Name: _________________________________
Date: ____________________
Period: ___________
“The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe
Read “The Cask of Amontillado” on pg. 371 of your Literature textbook and answer the following questions.
Reading Comprehension
1. What is a “cask of amontillado”?
2. According to Montressor, what makes a perfect crime?
3. What does Montressor admit is his motive for the crime?
4. Who do you think Montressor is telling this story to?
5. How long has it been since the crime?
Literary Analysis
6. Explain the plot as it applies to this story:
a. Exposition:
b. Complications:
c. Climax:
d. Resolution:
7. What point of view did the author use to tell the story?
a. Why do you think he chose this point of view?
b. How do you think the story would be different if it were told by Fortunado?
c. How do you think the story would be different if it were told by an omniscient narrator?
8. Write down a quote from the story that describes Montressor:
a. What does this tell you about him?
9. Write down a quote in the story that describes Fortunado:
a. What does this tell you about him?
10. Write down an example of each type of irony. Include the page and paragraph number, and explain why
it is ironic.
a. Situational:
b. Dramatic:
c. Verbal:
11. Think about the theme of the story. What point about human nature, greed, and revenge do you think
Poe is making in this story? (Feel free to use one of these sentence stems: “Poe’s message regarding
human nature is that…” OR “Poe’s purpose for writing is to express that humans…” OR “Poe’s
thematic message is to highlight…”).
12. Did you find any symbols in the story? Write down the symbols and explain what they mean.