Question

Select the choice which best identifies the given passage from "The Cask of Amontillado."

"I continued, as was my wont [habit] to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation [becoming the victim]".

A.) Irony/sarcasm
B.) Setting
C.) Characterization
D.) Tragic resolution

Select the choice which best identifies the given passage from "The Cask of Amontillado."

"The thousand injuries [insults] of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge."

A.) Irony/sarcasm
B.) Setting
C.) Characterization
D.) Tragic resolution

Answer 1

1. A.) Irony/Sarcasm

This is an example of dramatic irony. The audience knows that Fortunato is headed towards his doom, but he does not. In this case, the character, Fortunato, expects something different than what is actually happening.

2. C.) Characterization

Characterization is the way the author reveals the character's traits and personality. In this example, Montressor is being characterized as vengeful. His motivation for killing Fortunato is based solely on the "injuries" Fortunato has dealt him. The reader also is suspect of the narrator when he says this. It seems as though Montressor may be over exaggerating and this makes him an unreliable, and possibly unstable, narrator.

Answer 2

The correct answers are:

"I continued, as was my wont [habit] to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation [becoming the victim]".

A.) Irony/sarcasm

"The thousand injuries [insults] of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge."

C.) Characterization