Section outline

  • EXPLORE / TŪHURA

    EXPLORE / TŪHURA learning intentions:

    • We are ANALYSING the literary qualities of text, especially as they relate to audience and purpose
    • We are ANALYSING and become proficient in the use of vocabulary and grammar used to write literary essays
    • We are EXPLORING language used in short stories to reflect on the writer's purpose and techniques.

    Could Poe teach Trump about wall building? - BBC News
    The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

    All resources in Google Classroom.

    First up review lesson on Literary Devices with Memes. Complete exercise at end of Google Slides 

    Answer questions on 'The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe' Google Slides and complete and essay on one of the following topics.

    What if Montresor is a woman? Most people assume Montresor is a man. Why? Would it change the way you think about the story if Montresor is a woman?
    What kind of clown is Fortunato? We see lots of scary clowns in the movies and in books. Is Fortunato a scary clown? If so, what is scary about him? If not, why?
    How do you feel when you read "The Cask"? Claustrophobic? Tired? Something else? What about the story makes you feel this way?
    Could Fortunato narrate this story? Why, or why not? Make an argument for both sides of this debate.


    View video of 'The Empire of Death' up to 2 minutes 50 seconds. (The rest of the video is irrelevant to the story)

    Extension Exercise: Answer the following questions in your book.

    1.) What do you think Montresor’s motivation is for killing Fortunato?  What do you think Montresor means in the 1st paragraph of the story by “the thousand injuries” and “insult”?

    2.) How does Poe motivate the behavior of Montresor?  Does the story provide any hints as to the “thousand injuries” he has suffered?  Are any hints necessary?

    3.) Who do you suppose the “You” is in the 1st paragraph of the story?

    4.) Why do you suppose Poe sets this story during “the carnival season”?

    5.) Why is the setting of the story appropriate?

    6.) What does Montresor’s treatment of his house servants tell us about his knowledge of human psychology, and how does it prepare us for his treatment of Fortunato?

    7.) Examine Montresor’s verbal and non-verbal strategies of initially engaging Fortunato and then luring him along throughout the story.

    8.) What do you suppose Montresor means when he says, “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was.  You are a man to be missed.  For me it is no matter”?

    9.) Discuss Montresor’s family’s coat-of-arms and motto.

    10.) Discuss the references to “the brotherhood” and “the masons.”

    11.) Discuss the section when Montresor is erecting the wall to entomb Fortunato, especially both Fortunato’s and Montresor’s sounds, words, and movements.

    12.) How does Poe increase the elements of suspense as Fortunato is gradually walled into the catacombs?

    13.) Examine the very last paragraph of the story – especially (1) the phrase, “My heart grew sick …” and (2) the very last sentence.

    14.) Do you see any irony in the story?