ipl-logo

Examples Of Verbal Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

515 Words3 Pages

“The Cask of Amontillado,” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. As told by the narrator, Montresor, the story is of the murderous revenge Montresor takes on his friend Fortunato deep within the “catacombs of the Montresors” (167). Throughout the composition, the author expresses the theme of betrayal among friends using verbal, situational, and dramatic irony. In the first line of speech, verbal irony is observed when Montresor greets his friend at the carnival. When the two encounter at “about dusk” (166), Montresor welcomes his friend exclaiming warmly, “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met” (166). However, Fortunato is oblivious to how Montresor intends to murder within the coming hours. Thus, Montresor’s greeting of his friends is a form of verbal irony. Fortunato is not at all “luckily met” (166) as Montresor claims since Fortunato would have been better off not seeing his friend at all. By having Montresor great his friend using verbal irony, the author is able to emphasize the theme of betrayal among friends. While Fortunato truly thinks that the encounter was lucky, both Montresor and the reader know of the devastating deed to come. …show more content…

This can be discovered in the setting. When the story begins, it is dusk in an unnamed Italian City that is in the midst of “the supreme madness of carnival season” (166). During carnival season, a Mardi Graw type festival occurs and the people party in the streets drinking wine. In general, this is a joyous time for the people in the city. However, in this case, the setting is ironic as Fortunato is soon to be murdered by his trusted friend Montresor. By constructing the piece so that the two find each other at the carnival, a time of celebration, Poe is able to reinforce the theme of betrayal between friends. The slaying and betrayal occur at an unexpected time due to the celebratory nature of the

Show More
Related
160 Words | 1 Pages

In “The Cask of Amontillado” Edgar Allan Poe uses verbal irony to emphasize the evil intentions of Montresor. Poe uses several instances of irony to demonstrate that Forntunato’s death is imminent and Montresor knows all along. One example of irony being used is when Fortunato says “the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough. ”(119)

Read More
190 Words | 1 Pages

Montresor begins his story by expressing his excitement over the future events that would culminate in Fortunato’s death. When he sees Fortunato one day during carnival season, he is so overcome with excitement that he says, “I was so pleased to see him, that I thought I never should have done wringing his hand” (1). Montresor reveals his true conscience by showcasing his enthusiasm for Fortunato’s future demise; in doing so, he shows that he is incapable of compassion and has no guilt. Because of his inability to feel guilty over what is to come, Montresor’s confession of the crime has no remorse. It lacks the grief associated with remorse and is more of a brag.

Read More
223 Words | 1 Pages

In Edgar Allen Poe’s, “Cask of Amontillado”, Poe skillfully uses verbal irony in order to demonstrate the villainous intentions of Montresor. The first example of verbal irony is when Fortunato, the victim, toasts “to the buried that repose” and Montresor, the murderer, “And I to your long life”(page 119). By now the reader is beginning to understand. Montresor's murderous intentions by Poe’s verbally ironic statements about life and death. Another, example of verbal irony is the play of the word “masons”.

Read More
185 Words | 1 Pages

Poe carries verbal irony throughout the rest of the story, as well; Montresor refers to Fortunato as “my friend” in many instances, however, the reader knows

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

Unfortunate Fate in “The Cask of Amontillado” From the beginning of the of the story “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe, the narrator, Montresor, opens the story stating that the “thousand injuries” and irreparable insult caused by Fortunato won’t stay unpunished, and he seeks for revenge (Poe 467). Poe creates a sense of terror while he guides the audience to the unexpected revenge. The terror that Poe creates in the audience is only successful due to the use of literary elements. The use of symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony are essential to build the suspense that guides the reader throughout the story to a tragic ending.

Read More
657 Words | 3 Pages

Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” is the narrative of a man named Montresor who seeks vengeance against a man named Fortunato. Fortunato insults Montresor. Next, Montresor meet Fortunato at a carnival, eventually luring him into the catacombs of his home to bury Fortunato alive. Moreover, different types of irony are portrayed in this short story. Dramatic irony consists of the character in the story knowing less about his or her situation than the reader.

Read More
2484 Words | 10 Pages

“Evil is always devising more corrosive misery through man's restless need to exact revenge out of his hate.” This quote by Ralph Steadman, exemplifies the heart of the character, Montresor, in Edgar Allen Poe's short story “The Cask of Amontillado.” Poe, a compelling writer, weaves together a story in such a way that it captivates and entices the reader to want more, even if it leads to mounting horror. He is an author that develops characters and reveals their complex personalities through descriptive language and imagery. The reader is able to imagine, in their mind's eye, the plot being played out.

Read More
690 Words | 3 Pages

Everybody will eventually want revenge on an old friend or just someone they know. Montressor, similar to many people in the world, wants revenge on one of his old friends, Fortunato. The story opens with, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as best I could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (Poe 212). In this statement, Montressor tells the reader what the cause of his revenge against Fortunato is. “The Cask of Amontillado”, written by Edgar Allen Poe, tells the story of how Montressor brings Fortunato into the catacombs to bury him alive.

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

The short story never explains the wrong doing that Fortunado inflicted on Montresor, it only reveals Montresor’s need to kill Fortunado in order to perform the perfect act of vengeance. After he seals the tomb, however, he calls out “Fortunado!” twice almost as if he is waiting for a response. Hearing no answer, he speaks of his heart growing sick (Poe). It lets the reader know that he feels some sort of remorse, he is guilt ridden.

Read More
245 Words | 1 Pages

In the horror fiction,“The Cask Of Amontillado” by Edgar Allen Poe the author uses dramatic irony to develop the theme of revenge and how that only made it easier for Montresor to punish Fortunato. In the story Poe uses dramatic irony in this line, “I continued to smile… but he did not perceive the thought of his own immolation”(Poe, 1) to emphasize that Fortunato had no clue what Montresor was thinking. Montresor lures Fortunato to his own death by making him drunk but as they go deeper into the cave, the mold makes Fortunato sick so he starts coughing. This resembles that Montresor had planned the death of Fortunato long before because he knew how to lure him into his trap and make him follow his lead.

Read More
867 Words | 4 Pages

The story may seem simple at first, but Edgar Allen Poe littered it with ironies. Poe used both verbal and dramatic ironies. The ironies show a deeper meaning in everything Montresor says and in his actions. The first type of irony in the story, “The Cask of Amontillado”, is verbal irony. The first thing Montresor says to Fortunato is ironic.

Read More
1054 Words | 5 Pages

In the beginning of the story the author's choice of words in the descriptions makes the reader feel angry. Montresor tried to ignore Fortunato and his insults, but they were

Read More
195 Words | 1 Pages

In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story,” The Cask of the Amontillado” he utilizes the literary element of irony to evolve the predominant theme of vengeance. The main character, Montresor ,has a diabolical plan to kill his so called friend, Fortunato. While they are walking down the damp catacombs, Montresor recommends “[that] they [should] go back… [because Fortunato’s] health is precious,”( Poe,3). The author uses irony to display to the reader that the goal of vengeance can be obtained in different ways. This illuminates the idea of punishing those who wronged you.

Read More
552 Words | 3 Pages

“The Use of Irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" Edgar Allan Poe is a phenomenal writer and makes many points in his writings. There are three different ways in Poe 's writing of "The Cask of Amontillado" that irony is used: verbal, situational and dramatic. Verbal irony can be seen when Montresor first sees Fortunato at the carnival. Situational irony is also used and can be seen between the meaning of Fortunato 's name and his destiny, as well as Montresor 's response to his own. The last way irony is used is dramatic irony, this can be seen by any reader, this occurs when Montresor tells Fortunato he is also a mason.

Read More
484 Words | 2 Pages

In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” irony is applied throughout to help foreshadow future and give more of an insight to the readers, all while adding some humor. Irony is divided into three main types: dramatic, situational, and verbal. Poe uses dramatic irony when he has Fortunato dress as a jester, “a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his was surmounted by the conical cap and bells” (Poe). The get-up makes Fortunato looks foolish and foreshadows his actions of following Montresor into the catacombs to taste some wine. Montresor even compliments the outfit and says “My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met” (Poe), but it was not Fortunato who was in luck, but Montresor who would gain profit of their meeting.

Read More

More about Examples Of Verbal Irony In The Cask Of Amontillado

Related Topics

Open Document