Edgar Allen Poe wrote the short story The Cask of Amontillado in 1846 as a tale of mystery and horror. Poe has exceeded the expectations of creativity in forming a work of literature and adeptly draws in the attention of very scholarly readers. This is proven in the fluency and brilliance of his story and proceed to be made known in his other works of literature as well. In The Cask of Amontillado, Poe applies irony, allusions, and hyperboles to prove to the readers the supremacy of his expertise.
Poe’s use of hyperboles adds to the dramatic effect of the story. He is a very powerful writer and conveys his ideas in such a graceful way. He wrote, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (372). In saying this, he is alluding to the character’s unnoted …show more content…
He refers to things that the readers are expected to know well enough that he does not have to proceed to explain it himself. One thing he is consistently referring to in this piece is the Montresor catacombs. This is the place that he-and those in his family that have previously died-have been buried. Alluding to the catacombs, Fortunato states, “‘My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with niter’” (374). When Fortunato says the word ‘vaults,’ he is referring to the catacombs. He also expects the readers to know what the ‘masons’ are. Poe writes, “He repeated the movement-a grotesque one. ‘You do not comprehend?’ he said. ‘Not I,’ I replied. ‘Then you are not of the brotherhood.’ ‘How?’ ‘You are not one of the masons.’ ‘Yes, yes,’ I said; ‘yes, yes’” (376). In this dialogue the two men are talking about a social organization with secret rituals and signs. Normally the more rich people or descendants of previous members are part of the
Poe’s use of hyperboles adds to the dramatic effect of the story. He is a very powerful writer and conveys his ideas in such a graceful way. He wrote, “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” (372). In saying this, he is alluding to the character’s unnoted …show more content…
He refers to things that the readers are expected to know well enough that he does not have to proceed to explain it himself. One thing he is consistently referring to in this piece is the Montresor catacombs. This is the place that he-and those in his family that have previously died-have been buried. Alluding to the catacombs, Fortunato states, “‘My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with niter’” (374). When Fortunato says the word ‘vaults,’ he is referring to the catacombs. He also expects the readers to know what the ‘masons’ are. Poe writes, “He repeated the movement-a grotesque one. ‘You do not comprehend?’ he said. ‘Not I,’ I replied. ‘Then you are not of the brotherhood.’ ‘How?’ ‘You are not one of the masons.’ ‘Yes, yes,’ I said; ‘yes, yes’” (376). In this dialogue the two men are talking about a social organization with secret rituals and signs. Normally the more rich people or descendants of previous members are part of the