Worksheets"The Cask of Amontillado" / "A Poison Tree"
Total questions: 28
Worksheet time: 28mins
In "The Cask of Amontillado," who is the narrator, or the character who tells the story?
Luchesi
Amontillado
Fortunato
Montresor
From which point of view is this story told?
Second person
First person
Third person omniscient
Third person limited
Part A: Which phrase best describes the theme of the story?
Friendship is valuable, so never keep secrets.
Revenge is best when the punisher is not punished.
Avoid attending parties when ill.
Miscommunication can be harmful.
PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?
“At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled--but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity.” (Paragraph 1) "impunity" - freedom from consequences
“It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will.” (Paragraph 2)
“‘Let us go, nevertheless. The cold is merely nothing. Amontillado! You have been imposed upon. And as for Luchresi, he cannot distinguish Sherry from Amontillado.’” (Paragraph 22)
“‘Come,’ I said, with decision, ‘we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was.’” (Paragraph 34)
What is the main conflict of the story?
Montresor vs. Himself
Montresor vs. Fortunato
Montresor vs. Luchesi
Montresor Vs. Society
Which provides an element of suspense in the story?
Why Luchresi killed Montresor
The information on how Montresor wounded Fortunato
The missing information of how Fortunato wounded Montresor
How Fortunato died
In both "The Cask of Amontillado" and "A Poison Tree," why does the narrator always greet his enemy with a smile?
to fool him/her so that revenge can be exacted without suspicion or difficulty
to show that the narrator is attempting forgiveness
to allow an opportunity for them to work out their differences
so that no one would think the narrator is uncivilized
"There were no attendants at home; they had absconded to make merry in honour of the time. I had told them that I should not return until the morning, and had given them explicit orders not to stir from the house. These orders were sufficient, I well knew, to insure their immediate disappearance, one and all, as soon as my back was turned."
These lines are an example of which type of irony?
situational irony
verbal irony
dramatic irony
When Fortunato offers to judge the wine, and Montresor responds by pretending to be reluctant, we can infer that
Montresor is looking for an excuse not to carry through with his plan.
Montresor understands Fortunato's character and is manipulating him.
Montresor wants Fortunato to feel the same kind of insult that he has been dealt by Fortunato many times.
"the cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me, I shall not die of a cough." (Fortunato) - This is an example of
irony/foreshadowing
imagery
alliteration
theme
What does this quote describe "His eyes are two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication"?
Fortunato's happiness
Fortunato being under the influence of alcohol
Fortunato's extreme sadness
Fortunato's anger
How does the description of the Montresor coat of arms and motto (provided in the lines below) contribute to the reader’s understanding of Montresor’s character? Select TWO:
"The Montresors," I replied, "were a great and numerous family."
"I forget your arms."
"A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are embedded in the heel."
"And the motto?"
"Nemo me impune lacessi" (translation: No one attacks me with impunity) *impunity: without consequence
Montresor's family motto means it is better to "turn the other cheek" when one is wronged.
This motto repeats what is being shown in the coat of arms; the Montresor family will not suffer freely given insults or injuries.
Montresor is weak because the foot on the coat of arms is being attacked by a snake.
Which of the following examples is ironic?
Confusing wine with other alcohol
Confusing masons (the bricklayers) with Masons (the secret society)
Confusing nitre with other chemicals used to kill unsuspecting people
Confusing Luchesi with another wine expert
Which event is considered the climax (most exciting moment) of the story?
The meeting of Fortunato and Montresor
The trip down the catacombs
Fortunato's death
Montresor walls Fortunato in
"Proceed," I said; "herein is the Amontillado. As for Luchresi --"
"He is an ignoramus," interrupted my friend, as he stepped unsteadily forward, while I followed immediately at his heels. In niche, and finding an instant he had reached the extremity of the niche, and finding his progress arrested by the rock, stood stupidly bewildered.
This is an example of ...
situational irony
dramatic irony
verbal irony
Montressor echos Fortunato's cries for help. "I replied to the yells of him who clamored. I re-echoed - I aided - I surpassed them in volume and in strength." Why?
To show Fortunato that he also understood his suffering.
To beat him in a screaming contest.
Montressor thought it was funny to see Fortunato suffer.
To show Fortunato that his fate was final. Nobody would come to help.
This line takes place in the final paragraph of the story, just as Montresor is finishing walling Fortunato into the catacombs to die: “My heart grew sick; it was the dampness of the catacombs that made it so.” What insight into the narrator’s point of view does this line likely provide the reader?
Montresor is feeling emotional turmoil over what he has done to Fortunato.
Montresor is afraid of the dark.
Montresor has been suffering from a chronic illness.
Montresor had too much carnival food.
Which is an example of Montresor being an unreliable narrator?
It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will. 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.
"Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was.
For the half of a century no mortal has disturbed them.
For a brief moment I hesitated, I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me.
Who's the author of the Cask of Amontillado?
James Thurber
Edgar Allan Poe
O' Henry
Cynthia Rylant
Which word pairs best describe the mood, or atmosphere, of "The Cask of Amontillado"?
humorous and silly
realistic and ordinary
sincere and thought provoking
grim and suspenseful
What is the similarity between Montresor and Fortunato's relationship and the narrator and enemy of the poem "A Poison Tree"?
An unwillingness to share or work out the frustration with an enemy causes their anger to increase.
The speaker wishes he could share with his friend how irritated he is.
The speaker has a difficult time speaking with people.
The speaker has an increasing amount of fury toward his friend and enemy.
Throughout the poem, an extended metaphor is used as the speaker compares his escalating anger to--
a forest
growing an apple tree
plowing a field
building a water fountain
In the two texts, what does both the apple and amontillado symbolize?
The speaker’s foe’s happiness and delight
The speaker’s passion for gardening
The speaker’s anger and resentment
The speaker’s foe’s interest and curiosity
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
These two lines convey to the reader—
The speaker’s way of pretending to be friendly in order to bring their enemy closer.
How the sun makes the speaker smile.
The speaker’s explanation for his rage.
Why the speaker seeks revenge against his friends.
5 And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
What impact does the figurative language in lines 5-8 have on the poem’s meaning?
The speaker tends to their wrath like a plant that later produces a poisoned fruit, implying that anger can feel satisfying but is toxic to let grow.
The speaker’s wrath grows every time their foe smiles at or acts kindly towards the speaker, which suggests that nothing can overcome hatred.
The speaker tends to their wrath like a plant, implying that the speaker actually does care for the foe because of all of the attention they pay to them.
The speaker’s wrath ripens like a piece of fruit that, like the foe, is outwardly beautiful but inwardly rotten.
Which of the following quotes from the poem best supports the theme of both "The Cask of Amontillado" and "A Poison Tree"?
“I was angry with my friend; / I told my wrath, my wrath did end.” (Lines 1-2)
“I was angry with my foe: / I told it not, my wrath did grow.” (Lines 3-4)
“And I sunned it with smiles, / And with soft deceitful wiles.” (Lines 7-8)
“And my foe beheld it shine, / And he knew that it was mine.” (Lines 11-12)
In the poem "A Poison Tree", what does the apple symbolize?
The 'fruit' of anger, violence.
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
The foe was the 'apple' of his eye, he was important.
He got his 'just' desserts for stealing the fruit.
