第2单元　埃德加•爱伦•坡

1Who is the narrator? What wrong does he want to redress?

Key: Montresor is the narrator. He had borne thousands of injuries of Fortunato as best he could, and he decides to take revenge on him. He must not only punish Fortunato but with impunity.

2What is the pretext he uses to lure Fortunato to his wine cellar?

Key: He said to Fortunato that he got a pipe of Amontillado, and he was doubt about it, so he wanted someone to make sure for him. At the same time, he deliberately showed his doubts about Fortunato’s connoisseurship in wine and cared about his health, which firmed Fortunato’s decision to go with him to his wine cellar.

3What happens to Fortunato in the end?

Key: He was locked in the cellar by Montresor, and can only wait for death.

4Describe briefly how Poe characterizes Montresor and Forcunato as contrasts?

Key: Poe characterizes the two characters with striking contrasts between them in many aspects. Firstly, their names are endowed with opposite symbolic meanings: Montresor symbolizes “monstrous”, while Fortunato symbolizes “fortunate”. Montresor is the devil in the story, and Fortunato is fortunate through his life and makes great fortune, but finally, he ends in a very unfortunate way, which is very ironical. Secondly, their clothes are very different: Fotrtunato “wore motley”, while Montresor put on “a mask of black silk” and drew “a roquelaire” closely about his person. Last, their psychological activities and consciousness are in contrast: Montresor knows clearly what is going on and what will happen, while Fortunato is always kept in the dark till the end.