The Cask of Amontillado
By: Edgar Allan Poe
1)How cohesive and organized is his writing?
Edgar Allan Poe writes with a unique grotesque inventive style. Poe also includes a superb plot construction which hooks the reader at the very start because he sets up a situation which the fills the reader with anticipation to see what develops. In the first line of the story The Cask Of Amontillado(1846), he says, "...but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge." The first three paragraphs develops Montresor's thinking and planning of what he intends to do to Fortunato. He informs the reader of many bits of information which develops Montresor's plan, but in reality, the reader does not know the outcome until nearly the end of the story. His writing paints a very vivid picture for the reader. He organized the story so that we know right in the beginning what the story will be about, and what the reader is in for. In this case, Poe lets the reader know right away and throughout the story, that the probable outcome, will be Montresor getting revenge on Fortunato.
2)How readable and interesting is the style?
Poe's style is interesting, but somewhat difficult to read in the beginning. At the start of the story, Poe develops the plot of the story in a difficult manner. For example, Poe writes, "It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong." He could have just said in simpler terms, the revenge has to make to him feel like Fortunato felt when he wronged him. Other than in the opening paragraphs, Poe writes simple and easy to follow sentences. As the story develops, Poe provides much detail for the readers to be able to paint a picture in their mind about everything from Fortunato's outfit to the dampness and the niche on the walls of the vault.
3)What tone and attitude are communicated?
This example of Poe's writing depicts one of man's greatest faults which is revenge. The story is all about one man being obsessed with getting even with another individual. Instead of just letting what happened in the past stay in the past, Montresor simple has to get back at Fortunato for the wrong that he did to him. This story plot is one in which still exists everywhere today. Revenge is something that just about everybody has done, or thinks about doing at one point in his life. Poe's story contains a universal theme that anyone can relate with. He captures the essence of the old saying in this story, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." He states just that in the second paragraph, "I continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation."
4)Do his images appeal to the senses?
I don't really think that Poe uses many images to appeal to the senses. One image that though that may be considered to appeal to the senses was when they were both in the vault, and they were below the river's bed. Poe writes, "The drops of moisture trickle among the bones." He also stated at the entrance of the vault that the grounds of the vault were very damp. The reader can't but help imagine the damp smell and the damp feeling on their skin as they read the descriptions of the vault.
5)What use does the author make of symbols and figurative language.
The strongest symbol that Poe uses in this story was at the point where Fortunato questions Montresor about really being a mason. To prove to Fortunato that he is, he pulls out a trowel. The trowel serves as a symbol for Fortunato's death. It's ironic that Fortunato is talking about the secret group of the masons, and Montresor is actually a real mason. Another symbol may be the skeletons along the walls and floors. It makes the reader think that Fortunato will soon be an addition to all of those skeletons. One...
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