The Cask of Amontillado
The Cask of Amontillado is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1846. It is a tale of revenge, murder, and deception set in an unnamed Italian city in an unspecified year. The story follows Montresor, a vengeful nobleman, as he plots to murder his former friend, Fortunato, for an unspecified insult. Montresor lures Fortunato into the catacombs beneath his palazzo with the promise of a rare wine, Amontillado. Once there, Montresor chains Fortunato to the wall and seals him in with bricks and mortar. The story ends with Montresor's triumphant declaration that no one will ever know what happened to Fortunato. The story is a classic example of Poe's use of irony and dark humor.
By Edgar Allan Poe · First published 1846 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery · 2,982 words
First lines
The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. "At length" I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled -- but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. 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.
What this Textopian page supports
The Cask of Amontillado is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, dated 1846 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edgar Allan Poe
- Date: 1846 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Fantasy
- Length: 2,982 words
- Structure: 1 section, 89 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The Cask of Amontillado is a classic example of Gothic fiction, with its dark and mysterious setting, its themes of revenge and death, and its use of the supernatural.
- Horror — The Cask of Amontillado is a horror story, with its suspenseful plot and its themes of revenge and death.
- Mystery — The Cask of Amontillado is a mystery story, with its suspenseful plot and its themes of revenge and death.
- Romance — The Cask of Amontillado has some romantic elements, such as the protagonist's desire for revenge and his willingness to go to any lengths to achieve it.
Tags
American · Fantasy poetry · Horror tales · amontillado · arm · back · bells · bones · cannot · catacombs · come · fantasy poetry, american