1. how does the author want the reader to feel while reading "the cask of amontillado"?

2. what techniques does the author use to you visualize the place, the people, and the events that are taking place within the story?

3. how has the author described the characters to make them seem like real people?

4. does the author expect the reader to make an emotional connection to the story?

5. what is the theme statement of the story?

1) The author prepares readers for the crime he is about to commit. He wants to attain empathy. Even though he feels guilty, he tries to justify his crime and make readers understand the reason of his actions. He also establishes dark mood towards Fortunato in order to make readers feel hatred of this character.

2) Poe uses a lot of imagery; such use of figurative language makes readers think as if the story goes before their eyes, and they can dip into the described atmosphere. The descriptive parts of plot employ lots of details about setting and its mood, which appears to be mostly cold and dark.


3)  Characters seem like real people due to the author’s use of various writing techniques. Besides imageries and detailed description of character’s appearances, his thorough work at their personalities make readers perceive them as a real person present in the world.

4) Definitely, the author is trying to make the reader feel emotion. First of all, in all his works Poe demonstrates special approaches to readers minds thoughts and emotions. He’s got a key and he he is trying to persuade us to feel the same way as he describes Fortunato. The author made everything to control readers throughout the whole story and make them believe that Fortunato is evil itself indeed.

5) The theme statement of the story is - ‘revenge is not the answer’. Eventually, Fortunato is dead, and the storyteller feels nothing but complete emptiness and a strong feeling of guilt and regret that will never leave him. All in all, the  author showed that he is a psycho, and that the revenge brought only pain to him, not relief.