Homework Help: English

Posted by Sammy on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:42pm.

We had to read the opening paragraph of "The Cask of Amontillado" and analyze it with the following questions. I really need help. I understand Montresor is going to seek revenge upon Fortunato.
1.In the first paragraph, how many characters are mentioned? I think 3
2. What best describes the speaker's attitude toward his own behavior in the paragraph. choices were long suffering, indifferent or infuriated. I think long suffering
3.The description of the relationship between the speaker and Fortunato at the end of the paragraph has what relationship to the description at the beginning?
choices were natural consequence, rephrasing, additional complication or puzzling contradiction. I think a natural consequence
4. According to the introduction, what inference do we draw about the relationship between the speaker and Fortunato?
choices are sustained friendship, mounting hostility, or casual disregard. I chose mounting hostility but I'm not sure because of the sustained friendship
Please help and thank you

English - Writeacher, Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 3:58pm
1 and 2 and 4 are fine.

You'll need to define what you think those terms mean in 3 for me.
English - Sammy, Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 4:11pm
Also, for the first one-I've reread the paragraph, and now I think it would be two characters-Montrsor is the I and Fortunato is "he" because "you" is not a character,is it?

Here is what I meant by number: 3Natural consequence is just something that naturally would follow
Rephrasing is restating the original idea
Additional complication would be something that adds a new perspective to the original line
Puzzling contradiction would be something that doesn't add up
That's why I thought it was a natural consequence but maybe I'm totally wrong because now I think it could be a puzzling contradiction because Montresor was upset at the beginning but now he has a smile on his face, Thank you for helping me
English - Writeacher, Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 4:19pm
You're right about #1 -- yes, only Montresor and Fortunato as the characters in this story.

Two things about the beginning -- in the first two paragraphs, that is:

1. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
Montresor plans to kill Fortunato, but do it so that no one knows what happened to F. nor who was responsible. He has a very specific plan, and this plan allows him to smile, even at the beginning of the story.

2. 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 wont, to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my smile NOW was at the thought of his immolation.
See - he's smiling!!

No, I think your first answer is right -- natural consequence. He made his plan and he carried it out.
English - Writeacher, Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 4:20pm
http://www.literature.org/authors/poe-edgar-allan/amontillado.html

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