Effects Of Irony In Cask Of Amontillado

The Effects of Irony in Understanding Theme In reading any form of literature, whether it be poems or fiction short stories, there is an underlying theme or moral to the work. In some cases, interpreting these themes proves to be difficult or tedious for readers. In order to alleviate this trouble, authors utilize various different literary elements to help convey the meaning of their piece. Some of these include the use of tone, setting, or irony that contribute to the story, thereby adding depth and more interesting elements to the plot. Edgar Allan Poe specifically uses a handful of literary elements to his short story, “A Cask of Amontillado” in hopes of bettering his work. Poe literary elements such as situational, dramatic, and verbal irony to further convey the ultimate theme of retribution throughout “A Cask of Amontillado”. Situational irony presents itself throughout Poe’s short story that aids the reader in fully understanding the revenge-fueled moral of the story. In the opening paragraph, the narrator, Montresor, describes his family’s highly honored motto or creed, “I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.” (Poe 108). This creed translates best to punishing without regret. Readers learn that taking revenge upon others is valued within the Montresor family and

Throughout the progression of the plot, there are various instances of situational, dramatic, and verbal irony that contribute to Montresor’s quest for revenge. Whether it be one statement that stretches throughout the story or several different ironic examples, all instances foreshadow or hint to the narrator’s true intentions of murdering a man who insulted him. By revealing to the audience his hopes for revenge, the author allows the audience access to the narrator’s dark thoughts, which adds to the intensity of the