Glassburn 1
Justin Glassburn
Professor True
Short Story Analysis
2 April 2018
Reader Response One
● Discuss in two (or more) paragraphs (300-400 words) two characteristics from
Romanticism that are evident in one of the assigned stories.
In Edgar Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado there are a plethora of characteristics that
define the story as a classic Romantic piece. One of the more dominant elements Romanticism
that was very prevalent inside of this piece was clearly rebellion. For example, “The Cask of
Amontillado” was a story written in 1846, which is towards the end of the Romantic era. This
small, but impactful fact means this was one of the first short stories to break away from the
average cookie-cutter love stories; which in turn, began a new generation of dark emotions,
tragic love, and painful treachery. The story elucidates on Montresor’s intense feeling of insult
that can only be cured with the murder of the proclaimed offender, Fortunato. To display, the
very first sentence of Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado started with, “THE thousand injuries of
Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge”
(Poe). These harsh, hateful, and edgy emotions are deffonition of romantic rebellion. It goes
from the characters thoughts to even the description of the grimy cellar crypts and vacant
house. With each step that Fortunato takes further down into the crypt the reader can feel a
sense of entrapment and claustrophobia.
This thriller genre and suspense plays not only in the characters of the story but also
inside of the reader, as if they are to experience their impending doom as well. This is a sense
of uneasiness that can only be manifested with an uncomfortable description; for instance, when
Poe wrote in The Cask of Amontillado, “I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting
Glassburn 2
him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood
together upon the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors” (Poe). This description
was very early on in the story and was unusual in its placement. This was a key component that
helps the reader in feeling a weird ‘off kilter’ sensation. This short story is obviously a Romantic
piece, but it is not your typical lovey-dovey kiss fest. It is filled with emotion, just not the ones
that we all think of when we hear the word Romantic.
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● Discuss the role of setting in each of the stories assigned in this unit. Why is the
setting significant? What does it contribute to the tone and theme of the work?
This section will run at least 400 words (i.e. 200 words per story).
Inside of Poe’s masterpiece, there were Many different settings. Some settings included
a carnival scene transitioning to the family home of Montresor and then into the deep
