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CARNIVAL AND THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

by Christine Poser, I.S. 24

Lesson Plans  /  Student Masks  /  Quiz Assessment Rubric


Picture from  http://guestinvenice.com/carnivalofvenice/uk/2001/events.asp 

AIMS:

1.   To introduce The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

2.    To analyze the story’s text for foreshadowing and irony

3.    To see how the season of Carnival is celebrated throughout the world

4.    To create Carnival masks and describe them in Italian

GRADE LEVEL: 6-8th grades

ESTIMATED TIME: 4-5 lessons at 40 minutes per week

SETTING:  Library, Art and Computer Lab

INTERDISCIPLINARY AREA: Literature, Italian, Library Skills and Art


LESSON I

ACADEMIC OBJECTIVE: To introduce the short story The Cask Of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

MOTIVATIONAL DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

 Have you ever felt the need for revenge?  Did you get your revenge in the end?

 

DO NOW:  Using context clues, what do the underlined words mean?

The catacombs were cold and damp.

He was determined to get revenge after he was insulted.

The wine was in a cask in the cellar.

They carried flambeaux down the dark hallway.

Fortunato wanted to taste the amontillado.

 

PROCEDURE:

  1. Review new vocabulary.

Catacombs- underground cemetery

Revenge- to get back at someone for pain inflected

Cask- a barrel for holding liquids

Flambeaux- torches

Amontillado- a pale-dry wine

  1. Brief Author Background

Poe lived from 1809 to 1849.  Poe’s life is as interesting as his stories.  Poe’s parents both died and Poe was taken in as an orphan.  He briefly went to West Point Military Academy before his was thrown out.  He married his fourteen year old cousin, who died shortly after they were married.  Poe, a genius, was also a gambler and an alcoholic.  He died broke in the streets of Baltimore. Poe created the horror genre and is considered the father of the short story. The Baltimore Ravens football team took their name from one of Poe’s most well know poem “The Raven.”

  1. Read the story The Cask of Amontillado

CONCLUSION:  Discussion of Story

What added impression of Fortunato do you get from his costume?

     Fortunato was dressed as a fool at the carnival and was played for one.

How did the carnival help Montresor execute his plans?

       -Montresor’s home was free of his servants due to the carnival.

       -The drunkenness at the carnival made it easier for Fortunato to be persuaded.

        -The costumes at the carnival allowed them to be seen together without being recognized by others as being seen together.

        -The noise of the carnival prevented anyone from hearing cries for help from Fortunato.

What kind of person is Montresor?  Do you think he is insane?  Why or Why Not?

         Opinions will vary

Do you think Montresor will ever get caught for this crime? How?

 Opinions will vary

 

View web sites on the story

http://poedecoder.com viewpoints and summary of story

http://usd.edu/~thompson/Poetry/Poe.html biography of the life of Poe


LESSON II

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the story’s text for foreshadowing and irony.

 

DO NOW:  Define

Foreshadowing - to indicate or suggest something, usually something unpleasant that is going to happen

Irony - using words to suggest the opposite of their literal meaning.

        Something said or written that uses sardonic humor 

MOTIVATION:  Discuss literary terminology foreshadowing and irony.

Can you think of a movie where the screenwriter gives you some clues on what is going to happen or who the villain in the story is?  It may be the music, or a facial expression from a character that gives you a clue.  The screenwriter helps the viewer predict what is going to happen.  Poe also gives the reader clues in his writing of what is going to happen.

 

PROCEDURE:

Poe chooses the words in his story very carefully. The title of the story and the main characters names were not given by accident.  Many times the words or phases he used gave the reader a clue of what was to follow.  He also used double meanings of words to lead to his sarcastic humor.  Analyze the following lines or scenes from the story.

·        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.

·        The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.

·         I said to him -- "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to day!

·         I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

·         “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. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi"

·         "The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." "True -- true," I replied

·        “I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."

"And I to your long life”

·         "Nemo me impune lacessit."

·        Once more let me IMPLORE you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you.

·         “Let us be gone." "Yes," I said, "let us be gone."

·         The Cask of Amontillado-TITLE

·         Fortunato – Name of main character

 

CONCLUSION:  Go over literature text.   

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.

       Foreshadowing- Montresor smiles in Fortunato’s face as he is thinking about killing him.

The man wore motley. He had on a tight-fitting parti-striped dress and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells.

       Ironic- Fortunato comes to the carnival dress like a fool. He is taken for a fool by going after the amontillado, which leads him to his death.

 

I said to him -- "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to day!

       Ironic- Montresor comments how lucky they are to meet.  By this chance meeting Montressor’s plan of revenge begins to take form. Although Fortunato looks good now, he will be dead by the end of the day.

 

I passed down a long and winding staircase, requesting him to be cautious as he followed. We came at length to the foot of the descent, and stood together on the damp ground of the catacombs of the Montresors.

    Ironic & Foreshadowing- It is ironic that he cautions him going down the stairs when he is planning to kill him shortly.  The descending to the catacombs is a foreshadowing of Fortunato’s fate.

 

"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. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi"

   Ironic & Foreshadowing – Montresor tells Fortunato to go back that his health is precious and that he will be missed if something should happen to him.  Yet Montresor is plotting his death.

The quote “you are happy as I once was” is a foreshadowing of the revenge that is about to be inflicted.

 

"The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough."

"True -- true," I replied

  Ironic & Foreshadowing –Poe shows his sarcastic humor here.  It is ironic that Fortunato brings up the topic of dying.  He will not die from the cough but by Montresor’s revengeful plan. 

 

"I drink," he said, "to the buried that repose around us."

"And I to your long life."

             Ironic – The toast to the dead around them and to Fortunato’s long life is another sarcastic play on words knowing that Fortunato’s life will be over shortly.

 

"Nemo me impune lacessit."

      Ironic –The motto on Montresor’s coat of arms is translated from Latin meaning: "No one injures (attacks) me with consequences” It is because of Fortunato’s insults or verbal attacks that Montresor is killing him

 

 

Once more let me IMPLORE you to return. No? Then I must positively leave you.

 

            Foreshadowing- He begs him to leave one last time and then states that he will leave him for good. 

 

“Let us be gone."

"Yes," I said, "let us be gone."

               

                Ironic – Fortunato states “let us be gone” meaning lets go back to the carnival the joke is over. Montresori  states “let us be gone” meaning your death is approaching.

 

The Cask of Amontillado

 

The title of the story is also a play on words for it is this cask, which leads him to casket.

 

Fortunato- Fortunato name means Fortunate which he is anything but.

 

Impress again on the students how the choice of words can have a tremendous impact on the story. Poe’s descriptive writing and play on words is what makes his stories able to be read on many different levels.

 


LESSON III

OBJECTIVE: To see how the season of Carnival is celebrated throughout the world.

MOTIVATION: The setting of the story takes place during the carnival season in Venice, Italy.  Have students explore this web site and take a virtual tour of Venice, Italy.

http://virtualvenice.com/virtualv/index.html

 

PROCEDURE: 

 -What is the significance of carnival season?

The word Carnival can be traced to the Medieval Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium, which means to take away or remove meat.  Carnival is a celebration, which precedes the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter.  Many Christian religions celebrate and indulge themselves in the Carnival season before having to give up something during the Lenten season. Many people give up meat, hence the term “Carnival”.  Although many countries and nationalities celebrate Carnival, the first day of the carnival season varies with both national and local traditions.

-         Have students view website on http://carnaval.com/main.htm

Students will be able to view Carnival celebrations in Trinidad, Rio de Janerio, Salvador, New Orleans, Vera Cruz, San Francisco, Toronto, Nice, London and New York.

-         Using NEWSBANK, EBSCO, SIRS or another periodical database.  Students will look for magazine and newspaper articles about the carnival season.  To help with your search you may want to refer to

-         http://teachersnetwork.org/teachnet-lab/is24/cposer/searching.htm

Tip: You might need to search using Boolean terms

Example:  Carnival not ship

Carnival and pre-lenten festival

CONCLUSION: Students will compare and contrast the differences between two carnival celebrations.

Have students note when and where the celebration takes place.

Is the festival known by another name?

What are the festivals like?

 Interesting facts about the carnival.

Helpful Web sites

http://carnaval.com/main.htm - History of Mardi Gras – New Orleans

http://guestinvenice.com/events/carnivalofvenice/uk/antico/storia/default.asp -History Of Venetian Carnival

 


LESSON IV

OBJECTIVE: To create Carnival masks

MOTIVATION: To view various carnival masks:

http://goeurope.miningco.com/travel/goeurope/library/venice/aa980119.htm

http://carnivalmasks.com

 

MATERIALS: Students were instructed to bring in anything they thought may be used for their masks.  lace,  ribbon, sequins, feathers, etc..

 

PROCEDURE: After viewing several masks of the carnival season.  Have students create their own masks using different materials.  There were very few rules to follow for this project.  Creative is what we are looking for the students to strive for in this lesson. The only rules that were given were:

They may chose to decorate a mask they already have at home or create their own original mask and decorate it.

The masks should be colorful and created using several mediums.

The masks should also be three-dimensional.

While the students are creating their masks log on to: http://carnavalcle.com  to help set the mood. You will be able to listen to carnival music and radio stations from Brazil.

CONCLUSION:  After the masks were completed the students, who are taking Italian, wrote a few words in Italian describing their masks.

 

Here are some examples of our completed works of art.

 

1. La mia maschera ha un naso lungo.

2. La mia maschera e colorata.

3. La mia maschera ha i fiori belli.

La  mia maschera e’ azzurro e verde con penna.

4.  La mia maschera  ha penni belli.

5.  La mia maschera e’ bianca e nera.

Translations
  1. My mask has a long nose.
  2. My mask is colorful.
  3. My mask has beautiful flowers.

My mask is blue and green with feathers.

  1. My mask has beautiful feathers.
  2. My mask is black and white.

 


  

Cask of Amontillado

Unit Quiz

Part I

Analogies

1.      cask:wine::jar: _________

a) apples      b) jelly        c) elephants

2.      flambeaux:light::cow:_______

a) farm      b) milk        c) horse

3.      catacomb:tomb::student:________

a) pupil      b) teacher      c)blackboard

4.      amontillado:wine::cola:__________

a) soda      b) peanuts      c) glass

Part II

Fill In

5.      The Cask of Amontillado was written by ______________________________.

6 & 7  In this story, the author uses foreshadowing and irony to lead to his sarcastic humor. Choose two of the following excepts from the story and discuss their meanings.

·         I said to him -- "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met. How remarkably well you are looking to day!

·         “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. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill and I cannot be responsible. Besides, there is Luchesi"

·         "The cough is a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough." "True -- true," I replied.

8. What added impression of Fortunato do you get from his costume?

9.  How did the carnival season help Montresor execute his plans?

10.  Carnival is celebrated all over the world.  Select a country and tell how they celebrate the season of carnival.

 

  


Rubric for Assessing Carnival Unit

  

 

Level 3
Level 2
Level 1

Participation

Actively involved in the lessons.  Provided thoughtful questions and answers.

For the most part was involved in the lessons. Answered basic questions.

Was not involved in lessons and didn’t provide any questions or answers

Comprehension of Story

Indicates a very good understanding of the story. Provides accurate information and supportive reasoning.

Indicates some understanding of the story. Provides some accurate information and examples.

Indicates no understanding of the story.  Provides inaccurate or no information.

Organization of Research

Organizes information logically using strategies such as storyboarding and graphic organizers.

Uses various types of reference materials including Internet, CD-ROMs and magazines.

Organizes information in an acceptable order uses some reference materials.

Ideas are presented with little or no organization.  Uses no reference materials.

Creativity

Mask project is well constructed and visually appealing using several mediums.

Mask project is constructed and basic.

Mask project is sloppy or incomplete.