Edgar Allan Poe

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The Cask of Amontillado

Main

Main Characters

1. ****Montresor****
2. ****Fortunato****

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Plot

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• Exposition

During carnival in Italy, Montresor runs into Fortunato and offers to share a very nice bottle of Amontillado (wine) with him. However, this bottle is in his catacombs and it is late at night and Fortunato seems ill.

• Conflict

The narrator, Montresor, claims that Fortunato has made a grave insult against him and so he is plotting to get his revenge.

• Rising Action

Montresor lures Fortunato down into the dark and eerie wine vault. As suspense builds, Montresor keeps asking if Fortunato would like to turn back because he seems ill. However, Fortunato continues to drink wine as his cough medicine.

• Climax

When they reach their destination there is no Amontillado, but there is a hole in the wall. Montresor shackles Fortunato inside and begins to seal up the wall with bricks.

• Falling Action

As the last few bricks are laid, Fortunato screams for Montresor to stop, but it is too late. Montresor has enacted his revenge.

• Resolution

In the end, the narrator walks away with only the sound of Fortunato’s jingling jester bells echoing in the tomb. He replaces the bones of the crypt and exclaims that no one has disturbed them for 50 years. “In pace requiescat”.

For the love of God, Montresor!