PLOT
Poe's INSPIRATION to write the story.
His own real-life desire for revenge against contemporary literary rivals.
ADJECTIVES that describe FORTUNATO
An example of foreshadowing
bones
SYMBOLISM of the BELLS
They announce DEATH
THE MAIN THEME
REVENGE
Who is Montresor telling the story to?
An unspecified listener.
ADJECTIVES that describe MONTRESOR
MANIPULATIVE - REVENGEFUL - WICKED/EVIL - CRUEL - RUTHLESS - CUNNING
SYMBOL of Fortunato's costume
He's dressed as a fool, a clown, which is what he shows he is.
IRONY in the characters' names
LUCKY
MY TREASURE
POV
1st PERSON: MONTRESOR'S PERSPECTIVE - HIS ironic and obsessional mind , 50 YEARS LATER.
IS MONTRESOR MENTALLY ILL?
He may very well have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. He murders his old friend over an unstated wrong.
The "character" that listens to Montresor.
unspecified
Examples of VERBAL IRONY
'My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met.'
'I shall not die of a cough.' 'True—true,” I replied'
FORESHADOWING/IRONY in Fortunato’s family motto.
“No one insults me [without being punished].”
SYMBOL of the setting
Gothic surroundings and Carnival.
Describe the Montresor's COAT OF ARMS
A golden foot in a blue background crushing a snake whose fangs are embedded in the foot's heel, with the motto Nemo me impune lacessit ("No one provokes me with impunity").
Montresor is a FREEMASON
He isn't, he is just a MASON.
HYPERBOLE
'The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could'
SYMBOL of Montresor's cloak and mask
Hiding his real aim.
"You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was" EXPLAIN THIS AS THE CAUSE OF MONTRESOR'S HATRED.
Montresor blames his unhappiness and loss of respect and dignity within society on Fortunato.It is easy to ascertain that Fortunato is a Freemason, while Montresor is not, which could be the source of Fortunato's recent ascension into upper class society
Montresor leaves Fortunato locked up in the catacombs.
Fortunato is French.
Forunato is Italian
The IRONY of Fortunato asking Montresor whether he is of the brotherhood.” And concludes Montresor is not of the masons.But Montresor says he is, and Fortunato shows he has doubts about this. Then, as sign, Montresor shows him a trowel from his cloak.
Montresor is a mason, but he doesn't seem to be a Mason. Fortunato will later see him acting as a literal mason.
SYMBOLISM of the Montresor's crest - the foot steps on the serpent while the serpent forever has his fangs embedded in the heel.
Montresor shows he sees himself as the owner of the righteous foot that is crushing the insolent Fortunato serpent. Fortunato has unintentionally stepped upon the snake in the grass – the sneaky and cunning Montresor – who, as a reward for this accidental bruising, sinks his fangs deep into the heel of his offender, forever linking them in a form of mutual existence.
Fortunato is presented as a connoisseur of fine wine.
Fortunato comments on another nobleman being unable to distinguish amontillado from sherry when amontillado is in fact a type of sherry.
He treats De Grave, an expensive French wine, with very little regard by drinking it in a single gulp.
Intoxication interferes with critical evaluation, and would be avoided by a connoisseur during a wine tasting.