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Reagan Leon

Mrs. Oberg

English 11

22 April 2016

Rhetorical Devices & The Cask of Amontillado

Written by Edgar Allan Poe The Cask of Amontillado is a chilling story written from

the perspective of a cold killer, in a murder that he had committed half a century ago. In this

short story Poe uses imagery, characterization, and pathos to depict the emotionally detached

main character. He does this by using these rhetorical devices all together to clearly paint the

whole situation along with the personalities of the killer and the victim, and how everything in

the story ties together.

During this story Poe uses imagery to very clearly depict scenes to the reader by

describing the setting in remarkable detail. He does this on many occasions, such as when they

were in the cellar and he describes the winding arches in the catacombs (5). He also uses it when

he tells how the nitrate hangs on the walls like moss, describing the frost of the nitrate, (7),

giving me the sense that I was in the cold damp vault with them. He also describes the vaults,

with bones lying promiscuously on the ground, and attached to the walls.

Poe uses characterization throughout the story as well, giving the readers a feel of the

characters and their personalities. He uses it the beginning when he starts with Montresor talking

about killing his friend for wronging him, and smiling at the thought of him being killed by fire

(1). Fortunato was shown to be quite arrogant through characterization, when he was insulting
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Montresor and telling him that he was a fool for buying the Amontillado (4). He also repeatedly

talked against Luchesi, saying that he wasnt good enough to tell Amontillado from Sherry (4).

Later on in the vaults he also insulted Montresor again (7) showing that he is quite rude. Poe also

used characterization on Montresor again in the vaults to show just how cold he is, when

Montresor was blocking in Fortunato he showed no mercy, sympathy, or regret as he cried out,

Montresor even went as far as to mock Fortunato (9).

Throughout the story you dont really feel bad for Fortunato until the end, when he begs

to Montresor and this empathy is pathos. Poe uses pathos to make you have sympathy for

Fortunato as he dies. You first start to feel bad when he gets chained to the wall and doesnt

realize whats happening (8). The worst is at the end when he believes it to be a joke (10) and

starts to ask to be let go. Then his pleading of For the love of God Montresor (10).

By using these different rhetorical devices Edgar Allan Poe was able to use The Cask of

Amontillado to take readers through the story in a way that made you feel like you were there.

By using Imagery so that you could imagine the setting. And he uses characterization to help you

understand the characters. And finally using pathos he makes you feel empathy for Fortunato as

Montresor steals his life.

Works Cited

Poe, Edgar Allan. The Cask of Amontillado. Elegant Ebooks, public domain. Web.