Examples Of Suspense In The Cask Of Amontillado

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“The Cask of Amontillado,” written by Edgar Allen Poe, has a very suspenseful mood and it is portrayed with various key details. Some scenes that prove suspense is the theme are, when Montresor explains to the reader that he is seeking revenge on Fortunato, when Montresor captured Fortunato, as well as, when Fortunato sobers up while chained to the rock. In the first sentence of this passage, Poe writes this, “...I had borne as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” What did Fortunato do to make Montresor so mad, what is Montresor going to do to Fortunato--these are only two of the many questions that the reader inquiries. This creates suspense because it hooks the reader and makes the reader want to continue reading. Another scene …show more content…

A moment more I had fettered him to the granite.” This piece of text says that in an instant the two of them reached the end of the small passage and a large rock was in their way. Fortunato stopped, puzzled, and suddenly Montresor chained Fortunato to the rock. This scene grabs the reader’s attention and finally reveals how Montresor achieves his revenge. This scene clearly shows suspense because it catches the reader off guard and happens so suddenly. One final scene from “The Cask of Amontillado” that excellently displays the mood of suspense is when Montresor realizes that Fortunato is starting to sober up. “A succession of loud and shrill screams, bursting suddenly from the throat of the chained form, seemed to thrust me violently back,” is one piece of text from this scene. This shows suspensefulness because it is unexpected. Readers think that Fortunato is dead, but, in fact, he is not. Fortunato actually starts to sober up and he realizes what Montresor has done to him. Some key words in this piece of text that show suspense include: “suddenly” and “thrust me violently