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
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.
The Pit and the Pendulum:
An unnamed narrator is sentenced to death by the Inquisition and awakens to find himself in a dungeon being watched closely by his captors, who intend to punish him by causing him mental torture and physical peril. Battling unreasoned fear, the narrator faces a number of death traps, including the eponymous pit and the swinging pendulum.
The Masque of the Red Death:
After the virulent plague of the Red Death strikes Prince Prospero's country, he and a thousand of his courtiers choose to lock themselves away from the disease and hold parties to pass the time until the contagion leaves. After several months, Prospero holds a particularly grand masked ball that features an ominous room with an unnerving clock. At…
Read the full Poe's Short Stories Summary
- 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
- Summary and Analysis of The Tell-Tale Heart
- Summary and Analysis of The Cask of Amontillado
- Summary and Analysis of The Black Cat
- Summary and Analysis of The Murders in the Rue Morgue
- Summary and Analysis of The Purloined Letter
- Summary and Analysis of Ligeia
- Summary and Analysis of MS. Found in a Bottle
- Summary and Analysis of William Wilson
- Summary and Analysis of The Oval Portrait
- Summary and Analysis of The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar
- Summary and Analysis of The Premature Burial
- Summary and Analysis of A Descent into the Maelström
- Summary and Analysis of The Gold Bug
- Edgar Allan Poe in American culture
- Related Links on Poe's Short Stories
- Suggested Essay Questions
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
- Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
- Author of ClassicNote and Sources
Poe's Short Stories Essays and Related Content
- Poe's Short Stories: Major Themes
- Poe's Short Stories: Essays
- Poe's Short Stories: E-Text
- Poe's Short Stories: Questions
- Poe's Short Stories: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
- Edgar Allan Poe: Biography
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.
