CHARACTER, ALLEGORY, AND “CASK

OF AMONTILLADO”

Mr. Moccia

CHARACTER

Definition: person/thing (with personal

characteristics) who plays a role in the story

Types: • protagonist • antagonist • minor • foil• stock

IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS

Round

Flat

Static

Dynamic

FEATURES TO ANALYZE

What are important features to analyze?

Internal features are often more

important: belief system; emotional states

Motivations are really important –

literature becomes a gateway into

psychology

ALLEGORY

Definitions:• story in which the people, plot,

setting, etc. represent things beyond themselves – often with a moral or political purpose • an extended metaphor • elaborate symbolism

WHY ALLEGORIES?

Political safety

Persuasive

Putting difficult things into a easily

comprehensible medium

David and Nathan example

“CASK OF AMONTILLADO”

What reason(s) does Montresor

have for hating Fortunato?

Why isn't he specific, do you think?

What effect does this have?

Who is the “you”?

“CASK OF AMONTILLADO”

Where do we see Montresor using

reverse psychology? (At least two

different examples)

What is Montresor’s coat-of-arms?

What is his family’s motto?

Thoughts?

“CASK OF AMONTILLADO”

What is the deal with the “mason”

stuff?

“CASK OF AMONTILLADO”

What is the tone of the piece?

How is this a gateway into

Montresor’s psychological state?

When is this story written, in

relation to the events in the story?

Why has Montresor written this?

Why give away his long-held secret?

“CASK” AND ALLEGORY

How are Montresor and Fortunato

extremely similar?

What if they’re intended to be

different parts/sides of the same

person?

“CASK” AND ALLEGORY

If this is a psychological allegory,

what do the following symbolize?• Setting: carnival, house,

basement• Fortunato • Montresor• The “walling up”