Montresor cites a "thousand injuries" and an "insult" as his motives for murdering Fortunato. Given what you learn about the two men during the course of the story, what do you suppose the "injuries" and "insult" might be?
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Poe's Short Stories Study Guide & Essays
Published mainly in the 1830s and 1840s, the stories of Edgar Allan Poe have come to represent the height of 19th-century tales of the macabre. One of the American Romantics, Poe showed an interest in the power of emotions and often sought to explore the psyches of those who are guilty, as in "The…
Poe's Short Stories study guide contains a biography of Edgar Poe, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
- Poe's Short Stories Summary
- About Poe's Short Stories
- Character List
- Glossary of Terms
- Major Themes
- Quotes and Analysis
- Summary and Analysis of The Pit and the Pendulum
- Summary and Analysis of The Masque of the Red Death
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- The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfall
- The Gold Bug
- Four Beasts in One
- The Murders in the Rue Morgue
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Do you find Montresor to be a reliable narrator? If not, what makes you question his version of the events?
What is Montresor's concept of personal honor? Is it consistent or inconsistent with the values of contemporary American society? How relevant are the story's ideas about revenge and guilt to present'day society? Explain.
Does Fortunato ever understand why Montresor hates him? What is Fortunato's attitude toward Montresor?
