Analysis of The Cask of Amontillado

• Who is the protagonist seeking revenge in "The Cask of Amontillado"?

  Montresor
• What is the basis for Montresor's revenge against Fortunato?

  Vague insults, including Fortunato allegedly insulting Montresor.
• Describe the setting of "The Cask of Amontillado."

  The setting includes bleak, medieval catacombs with vaults, damp grounds, and eerie imagery like walls of skeletons.
• What type of imagery does Poe use to enhance the gothic elements of the story?

  Chilling imagery that builds tension, such as the descriptions of bones and the mineral niter hanging like moss.
• Identify one instance of foreshadowing in the story.

  The repeated imagery of bones in the catacombs suggests a similar fate for Fortunato.
• In the dialogue about "masons," what double meaning is presented?

  Fortunato refers to Freemasons, while Montresor refers to a stonemason, foreshadowing Fortunato's demise.
• What gesture does Montresor make to solidify his identity as a stonemason?

  He produces a trowel from his roquelaire.
• How is the pun on the word "cask" significant to the story's themes?

  It can refer to both a barrel and a casket, highlighting the story's macabre elements and Montresor's ultimate intention.