edgar allen poe
assignments
April 7/8: The Pit and the Pendulum
2) How would the story change if it were told from a different perspective – say, from that of the inquisitors?
3) What can we take away from "The Pit and the Pendulum?" Is it simply a "horror story" or something more?
4) Why does Poe choose to make his narrator a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition? What makes him uniquely qualified for the job?
5) Is it a cop out to have General Lasalle swoop in at the last second and save the day?
6) What's the most horrifying moment of this story? And at what point did you have the most hope?
- Read "The Pit and the Pendulum", and answer the following questions:
2) How would the story change if it were told from a different perspective – say, from that of the inquisitors?
3) What can we take away from "The Pit and the Pendulum?" Is it simply a "horror story" or something more?
4) Why does Poe choose to make his narrator a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition? What makes him uniquely qualified for the job?
5) Is it a cop out to have General Lasalle swoop in at the last second and save the day?
6) What's the most horrifying moment of this story? And at what point did you have the most hope?
April 9/10: The Cask of Amontillado
2) Is Montresor confessing or bragging about his deed? Your response to this question should be 1/2 a page, and it should include at two pieces of textual evidence.
3) Montresor tells us that Fortunato’s one weakness is arrogance about his knowledge of wine. It’s this flaw that makes Fortunato vulnerable to Montresor’s Amontillado strategy. What other possible weaknesses in Fortunato’s character lead to his death? If you had to choose his biggest flaw, which would you choose, and why?
4) Is the story trying to tell us something about drugs and/or alcohol? If so, what are some of the possible messages?
5) Is Montresor a reliable narrator? Make a list of at least five reasons why he is or isn't reliable. Support each reason with textual evidence.
- Read "The Cask of Amontillado", and answer the following questions:
2) Is Montresor confessing or bragging about his deed? Your response to this question should be 1/2 a page, and it should include at two pieces of textual evidence.
3) Montresor tells us that Fortunato’s one weakness is arrogance about his knowledge of wine. It’s this flaw that makes Fortunato vulnerable to Montresor’s Amontillado strategy. What other possible weaknesses in Fortunato’s character lead to his death? If you had to choose his biggest flaw, which would you choose, and why?
4) Is the story trying to tell us something about drugs and/or alcohol? If so, what are some of the possible messages?
5) Is Montresor a reliable narrator? Make a list of at least five reasons why he is or isn't reliable. Support each reason with textual evidence.
April 13/14: Amontillado Re-Telling
- After reading "The Cask of Amontillado", rewrite the story from Fortunato's point of view. Here are the details.
April 15/16: SAGE Test Prep
- Due to the nature of this assignment, it cannot be made up. If you were absent, you will not receive the points. Sorry.