Name: Say, Mean, Matter Chart The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe Period: Date: Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. (1) Montressor, the narrator, starts off exaggerating the number and severity of the offenses of Fortunato. This is an example of hyperbole. By exaggerating the previous offenses, Montressor is trying to tell us that Fortunato s most recent insult was the last straw. This gives us a background of the kind of relationship Montressor and Fortunato had, at least from the point of view of Montressor. The story is told through a first-person point of view. It is interesting that the details of the injuries and insults are not described. Why not? You, who so well know the nature of my soul (3) Montressor seems to be addressing/speaking to someone who he is familiar with and knows him well. This is interesting because there are 2 audiences and 2 story-tellers: the You who Montressor is speaking to who never responds. And there is us the reader. There is Poe the author and there is Montressor the narrator. will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. (4) Montressor doesn t let Fortunato know that he is a threat. During the time of the story, it was typical to challenge your enemy to a public duel, often to a death. This reveals the nature of people that they may have feel one way but not let their feelings show.
At length I would be avenged; (4) The at length means M is going to take his time; he is in no rush to carry out the revenge. This reveals M s character, that he is patient. this was a point definitively settled but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. (5-7) I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. (7) M knew he would be avenged and he also knew that there wouldn t be any risk to him. M will get revenge and not get harmed or punished in the process. This reveals M s character, that he is calculative and had a plan. This reveals M s sinister mind: it is not good enough to punish F but to get away with it. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. (7-10) M describes what he believes is an unsuccessful revenge. If the avenger (the person carrying out the revenge) gets caught or punished or if the avenger does not make the punishment known to the person who offended him, then the wrong goes unpunished. This first paragraph establishes the conflict of the story. It also reveals the theme of revenge, and what the narrator considers a successful act of revenge. I continued, as was my wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation. (12-14) M is being two-faced, hiding his true feelings under a deceptive exterior. Wont noun; habit Dramatic irony : F doesn t know why M is smiling but we do. The contrast between M s smile and the thought of F s death, contributes to the suspenseful and ominous mood of the story because it is creepy that someone can smile at his enemy while thinking about killing him. (15-24) Fortunato prided himself on being a wine connoisseur. He was a quack, an imposter, in the authority of paintings and gems but he definitely knew his vintages. Foreshadowing: M describes F s weakness for fine wines that he will exploit (benefit from). The fact that M is talking about quacks, impostures, and being insincere is ironic because he himself is being two-faced to Fortunato. It also reveals the theme of pride in the story M s pride was injured by F which is why he wants revenge. M s pride causes him to set the
criteria for a successful revenge. F s pride is what M will use to lure him to the catacombs. Chunk 1, Lines 25-64 Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. It was about dusk, one evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my friend. (25-26) What is dusk? Draw a picture of a someone gone mad (using the context of mad in this line) Why do you think Poe chose dusk and the carnival season as part of the setting for this story? He accosted me with excessive warmth, for he had been drinking much. (27) What does accosted mean? For what other reason might F great M with excessive warmth? The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells. (28-29) What does surmounted mean? Draw a picture of Fortunato in his Carnival costume. Compare and contrast M s description of F in lines 15-23 with F s costume. What type of irony is this?
I said to him: My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking today! (32-33) But I have received a pipe of what passes for Amontillado, and I have my doubts. (33-34) What type of irony is this? What facts do we know about Amontillado? How does this sentence add to F s character? Do you believe that M is actually unsure about the authenticity of the Amontillado? (Provide evidence). How? said he. Amontillado? A pipe? Impossible! And in the middle of carnival! (35-36). What is implied about F s view of M through this response? I have my doubts, I replied; and I was silly enough to pay the full Amontillado price without consulting you the matter. You were not to be found, and I was fearful of losing a bargain. (37-39). Psychologically, what effect might the narrator s words have on F in this paragraph? I have my doubts. (41) Why do you think the narrator repeats that he has his doubts about the Amontillado he purchased? As you are engaged, I am on my way to Luchesi. If anyone has a critical turn, it is he. He will tell me Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry. What does engaged mean in this context? Do you think M is really engaged? How does M continue to manipulate F here?
And yet some fools will have it that his taste is a match for your own. (45-49) Who is Luchesi? How does the theme of pride depicted here? Lines Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. Come, let us go. Whither? To your vaults. (50-52) Which character suggests that they go to the vaults? My friend, no; I will not impose upon your good nature. I perceive you have an engagement. Luchesi (53-54) I have no engagement; -- come. (55) My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with niter. (56-58) F wants to go to the vaults, why does M say no? What does afflicted mean? What does insufferably mean? Does reverse psychology always work? Why did M tell F that he looked remarkably well (32-33) when he first accosted him, but now he says he looks afflicted with a severe cold? Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchesi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado. (59-61) What does imposed upon mean? What type of irony is contributing to the suspense and tension? What secret are we in on? Putting on a mask of black silk, and drawing a Draw a picture of M in his carnival constume. Why do you think M chose this as his carnival
roquelaure closely about my person, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo. (62-64). costume? What does M mean by, I suffered him to hurry me to my palazzo? There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honor of the time. I had told them that I should not return until morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned. (65-69) M took from the sconces 2 flambeaux, andled F to the winding staircase and asked F to be careful as he followed. (71-76) What does absconded mean? What specific instructions did M tell his servants? 1. 2. Draw a picture of the sconces and flambeaux. Did the servants follow his instructions? What does this tell us about the narrator? How does the description of the setting contribute to the mood? The gait of my friend was unsteady, and the bells upon his cap jingled as he strode. (77-78) What does gait mean? Why might F walk in an unsteady way? He turned toward me, and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication. (82-83) What are orbs? Rheum watery discharge from eyes b/c of a cold Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!... My poor friend found it impossible to reply for many minutes. (88-89). Why does M keep referring to F as his friend? What type of irony is this? "Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, What do the adjectives M uses to describe F tell us about him, especially in relation to the narrator? What do the following words suggest about the narrator: "you are happy, as once I was"?
admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi (90-94) Why is M so concerned with F s health? I cannot be responsible What type of irony is this? SMM #4, Lines 95-144 Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. Enough, he said; the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough. (95-96). Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. F says he shall not die of a cough, what type of irony is this and why? True true, I replied; and, indeed, I had no intention of alarming you unnecessarily; but you should use all proper caution. A draft of this Medoc will defend us from the damps. (97-99) [ ] Drink, I said, presenting him the wine. (102) He raised it to his lips with a leer. He paused and nodded to me familiarly, while his bells jingled. (103-104) [ ] And I to your long life. (106) [ ] The Montressors, I replied, were a great What is foreshadowing? Why would M want F to drink some of the wine? What does leer mean? Is M really toasting to F s long life? What part of this quote is foreshadowing? Why might F look at M with a leer? What type of irony is this? What do you think this comment tells us about
and numerous family. (109-110) Montressor? I forget your arms. (111) A huge human foot d or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel. (112-113) And the motto? Nemo me impune lacessit. (114-115) Fortunato is referring to the narrator s coat of arms a symbolic depiction of ancestry and family distinctions. What do the images represent? What does the motto mean to you in your own words? Create a coat of arms for your family on a separate sheet of paper. How does this coat of arms relate to other aspects of the story? Is the motto a type of literary device? What? The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingled. My own fancy grew warm with the Medoc. We had passed through walls of piled bones, with casks and puncheons intermingling, into the inmost recesses of the catacombs. I paused again, and this time I made bold to seize Fortunato by an arm above the elbow. (117-121) The nitre! I said, see, it increases. It hangs like moss upon the vaults. We are below the river s bed. The drops of moisture trickle among the bones. Come, we will go back ere it is too late. Your cough (122-125) It is nothing, he said; let us go on. But first, another draft of the Medoc. I broke and reached him a flagon of de grave. He emptied it at a breath. His eyes flashed with a fierce light. He laughed and threw the bottle upward with a gesticulation I did not understand. (126-131) Puncheons are large barrels Intermingling Inmost Recess Seize Underline the imagery Flagon container for wine Gesticulation What does de grave sound like? How does sensory details and imagery add to the mood of the story? Why do you think M insists that F leaves the catacombs? What type of literary device is flagon of de grave? How do these lines add to Fortunato s character? I looked at him in surprise. He repeated the movement a grotesque one. (132) Grotesque What are the synonyms for grotesque? Why
You do not comprehend? he said. Not I, I replied. Then you are not of the brotherhood. How? You are not of the masons. Yes, yes, I said; yes, yes. You? Impossible! A mason? A mason, I replied. A sign, he said. It is this, I answered, producing a trowel from beneath the folds of my roquelaure. (134-144) SMM #5, Lines 145-193 Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. You jest, he exclaimed, recoiling a few paces. But let us proceed to the Amontillado. (145) F finds it impossible that M is a mason (a member of the fraternity). What does this fact reveal about both characters? Fortunato Montressor Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Jest means to joke What does recoil mean? does Poe choose this word? If F finds it impossible to believe that M is a mason, why would F give M a secret sign that only another mason would understand? Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. Why do you think F recoils when M produces the trowel? Be it so, I said, replacing the tool beneath the cloak, and again offering him my arm. He leaned upon it heavily. (147) We continued our route in search of the Amontillado. We passed through a range of low arches, descended, passed on, and descending again, arrived at a deep crypt, in which the foulness of the air caused our flambeaux rather to What does F leaning on M s arm heavily suggest? Why do you think F does not ask, and apparently does not wonder, why M is carrying a trowel beneath his cloak? The scene is literally getting darker, what might this suggest symbolically?
glow than flame. (150) At the most remote end of the crypt there appeared another less spacious. (153) Its walls had been lined with human remains, piled to the vault overhead, in the fashion of the great catacombs of Paris. Three sides of this interior crypt were still ornamented in this manner. From the fourth the bones had been thrown down, and lay promiscuously upon the earth, forming at one point a mound of some size. (154-159) Within the wall thus exposed by the displacing of the bones, we perceived a still interior recess, in depth about four feet, in width three, in height six or seven. It seemed to have been constructed for no special use within itself, but formed merely the interval between two of the colossal supports of the roof of the catacombs, and was backed by one of their circumscribing walls of solid granite. (159-165) It was in vain that Fortunato, uplifting his dull torch, endeavored to pry into the depth of the recess. Its termination the feeble light did not enable us to see. (166-168) Proceed, I said; herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchesi He is an ignoramus, interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. (169-172). On a separate sheet of paper, paraphrase lines 173-181. Pass your hand, I said, over the wall; you cannot help feeling the niter. Indeed it is very damp. Once more let me implore you to return. No? Then I What do the following descriptions have in common? the most remote end of the crypt (153) the inmost recess (120) extensive vaults (108) Ornamented Promiscuously Mound Draw a picture of the still interior recess within the interior crypt: Restate these lines in your own words, rewording: in vain, endeavored, and termination. Do you think the words Poe uses to describe the setting, symbolize something more? What happened to the fourth wall of the interior crypt? Why do you think M goes into such detail, giving the measurements, as he describes this interior recess? Why do you think M brings up Luchesi again here? Why do you think M reminds F of the niter and begs him urgently to leave?
must positively leave you. But I must first render you all the little attentions in my power. (182-185) The Amontillado! ejaculated my friend, not yet recovered from his astonishment. True, I replied; the Amontillado. (186-188) As I said these words I busied myself among the pile of bones of which I have before spoken. Throwing them aside, I soon uncovered a quantity of building stone and mortar. With these materials and with the aid of my trowel, I began vigorously to wall up the entrance of the niche. (188-193). True seems like an odd response to F s Amontillado! Why do you think M responds this way? Where did the pile of bones come from? Provide evidence. If M carefully set up the building materials under the bones, why do you think M kept his trowel with him? SMM #6, Lines 194- Say What does the text say? What are the facts as presented? What is the character saying/doing? Quote the text. Include the line number. I had scarcely laid the first tier of the masonry when I discovered that the intoxication of Fortunato had in a great measure worn off. The earliest indication I had of this was a low moaning cry from the depth of the recess. It was not the cry of a drunken man. There was then a long and obstinate silence. (195-198) [ ] then I heard the furious vibrations of the chain. The noise lasted for several minutes, during which, that I might hearken to it with more satisfaction, I ceased my labors and sat down upon the bones. (199-202) Mean What does the text mean? Read between the lines. Explain the quote in the context of the text. What is the motivation, the intention? Identify any literary devices (simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, etc.) used. Why might M describe the silence as stubborn? Hearken Matter So what? Why does the text matter? Explain why the quote is significant within the text and to you (text-to-self), to others (text-to-world), and to other texts (text-to-text). Analyze the effect of any literary devices used. In your reading, circle the details that make this scene (lines 194-207) especially horrifying. How does this add to the character of M?
A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seem to thrust me violently back. For a brief moment I hesitated I trembled. (208-210) Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me. I placed my hand upon the solid fabric of the catacombs, and felt satisfied. (210-213) I reapproached the wall. I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed I aided I surpassed them in volume and in strength. I did this, and the clamorer grew still. (213-216). It was now midnight, and my task was drawing to a close. (217) [ ] But now there came from out the niche a low laugh that erected the hairs upon my head. It was succeeded by a sad voice, which I had difficulty in recognizing as that of the noble Fortunato. (221-224). Ha! Ha! Ha! He! He! a very good joke indeed an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo he! He! He! over our wine he! He! He! (225-227) [ ] But is it not getting late? Will not they be awaiting us at the palazzo, the Lady Fortunato and the rest? Let us be gone. (229-231) Yes, I said, let us be gone. (232) Succession Why do you think M hesitated and trembled hearing F s screams? Grope How does M satisfy and reassure himself? The definition of clamor is within the context of the sentence. Draw an arrow connecting the word and definition. Why do you think Poe chose midnight as the time that M finishes encasing F in the recess? Noble How would you explain F s comments? M knows that they will not be leaving so why does he respond this way? Does it add to M s character that he makes it a point to say that he trembled and hesitated, for a brief moment? M reveals a fact for the first time that he had a sword with him this whole time, why do you think he had a sword? Why do you think M re-echoed and even surpassed F s yelling? What effect might M s screams have on F? What effect does M create by referring to F as noble? What do you think F is trying to do by mentioning his wife, Lady Fortunato? Yes, I said, for the love of God! (234) I thrust a torch through the remaining aperture and let it fall within. There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells. (240-242) Why does M echo F? What effect does the jingling of the bells have on the story?
My heart grew sick on account of the dampness of the catacombs. (242-243) Why does M say that the dampness of the catacombs is what made his heart grow sick? I hastened to make an end of my labor. (243) [ ] Against the new masonry I re-erected the old rampart of bones. For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them. (245) Rampart How long is a century? Why do you think M now hurries to finish his task? Why do you think M waited 50 years to tell his story? In pace requiescat! (247) Why might M end the story with Rest in Peace?