[transcribed 2021-06-02] **Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Cask of Amontillado” uses the literary devices of foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to build suspense in the story. Select one of these literary devices and explain how it is used, provide examples of its usage, and discuss how it contributes to the suspense of the story.** Throughout the story, foreshadowing is frequently used. The first two paragraphs give the most insight into Montresor’s plan, the first describing well that he was not to be offended without expecting some sort of revenge, and the second further foreshadowing Fortunato’s doom: The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. 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. 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 in to smile in his face, and he did not perceive that my to smile now was at the thought of his immolation. Fortunato was said to have a weak point in the following paragraph, which further foreshadows Montresor’s mysterious, but clearly harmful, plans. When Fortunato insists on coming to see the amontillado, he is reminded of his dreadful illness, and of the bad conditions of the catacombs: "My friend, no. It is not the engagement, but the severe cold with which I perceive you are afflicted. The vaults are insufferably damp. They are encrusted with nitre.” Fortunato denies this, saying that “the cold is merely nothing.” This foreshadows how the cold effects him (he has a terrible cough at one point, and surely it doesn’t help his already-drunken mind think clearly).[1] [1] Except this is also kind of irony. Honestly, the story uses *all* of the listed elements *together* to be so interesting, so it’s a bit difficult to talk about just one of the topics without getting at least a little bit involved in another.. At one point, Fortunato continues to insist that his cold is not a problem, saying that "the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” Montresor remarks, “true —true,” foreshadowing that Fortunato was to die some other way. As the two descend further into the crypt, Fortunato asks about the Montresors’ arms. Montresor describes it vividly: "A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel." He also states the motto: “nemo me impune lacessit.” This translates to “no one attacks me with impunity”. The arms and motto provide foreshadowing very similar to the first several paragraphs, placing an emphasis on Montresor’s revenge. When Montresor is accused of not being a mason, he presents a sign — a trowel. This foreshadows[2] his near-future usage of the trowel in burying Fortunato alive. The use of foreshadowing greatly builds suspense in the short story, and helps create a very dark[3], tense environment. Since the theme of the story is betrayal and revenge, such a feeling fits The Cask of Amontillado[4] well. [2] ..does it? [3] HAHA NO PUN INTENDED [4] See what I did there? I ended the """essay""" with the title of the story! Doesn't that just feel CONCLUSIVE!? [NB: The above 3 footnotes are actually Pages.app comments.]