This story plot is one in which still exists everywhere today. Revenge is something that just about everybody has done, or thinks about doing at one point in his life. Poe's story contains a universal theme that anyone can relate with. He captures the essence of the old saying in this story, "Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer." He states just that in the second paragraph, "I continued, as was my in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile now was at the thought of his immolation.".
I don't really think that Poe uses many images to appeal to the senses. One image that though that may be considered to appeal to the senses was when they were both in the vault, and they were below the river's bed. Poe writes, "The drops of moisture trickle among the bones." He also stated at the entrance of the vault that the grounds of the vault were very damp. The reader can't but help imagine the damp smell and the damp feeling on their skin as they read the descriptions of the vault.
The strongest symbol that Poe uses in this story was at the point where Fortunato questions Montresor about really being a mason. To prove to Fortunato that he is, he pulls out a trowel. The trowel serves as a symbol for Fortunato's death. It's ironic that Fortunato is talking about the secret group of the masons, and Montresor is actually a real mason. Another symbol may be the skeletons along the walls and floors. It makes the reader think that Fortunato will soon be an addition to all of those skeletons. One symbol that is recurring throughout the story are the bells on Fortunato's hat. Throughout the story, Poe writes about the bells such as, "The wine sparkled in his eyes and the bells jingles." It's interesting though that at the end of the story when Montresor calls out to the chained Fortunato, "There came forth in return only a jingling of the bells." It makes it seem like Fortunato shakes his head and accepts his sealed fate.