Edgar Allen Poe’s writings were influenced strongly by his life. His parents died when he was young, and he lived with his godfather John Allen. Around 1815 he was sent to begin his education. While at university he had a gambling problem running up an excessive debt. Mr. Allen pulled him out and wouldn’t let him continue. His life was constantly changing, full of inconsistency. His love life seemed to be the same, having many relationships never being faithful. His life seemed to be full of horror, which he expressed in many of his writings. In his short story “The Cask of Amontillado” a sense of horror was achieved by: sight, environment, and sound.
Many elements of horror were expressed in a visual form. In the story the mood was set by the fact that it was nearly night. It was dusk as Montresor approached Fortunato. Montresor enticed Fortunato by telling him he had a cask of amontillado. Being the wine guru that he was, Fortunato had to taste it. They went to Montresor’s house and proceeded into
Horrifying sounds filled the catacombs in the story. As the two men went deeper into the catacombs Fortunato began developing a horrible cough. The nitre was thick on the walls and made Fortunato’s cough worse as they proceeded. The noise of the chain was very intense. Montresor built a wall of masonry and stone, so Fortunato’s body would not be found. As he toiled he heard a “low moaning cry from the depth of the recess.” Then there was a long moment of silence. He continued to work as he heard “furious vibrations of the chain” that came from within the recess. “A succession of loud shrill screams,” came from the chained man. Montresor seemed to be frightened by this and yelled back even louder. His work drew to an end as a low laugh came from within the enclosure. A sad voice followed saying “A very good joke, indeed an excellent jest.” As Montresor called back there was no answer, only a jingling of the bells on Fortunato’s hat.
seemingly endless vaults through an old archway. The spi
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