The Cask of Amontillado

Reading Check and Short Answer questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. Why does the narrator, Montresor, want revenge on Fortunato?

2. What is the setting for the story’s main action?

3. How does carnival season give Montresor a perfect opportunity to put his revenge plan into action?

4. How does Montresor lure Fortunato into the catacombs?

5. How does Montresor take his revenge on Fortunato?

6. What prevailing mood or atmosphere does Poe create in “The Cask of Amontillado”?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What are two examples of irony in the story, and how do they contribute to the story’s overall impact?

2. Discuss the significance of the title “The Cask of Amontillado” and its connection to the events of the story.

3. Analyze the motivations and character traits of the narrator and how they shape the unfolding events.

4. How does Poe create a sense of suspense and tension throughout the story?

5. What broader themes or insights can be drawn from “The Cask of Amontillado” regarding human nature, trust, and the consequences of unchecked vengeance?

Recommended Next Reads 

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

• An obsessed narrator is driven to commit a gruesome murder due to his fixation on an old man’s blind eye.