by Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Born 1809 Died 1849 Orphan at the age of two Never adopted but lived with a childless couple Dropped out of college after a gambling debt Expelled from military training Made living from selling short stories Author, not the narrator of the story, “The Cask

of Amontillado” Developed characters whose sanity is

questionable Father of the short story genre

Moved in with his aunt and 12 year old cousin Virginia (cousin) becomes his wife at age 13 Poe gained fame for his writing Virginia dies from Tuberculosis Poe became depressed and an alcoholic Most of his stories deal with death, murder,

and cannibalism Remembered for being the first American

writers to become a major figure in world lit

Sherry wine from the Amontillado Mountains

Only made in Spain

Means a wooden container for storing wine

Potassium Nitrate Salt Known as saltpeter Salt of the rock Minerals that leach through soil Hangs from ceiling of catacombs

Hand tool used by brick masons

European Carnival

“Carn” means meat “Val” means farewell A secular holiday like Mardi Gras(not

religious) Evolved from the Christian practice of Lent 40 day fast prior to Easter (giving up

something one enjoys) Traditionally, fasting during Lent involves

not eating meat Anticipation of Lent led to extravagant

farewell celebration

Carnival is a time of excess indulgence

Bingeing upon food and alcohol People partied in the streets Wore masques (masquerade) Combination of anonymity and

alcohol--- people felt they could get away with …?

“Cities of the dead” undergroun d

Sites for Early Christian worship In the late 18th century, people

who could not afford proper burials were dumped there

The wealthy had catacombs under their estates where they buried their own relatives

Catacomb

Wine was often stored in the catacombs

Wine does well where temperatures stay constantly cool year round

Secret Society – by invite only Member of the fraternity of

Freemasons, a worldwide charitable organization

OR….

One whose occupation is to build with stone or brick

Italy “It was dusk one evening during

the supreme madness of the Carnival.”

A crime could easily go undetected

The narrator plans revenge

Haughty wine connoisseur (expert) His name suggest good fortune or luck Verbal Irony Dressed up as a jester for carnival (his

hat has bells on it that jingle)

Not an actual character Helps drive the plot!