Final answer:
The climax of 'The Cask of Amontillado' occurs when Montresor encloses Fortunato in a niche in the catacombs. The rising action includes Montresor luring Fortunato with Amontillado, flattering his vanity, leading him through the catacombs, and plying him with wine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Climax of "The Cask of Amontillado"
The climax of "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe occurs when Montresor, the narrator, walls up Fortunato in a niche in the catacombs beneath Montresor's palazzo. The climax is the point of highest tension and the turning point of the narrative, where the central conflict comes to a head.
- Montresor entices Fortunato to his palazzo with the promise of tasting a rare wine, the Amontillado.
- Montresor flatters Fortunato's wine-tasting skills, exploiting his vanity.
- The pair journey into the damp catacombs under the pretense of finding the Amontillado.
- Montresor provides Fortunato with wine along the way, ensuring he becomes more intoxicated and less aware of Montresor's true intentions.
Rising Action Events of "The Cask of Amontillado"