Compare And Contrast Recitatif And The Cask Of Amontillado

“At its most basic, every story is an attempt to answer the question What happened?”(Mays 75). An author can answer this question using many different techniques in their plot. There are several distinct parts of every story which make up the plot: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Every literary work uses these elements of plot to add a unique artistic value to its story. Comparing two short stories, “The Cask of Amontillado” and “Recitatif”, will help to demonstrate precisely how plot elements work together to create this artistic effect.

The purpose of any story’s exposition at its core is to provide a solid background. The exposition can be compared to painting a room before adding the furniture; it is

Laying out a strong foundation in a fictional work is vital in creating an engaging plot. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allan Poe initiates the story by allowing the reader into the mind of the protagonist/main character, Montresor. It gives us his perspective on the opposing character, Fortunato. The narration is told from Montresor’s future-self to an external character, which creates an ominous opening to the story. The exposition sheds light on Montresor’s psychological state; even though he is the main character, this does not necessarily mean he is a hero. In this case, Montresor is planning to take revenge on Fortunato, clearly showing that he is not in the right state of mind and his character does not align with that of a traditional hero. Toni Morrison’s exposition in “Recitatif,” is much less villainous and ominous than “The Cask of Amontillado”. But it is also similar because they both achieve the same goal as with any other story: background. In the exposition, Morrison establishes the relationship between Twyla and Roberta as

It works to achieve a resolution to the conflict in the plot and leaves the reader with satisfaction. The falling action in “the Cask of Amontillado,” is when Montresor builds the wall of stones, trapping Fortunato in the crypt for eternity. It releases the emotional tension of the story and provides some stability as the story comes to a close. In “Recitatif,” The tension subsides as Roberta and Twyla realize that neither of them truly remember what happened to Maggie at the shelter. Morrison brings to light that each character protected their minds by remembering what reinforced their beliefs about race and their guilt regarding the situation as a whole. They both admit that they wanted to join the gar girls and that the Maggie situation was very sensitive to them as they were troubled children. Again, this part of the stories are very different from each other on the surface. While “The Cask of Amontillado” had a more satisfying falling action, “Recitatif” required some self-exploration regarding the issue of the story. Both characters needed to admit to themselves that neither of them knew what happened and that they’re personal bias drove them to conflict. Furthermore, a good literary work has a well-fitting resolution that provides stability. The resolution or conclusion in “The Cask of Amontillado,” is very similar to the exposition where Montresor is addressing an external character