The Cask Of Amontillado Literary Analysis
The Casket of Fortunato
There are a variety of paths to choose from, and an abundance of themes to contemplate, when constructing an analysis of Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.” Certainly, one of the main themes of the story is revenge, though there are also themes of mortality, betrayal, and pride, to name just a few. However, no reader can ignore the many nuances, clever word play and ironic wit that permeate this gothic tale of horror. Indeed, it is Poe’s masterful use of irony that provides the remarkable power of “The Cask of Amontillado.”
The irony of Poe’s story lies within both circumstance and character. By his own account, Poe is a careful constructor of stories, and leaves no nuance, no word, to chance: I say to myself, …show more content…
Poe revealed much to the reader—through the use of irony by the narrator of the story—that was concealed from Fortunato. At the same time, Poe’s own use of irony, subtle nuances and mysterious references in his composition of “The Cask of Amontillado” leaves the reader with many points of inquiry and much to consider. As a reading of Poe’s Philosophy of Composition would suggest, however, this clearly was Poe’s …show more content…
The Mysterious Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado.” http://blogmetropolis.myblog.it/archive/2012/05/09/ Web. 12 May 2013
Harris, Kathryn M. “Ironic Revenge in Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado.’” Studies in Short Fiction 6 (1969); 333-35. Reprinted in Critics on Poe: Readings in Literary Criticism. Ed. David B. Kesterson. Coral Gables, FL.: University of Miami Press, 1973. Pp. 121-24. Print.
The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Ed. J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989. Print.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Literature and Its Writers: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Ann Charters and Samuel Charters. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2013. 543-48. Print.
Poe, Edgar Allan. (1903). “The Philosophy of Composition.” The Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Lit2Go Edition). Web. 11 May 2013.
Reynolds, David S. “Poe’s Art of Transformation: ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ in Its Cultural Context.” In New Essays on Poe’s Major Tales. Ed. Kenneth Silverman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Pp. 93-112. Print.
Robertson, Patricia. “Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’—Again.” Arkansas Philological Association 14.1 (1988): 39-46.
There are a variety of paths to choose from, and an abundance of themes to contemplate, when constructing an analysis of Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado.” Certainly, one of the main themes of the story is revenge, though there are also themes of mortality, betrayal, and pride, to name just a few. However, no reader can ignore the many nuances, clever word play and ironic wit that permeate this gothic tale of horror. Indeed, it is Poe’s masterful use of irony that provides the remarkable power of “The Cask of Amontillado.”
The irony of Poe’s story lies within both circumstance and character. By his own account, Poe is a careful constructor of stories, and leaves no nuance, no word, to chance: I say to myself, …show more content…
Poe revealed much to the reader—through the use of irony by the narrator of the story—that was concealed from Fortunato. At the same time, Poe’s own use of irony, subtle nuances and mysterious references in his composition of “The Cask of Amontillado” leaves the reader with many points of inquiry and much to consider. As a reading of Poe’s Philosophy of Composition would suggest, however, this clearly was Poe’s …show more content…
The Mysterious Revenge in “The Cask of Amontillado.” http://blogmetropolis.myblog.it/archive/2012/05/09/ Web. 12 May 2013
Harris, Kathryn M. “Ironic Revenge in Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado.’” Studies in Short Fiction 6 (1969); 333-35. Reprinted in Critics on Poe: Readings in Literary Criticism. Ed. David B. Kesterson. Coral Gables, FL.: University of Miami Press, 1973. Pp. 121-24. Print.
The Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Ed. J.A. Simpson and E.S.C. Weiner. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989. Print.
Poe, Edgar Allan. “The Cask of Amontillado.” Literature and Its Writers: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. Ann Charters and Samuel Charters. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2013. 543-48. Print.
Poe, Edgar Allan. (1903). “The Philosophy of Composition.” The Works of Edgar Allan Poe (Lit2Go Edition). Web. 11 May 2013.
Reynolds, David S. “Poe’s Art of Transformation: ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ in Its Cultural Context.” In New Essays on Poe’s Major Tales. Ed. Kenneth Silverman. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Pp. 93-112. Print.
Robertson, Patricia. “Poe’s ‘The Cask of Amontillado’—Again.” Arkansas Philological Association 14.1 (1988): 39-46.