...In literature, irony comes in a variety of different forms, but the underlying definition of irony is doing or saying something that contradicts the expectations of the reader. The three types of irony, Verbal, Situational, and Dramatic irony, are used heavily in a variety of short stories to give the story flavor and make it more appealing to the reader. In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe, The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst, and My Oedipus Complex by Frank O’Connor, all types of irony are used to create foreshadowing, justify the action of characters, and create humor. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor seeks to get revenge on Fortunato, since Fortunato has supposedly wronged Montresor in some way. Throughout Montresor’s quest...
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...story of man, Montresor, and his brutal revenge against his former friend, Fortunato, who had insulted him. Poe’s story is riddled with examples of dramatic, verbal and situational irony which highlight the brutal revenge and brings humor into the story. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader knows something that one of the characters does not. Such is the case in “The Cask of Amontillado” as the story begins with Montresor stating “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could; but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge”(510). This statement sets up dramatic irony throughout the story as the reader knows Montresor has sworn revenge on Forunato, while Fortunato believes they are still friends. This irony is evident through the whole story as Montresor pretends to be friends luring Fortunato to his cellar where he would eventually trap and kill him. The irony enhances the brutality of the murder as the reader knows throughout Montresor is planning some revenge while Fortunato believes he is going to sample his friends wine. Secondly Poe weaves verbal irony, a statement in which the meaning that a speaker employs is sharply different from the meaning that is ostensibly expressed, throughout to add humor to the story. The story is filled with verbal irony as Montresor is planning on killing Fortunato so almost every word he speaks is ironic as he convinces Forunato continue into his catacombs to his eventual death. This is seen when Montresor tricks Fortunato...
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...innocent due to the exchange of trust. In Edgar Allen Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor yearns to wreak vengeance on Fortunato. Montresor utilizes Fortunato’s trust to get what he wants. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” Edgar Allen Poe parallels King’s theme, through dramatic irony and the climax, that once trust has been gained, the bad qualities in a person are much less noticeable. One way Edgar Allen Poe emphasizes that the establishment of trust masks lunacy through the use of dramatic...
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...Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” revolves around the vengeful Montresor, who after being insulted by his friend Fortunato one too many times, decides to retaliate. He does so by manipulating Fortunato into following him deep into his underground vaults in order to trap and entomb behind a wall of quickly placed cement. At first glance, this story reads as a straightforward, disturbing tale of revenge. However, when looking deeper at the actions of the character and the ironic undertones of the story, the theme of pride becomes very apparent. In “The Cask of Amontillado” Poe displays how a person’s pride can lead to their ultimate downfall. “The Cask of Amontillado” is shrouded in dramatic and verbal irony. Tension build as the reader, knowing that Montresor is full of bad intention, has no choice but to sit and watch Fortunato’s fate unfold. Throughout the story Montresor, feigning concern for Fortunato’s health,...
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...a variety of techniques Poe was able to create tension and mystery in his (short) stories: Poe employs excessively detailed descriptions and repetition to delay the reader’s arrival at the final climax; Poe does this because he wanted to give time for the suspense to build up before arrival at the inevitably blood-curdling climax. For example, In tell-tale heart before the murderer kills the old man there is a substantial amount of repetition and more complex sentences : ” cautiously -- oh, so cautiously -- cautiously (for the hinges creaked), I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye.” As a result of this delay, the reader becomes even more inquisitive over what events will happen next. The narrator’s use of unnatural language hints at the abnormal mental state of the narrator: He describes the old man’s eye as ‘Evil’ or ’Damned’- damned in this case meaning satanic or cursed. The reader, therefore, has cause to doubt the sanity of the narrator and therefore, what he is going to do. Furthermore the narrator in TTH enjoys recounting, in gruesome detail, and is...
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