclusions
When you read, you act like a detective.
You gather evidence and draw conclusions, or make
judgments, based on that evidence.
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The Cask of Amontillado Reading Focus Drawing
Conclusions
To decide if Poes narrator is reliable, look
closely at

• what the narrator says and does, and

• what Fortunato, the narrators enemy, says.

What details suggest that the narrator is
unreliableperhaps even insane?
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The Cask of Amontillado Reading Focus Drawing
Conclusions
Into Action Keep track of specific details to
help you draw conclusions about the storys
narrator.
Into Action Conclusions About Montresors
Reliability
What the Narrator Says and Does
What Fortunato Says and Does
My Conclusions
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne
as best I could. . . .
The narrator may be imagining that Fortunato has
mistreated him.
Fortunato joins the narrator and treats him as a
friend.
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The Cask of Amontillado Writing Focus Think as
a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
Poe carefully uses language to create a portrait
of the storys narrator.
It must be understood that neither by word nor
deed had I given Fortunado cause to doubt my
goodwill. I continued, as was my wont, to smile
in his face, and he did not perceive that my
smile now was at the thought of his immolation.
As you read, collect other examples of words and
phrases that help reveal the narrators
personality.
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The Cask of Amontillado Writing Focus Think as
a Reader/Writer
TechFocus
As you read, jot down titles of stories, artwork,
songs, and so on that remind you of Poes style.
Think about how to post this online.
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Vocabulary
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The Cask of Amontillado Vocabulary
impunity n. freedom from punishment or harm.
retribution n. punishment for a wrong justice
revenge.
impose v. (used with upon) take advantage of.
implore v. beg.
obstinate adj. stubborn.
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
The word impunity is often used in connection
with legal testimony and trials.
Imagine that a criminal agrees to testify against
himselfonly if he is to be treated with
impunity.
What does the criminal want?
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Caroline mistakenly believed that she would be
treated with impunity if she stayed out late.
What is likely to happen when shes late
returning home?

1. Her parents will ask whether she enjoyed herself.
2. Her parents will have nothing to say to her.
3. Her parents will complain and then punish her.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Caroline mistakenly believed that she would be
treated with impunity if she stayed out late.
What is likely to happen when shes late
returning home?

1. Her parents will ask whether she enjoyed herself.
2. Her parents will have nothing to say to her.
3. Her parents will complain and then punish her.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
People who seek retribution often feel that
someone has committed an injustice. This belief
may be real or imagined.
A person seeking retribution is likely to believe
that the punishment, or payback, is fair.
What are some reasons that a person might seek
retribution?
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
In retribution for getting kicked off the team,
Jenna started a nasty rumor about her coach.

• Why did Jenna start the rumor?
• She wanted to get attention.
• She wanted revenge.
• She thought it would be funny.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
In retribution for getting kicked off the team,
Jenna started a nasty rumor about her coach.

• Why did Jenna start the rumor?
• She wanted to get attention.
• She wanted revenge.
• She thought it would be funny.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary

• If your classmate repeatedly asks for help with
  her homework, she may be imposing upon you.

You may have helped her once or twice, but she
appears to be taking advantage of your generosity.
Have you ever felt imposed upon by someone? What
made his or her behavior an imposition?
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Is imposed the best word choice in the following
sentence?

• Robert imposed upon us by offering to help us
  move.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Is imposed the best word choice in the following
sentence?

• Robert imposed upon us by offering to help us
  move.

If Robert had imposed, hed have taken advantage.
The word imposed is a poor choice here.
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary

• The verb implore is often used when one person or
  group wants something from another. The person
  or group may beg or plead a case.

For example, you might implore your teacher for
an extension on a projects deadline.
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary

• Devin implored me to be on his team because Ive
  been playing soccer since I was five.

• How do you think Devin sounded when he asked?
• eager
• uninterested
• hesitant

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary

• Devin implored me to be on his team because Ive
  been playing soccer since I was five.

• How do you think Devin sounded when he asked?
• eager
• uninterested
• hesitant

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary

• Someone may be considered obstinate if he or she
  holds tightly to a particular attitude, opinion,
  or issue.

This obstinate person is unlikely to listen to
other points of view.
Is there an attitude, opinion, or issue to which
you hold tightly?
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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Is the word obstinate used correctly in the
following sentence?

• Sarah thought her mother was being obstinate She
  had refused to let Sarah go out until her room
  was clean.

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The Cask of AmontilladoVocabulary
Is the word obstinate used correctly in the
following sentence?

• Sarah thought her mother was being obstinate She
  had refused to let Sarah go out until her room
  was clean.

Sarah probably thought her mother was being
stubborn by making her clean the room before
going out. Obstinate is used correctly.
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The End
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QuickWrite
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The Cask of Amontillado QuickWrite
No man is an island. That saying conveys the
idea that the people around us have a strong
influence on our thoughts and actions.
Write about a time when your ideas and actions
were affected by others.
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Meet the Writer
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The Cask of Amontillado Meet the Writer
Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 to traveling
actors. His father deserted the family, and Poes
mother died before he was three. Poe was taken
in as a foster child by the wealthy and childless
Allan family of Richmond, Virginia. Later,
however, he fell out of favor with his foster
father and was left penniless. Poe wrote
regularly, and his works were successful with the
public. Conservative critics, though, mocked
Poes unusual poems and stories.
More About the Writer
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Build Background
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The Cask of Amontillado Build Background
Centuries ago, Christians in Italy buried their
dead in catacombslong, winding underground
tunnels. Later, wealthy families built private
catacombs beneath their homes.
Dark and cool, these chambers were also suitable
for the storage of fine wines, such as
amontillado.
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The Cask of Amontillado Build Background
Poes story is set during carnival, which is
celebrated before the start of Lent, the season
during which Christians give up various
pleasures.
During carnival, many people wear costumes and
dance in the streets.
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Read with a Purpose
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The Cask of Amontillado Read with a Purpose
Read this story to find out how a mysterious
narrator seeks revenge on his worst enemy.
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