Edgar Allan Poe uses many literary elements in “Cask of Amontillado” such as point of view, plot, setting, characterization, conflict, symbolism, style, irony and theme. Each of these literary terms are presented in the short story and are clearly represented by clues.
The point of view is the perspective from which the story is being told from. In this case, the narrator is Montresor. He is a cold, brutal and a vicious killer. “For the love of God, Montresor!” Furtunado is having a pleading conversation with the narrator who we discover is Montresor. Characterization is a description or development of the major and minor characters. This can be shown through actions and dialogue of the characters. Montresor is a cold, brutal, evil, two-faced killer who got away with murder. “My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the sever cold with which I perceive you are afflicted.” This statement shows how Montresor seems to care, but ultimately is going to murder Furtunado. Furtunado is “...rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed” said Montresor. The plot is a sequence of major events that occur during a story. The plot of this short story is murder over retaliation because of an insult. It begins with Furtunado's insult towards Montresor then Montresor taking revenge. Next, the setting of the story states the time and the place of where the story is based upon. For example, the setting is at dusk during Carnival and in the Catacombs at night. Conflict is the struggle or argument that takes place within the story. Similarly, theme is the overall topic or subject matter. The theme is revenge and the conflict is man vs. man over revenge. Montresor is out for revenge on Furtunado. “...but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge” said Montresor.
Symbolism is an inflated representation of an object, thought, or idea. The major symbolism is the