Cask Of Amontillado

An Offprint from

BEACHAM�S

GUIDE TO

LITERATURE

FOR

YOUNG

ADULTS

The Cask of Amontillado

Mark W. Scott, Publisher, Literature Product

Katy Balcer, Elizabeth A. Cranston, Marie Lazzari, Thomas McMahon, Deborah J. Morad, Editors;

Sara Constantakis, Kristen A. Dorsch, Shayla Hawkins, Motoko Fujishiro Huthwaite, Arlene M.

Johnson, Simone Sobel, Thomas Wiloch, Associate Editors; Justin Vidovic, Russet Whitaker, Assistant

Editors; Joshua Kondek, Mary Ruby, Technical Training Specialists

Alan Hedblad, Managing Editor

Susan M. Trosky, Content Director

Victoria B. Cariappa, Research Manager

Andrew Guy Malonis, Barbara McNeil, Gary J. Oudersluys, Maureen Richards, Cheryl L. Warnock,

Research Specialists; Tamara C. Nott, Tracie A. Richardson, Research Associates; Scott E. Floyd, Tim

Lehnerer, Ron Morelli, Research Assistants

While every effort has been made to ensure the reliability of the information presented in this publication, Gale Group neither guarantees the accuracy of the data contained herein nor assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions, or discrepancies. GaleGroup accepts no payment for listing; and inclusion in the publication of any organization, agency, institution, publication, service, or individual does not imply endorsement of the editors or publisher. Errors brought to the attention of the publisher and verified to the satisfaction of the publisher will be corrected in future editions.

This publication is a creative work copyrighted by Gale Group and fully protected by all applicable copyright laws, as well as by misappropriation, trade secret, unfair competition, and other applicable laws. The authors and editors of this work have added value to the underlying factual material herein through one or more of the following: unique and original selection, coordination, expression, arrangement, and classification of the information.

Gale Group will vigorously defend all of its rights to this publication.

Copyright © 2001 by Gale Group, Inc.

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All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any

form.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 89-18048

ISBN 0-7876-5044-7 ISSN 1529-7446

Printed in the United States of America 10987654321

Introduction

♦

Since the first three volumes of Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults were published in 1989, selecting which literary works to cover has been a long and difficult process. The series editors originally began with a list of over four thousand titles; we then pared this list to about one thousand titles. In paring this second list even further, we had five main considerations: 1) Is the title a popular one that young people like to read? 2) Does the work possess literary merits or social themes that warrant calling it to the attention of young readers, their parents and teachers? 3) Is the work a classic that had over time won a permanent place in young adult literature? 4) Is the title a critically acclaimed work that had won awards, such as the Newbery Medal? 5) Is the book appropriate for a junior high or high school audience?

Scholars, teachers, and librarians offered practical advice about what books were of particular interest to young adults, and each of the titles included in this series meets at least three of the criteria mentioned above. The titles included in the series represent a cross-section of the complex world of young adult literature. Volumes 1-3 cover mainstream novels and short story collections, historical novels, classics, biographies, autobiographies, and nonfiction. Volume 4 covers science fiction, adventure novels, myths, epics, and mysteries. Volume 5 covers fantasy and gothic novels. Volumes 6-8 include novels, biographies, autobiographies, and other nonfiction published since 1980. Volume 9 continued the focus on contemporary fiction and nonfiction.

Beginning with Volume 10, the series returned to its basic tenet of covering works of fiction and nonfiction�both contemporary and classic�that have been widely recognized as important books for young adult readers. The titles we have included vary in reading difficulty and maturity of subject matter, so that there are many titles appropriate for junior high, as well as high school students. We have included titles that have been widely recognized and reviewed, including Newbery Award and Honor Book recipients, but have also included some authors who have been overlooked in the review process. We hope that by including them here, they will begin to gain the recognition they deserve.

Since the publication of the first volumes of Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults, we have discovered that the audience for the series is large and diverse. It includes involved readers who want to know more about their favorite books and authors; students who are researching term papers and book reports; teachers preparing classes; librarians building collections and selecting books for their patrons; parents seeking appropriate reading material for their children; and college students and professors developing ideas for curriculum designs. An easy-to-follow format had to be devised that provides the clarity

in

that younger readers require, while providing detailed information and depth of thought to satisfy the interests of more experienced readers. Especially useful to teachers planning thematic segments, and to students writing papers and reports, is the appendix that groups titles by themes. There are thematic appendices at the end of Volume 3, in Volumes 4 and 5, and at the end of each volume beginning with Volume 8. The cumulative index in the current volume provides easy access to authors and titles for the entire series. Each formatted article is divided into the following sections.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The basics of the author's life are laid out here, with particular attention to the events that shaped the writer's work or sensibilities. This section also discusses the author's critical and popular success.

OVERVIEW

This section, which provides a snapshot of the plot and characters, is intended to generate student interest in reading the book, and to give teachers and librarians a quick guide to the subject matter.

SETTING

Many books for young adults are intended to acquaint them with places they have never been and cultures they have never experienced. Novels about faraway lands, futuristic worlds, historical times, the inner city, and the farm all serve to transport readers into the unfamiliar, helping them to broaden their outlook and to understand similarities and differences of other cultures. The "Setting" section acquaints readers with the special aspects of the setting (including additional historical background to explain the merits or weaknesses of a historical novel), as well as showing how the author uses place and time to develop themes and characterizations.

THEMES AND CHARACTERS

This section explains how the themes and characters are woven together to create a unified work of art, and it establishes the groundwork for understanding the characters' motivation and actions. Because some books are more thematically complex than others, the length of the "Themes and Characters" section varies accordingly. The object of this section is to give insight into a work's literary merits by taking an in-depth look at how well rounded the characters are, how plausible they are, and how well they fit into the work's themes. This section is intended to provide serious critical treatment, thereby enriching a reader's appreciation of the literary work.

LITERARY QUALITIES

The "Literary Qualities" section analyzes the techniques authors use to communicate with their readers. It also introduces students to literary devices such as foreshadowing and

IV

archetypes. In explaining the skill behind the artistry, this section shows the reader how to become a more thoughtful critic.

SOCIAL SENSITIVITY

Often books for young adults are controversial. For instance, some old classics for young readers contain racist undercurrents that were overlooked in less enlightened times. On the other hand, since the 1960s the subjects that books for young adults treat have broadened to include topics that were once thought to be strictly for adults, such as sex, drug addiction, and hatred toward one's parents. Some young adult books are very violent, others are intensely frightening, and still others express doubts about the morals and ethics of religion, science, or society. The "Social Sensitivity" section analyzes the social context and explains how the sensitive aspects of the book fit in with its setting, themes, characters, and plot. The "Social Sensitivity" section may alert adults to sensitive issues, but it does not attempt to judge or censor material, including "reality" topics like nuclear war, sexuality, broken homes, racism, religious faith, and a host of other "real world" issues.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

This section provides a list of topics and questions designed to stimulate classroom discussion. For students conducting research on their own, these questions serve to guide the reader toward the most important elements of theme and character.

IDEAS FOR REPORTS AND PAPERS

This section is designed to lead readers toward ideas for additional reading assignments, writing assignments, and in-class presentations. Its purpose is to help students think about their topics and to offer them some guidance as to what approaches to the book could be effective. It provides suggestions for simple reports as well as complex term papers. Librarians will find this section useful in guiding students who are searching for report topics.

RELATED TITLES/ADAPTATIONS

This section discusses books by the same author that share similarities with the main title, or by other authors dealing with the same themes or characters. Often these books form part of a series, such as the Tillerman cycle by Cynthia Voigt. This section is useful to students who are writing a comparative analysis paper, or who are seeking another title by an author they liked. If a title has been adapted to stage, radio, television, or film, this section compares the adaptation to the original title,

FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

In some cases, there is a wealth of published material on a particular author or a particular title; in those cases, the "Further Reference" section guides the reader to the most

v

helpful sources. On the other hand, some of the titles have not been widely reviewed, which limits the bibliography.

It is heartening that Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults provides much new material that cannot be found elsewhere, but it also serves as an indication of how very much more work needs to be done in studying the many meritorious works in young adult literature.

VI

Acknowledgments

♦

LLOYD ALEXANDER. Alexander, Lloyd, 1971, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

JOAN BAUER. Minor, Wendell, illustrator. From a cover of Rules of the Road, by Joan Bauer. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1998. Jacket art and design © 1998 by Wendell Minor. Reproduced by permission of the illustrator.

AMBROSE BIERCE. Union soldiers and tied-up civilian on railroad bridge, scene from film "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," 1961, movie still. The Kobal Collection. Reproduced by permission. / Bierce, Ambrose, photograph. Corbis-Bettmann. Reproduced by permission.

RAY BRADBURY. Bradbury, Ray, 1991, photograph. Archive Photos, Inc. Reproduced by

permission.

MICHAEL CADNUM, Cadnum, Michael, photograph by Richard Mewton. © Richard Mewton. Reproduced by permission of Michael Cadnum.

TOM CLANCY. Clancy, Tom, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

CAROLINE B. COONEY. James, Derek, illustrator. From a cover of The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney. Laurel-Leaf Books, 1990. Cover art copyright © 1990 by Derek James. Reproduced by permission of The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. / Cooney, Caroline B� photograph by Saybrook Studio. Reproduced by permission.

SHARON CREECH. Creech, Sharon, photograph by Matthew Self. Reproduced by permission of Sharon Creech.

CHRISTOPHER PAUL CURTIS. From a jacket of The Watsons Go to Birmingham�1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis. Delacorte Press, 1995. Car photograph copyright © 1995 FPG International. Left photograph copyright © 1995 Rohn Engh/FPG International. Middle and right photographs copyright © 1995 Paul Lewis. Reproduced by permission of The

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Bantam Dell Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. / Christopher Paul Curtis on the set of the NBC Today Show. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

JOAN DASH. Brown Brothers, photographer. From a cover of We Shall Not Be Moved, by Joan Dash. Scholastic Inc., 1996, Reproduced by permission of Brown Brothers. / Dash, Joan, photograph by Greg Dash. © Greg Dash. Reproduced by permission.

PHILIP K. DICK. Jensen, Bruce, illustrator. From a cover of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick. Del Rey Books, 1996. Reproduced by permission of Random House, Inc.

NANCY FARMER. Soman, David, illustrator. From a jacket of A Girl Named Disaster, by Nancy Farmer. Orchard Books, 1996. Jacket illustration copyright © 1996 by David Soman. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Orchard Books, New York, / Farmer, Nancy, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

CAROL FENNER. Marchesi, Stephen, illustrator. From a jacket of Yolanda's Genius, by Carol Fenner. McElderry Books, 1995. Jacket illustration copyright © 1995 by Stephen Marchesi. Reproduced by permission of Stephen Marchesi. / Fenner, Carol, photograph by Jiles B. Williams. Reproduced by permission of Carol Fenner.

SID FLEISCHMAN. Fleischman, Sid, photograph by Kevin O'Malley. Reproduced by permission of Sid Fleischman.

RUSSELL FREEDMAN. Reproduced from A Pictographic History of the Oglala Sioux by Amos Bad Heart Bull, text by Helen H. Blish, by permission of the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright © 1967 by the University of Nebraska Press. Copyright © renewed 1995 by the University of Nebraska Press. / Freedman, Russell, photograph. © 1988 Charles Osgood /Chicago Tribune Co. Reproduced by permission.

CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN. Cover design by Ascienzo Design from The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The Feminist Press, 1996. Cover wallpaper: "Thorn Damask," circa 1837, reproduced by courtesy of the Board of Trustees of the Victoria & Albert Museum. Cover reproduced by permission of The Feminist Press at The City University of New York.

STEVEN GOULD. Jainschigg, Nicholas, illustrator. From a cover of Wildside, by Steven Gould. Tor Books, 1996. Reproduced by permission.

MARTHA GRIMES. Detail of "Hotel Lobby," by Edward Hopper, 1943, oil on canvas. © Indianapolis Museum of Art, William Ray Adams Memorial Collection. From a cover of Hotel Paradise, by Martha Grimes. Ballantine Books, 1997. Reproduced by permission of Random House, Inc. / Grimes, Martha, New York, 1990, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

DIANA WYNNE JONES. Jones, Diana Wynne, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

vin

JAMES JOYCE. Joyce, James, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by

permission.

KATHARINE KERR. Parkinson, Keith, illustrator. From a cover of Daggerspetl, by Katharine Kerr. Bantam Books, 1993. Cover art copyright © 1993 by Keith Parkinson. Reproduced by permission of Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

DANIEL KEYES. Keyes, Daniel, photograph by G. Paul Burnett. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. / Robertson, Cliff, in the film "Charly," photograph. UPI/ Corbis-Bettmann. Reproduced by permission.

URSULA K. LE GUIN. Le Guin, Ursula K., photograph by Lisa Kroeber. Reproduced by permission of Ursula K. Le Guin.

JULIUS LESTER. Lisker, Emily, illustrator. From a jacket of When the Beginning Began: Stories About God, the Creatures, and Us, by Julius Lester. Silver Whistle, 1999. Jacket illustration copyright © 1999 by Emily Lisker. Reproduced by permission of Harcourt, Inc. In the U. K. by Mclntosh and Otis, Inc. / Lester, Julius, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

GAIL CARSON LEVINE. Levine, Gail Carson, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

JIM MURPHY. Murphy, Jim, photograph. Clarion Books. Reproduced by permission.

WALTER DEAN MYERS. Myers, Walter Dean, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

DONNA JO NAPOLI. Bartruff, David, photographer. From a cover of Song of the Magdalene, by Donna Jo Napoli. Scholastic, 1996. Cover art from "Proserpine," by Dante Gabriel Rosetti, 1877, Tate Gallery, London/Art Resource, NY. Cover photograph © David Bartruff, FPG International Corp. Reproduced by permission of FPG International LLC. / Oblinski, Rafal, illustrator. From a jacket of Sirena, by Donna Jo Napoli. Scholastic Press, 1998. Illustration copyright © 1998 by Rafal Oblinski. Reproduced by permission of Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. / Napoli, Donna Jo, photograph by Barry Furrow. Reproduced by permission.

FAE MYENNE NG. Ng, Fae Myenne. © Jerry Bauer. Reproduced by permission.

JOYCE CAROL OATES. "High Noon," by Edward Hopper, 1949, The Dayton Art Institute. From a cover of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?: Selected Early Stories, by Joyce Carol Oates. Ontario Review Press, 1993. Reproduced by permission. / Oates, Joyce Carol, 1991, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

TILLIE OLSEN, Olsen, Tillie, photograph by Miriam Berkley. Photo © Miriam Berkley. AH rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.

GARY PAULSEN. O'Rourke, Ericka Meltzer, illustrator. From a jacket of Soldier's Heart, by Gary Paulsen. Delacorte Press, 1998. Jacket illustration/montage © 1998 by Ericka Meltzer

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O'Rourke. Photograph of Charles Goddard by Whitney. Reproduced by permission of The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. / Mitchell, C. E., photographer. From a cover of My Life in Dog Years, by Gary Paulsen. Yearling Books, 1999. Reproduced by permission of Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House, Inc.

RICHARD PECK. Peck, Richard, photograph by Don Gallo. Reproduced by permission of Richard Peck.

J. K. ROWLING. GrandPre', Mary, illustrator. From a jacket of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling. Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999. Illustration copyright © 1999 by Scholastic Inc. Reproduced by permission of Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. / GrandPre', Mary, illustrator. From a jacket of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling. -Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999. Illustration copyright © 1998 by Scholastic Inc. Reproduced by permission of Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Inc. / Rowling, Joanne (J. K.), photograph by Suzanne Mapes. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

WILLIAM SLEATOR. Sleator, William, at home in Thailand on Cambodian border, photograph by Andrew Biggs. Reproduced by permission of William Sleator.

GARY SOTO. Soto, Gary, photograph by Carolyn Soto. Reproduced by permission of Gary Soto.

THERESA TOMLINSON. Nolan, Dennis, illustrator. From a cover of The Forest Wife, by Theresa Tomlinson. Yearling, 1993. Copyright © 1993 by Theresa Tomlinson. Reproduced by permission of The Bantam Dell Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. / Tomlinson, Theresa, photograph. Reproduced by permission.

JANE YOLEN. Leister, Bryan, illustrator. From a jacket of Merlin: The Young Merlin Trilogy, by Jane Yolen. Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997. Jacket illustration copyright © 1997 by Bryan Leister. Reproduced by permission of Harcourt, Inc. In the U. K. by permission of Bryan Leister. / Targete, Jean Pierre, illustrator. From a cover of The Wild Hunt, by Jane Yolen. Scholastic Inc., 1997. Illustration copyright © 1997 by Scholastic Inc. Reproduced by permission. / Yolen, Jane, photograph by Bruce Davis. Reproduced by permission of Jane Yolen.

PAUL ZINDEL. Home, Daniel, illustrator. From a cover of Raptor, by Paul Zindel. Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 1998. Copyright © 1998 by Paul Zindel. Cover illustration © 1998 by Daniel Home. Reproduced by permission of Hyperion Books for Children. / Zindel, Paul, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission.

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Contributors

Many of the analyses in Volume 11 were written by Dr. Kirk H. Beetz, who served as the Series Editor for Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults from 1989 to 1999. Dr, Beetz is an astute critic whose sensitivity for and love of young adult literature is manifested by the quality and productivity of his insights. The Gale Group gratefully acknowledges his contributions to the present volume.

Without the expertise and generosity of the hundreds of contributors to this series, the depth of criticism now available to young adult readers, their teachers, librarians, and parents would not have been possible. To all of our contributors, past, present, and future, we gratefully acknowledge your contributions.

Other contributors whose analyses appear in this volume are:

Emily Alward

Karl E. A very

Wenda Clement

Indiana Wesleyan University

Vicki Cox

William Ryland Ebrennan University of Wisconsin-Bamboo/ SaukCounty

D. Douglas Fratz Gaithersburg, Maryland

Nancy M. Hensler Huntingdon Valley Library

Barbara Jaindl

Melissa Juvinall

Evelyn M. Perry Framingham State College

Martha E. Rhymes Judy Rosenbaum

Elizabeth D. Schafer

Loachapoka, AL

Richard D. Seiter

Mary Luins Small

Ingeborg Urcia

Eastern Washington University

Joy Veekant

Mark Vogel

Appalachian State University

Gwen Vredevoogd

Marymount University

Donna R. White

XI

THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO

Short Story

1846

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

-------------♦-------------

Major Books for Young Adults

Poems by Edgar A. Poe, 1831                                Tales by Edgar A. Poe, 1845

Tales of the Grotesque and                                    The Raven and Other Poems, 1846

Arabesque, 1840

Copyright © 2001 by The Gale Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.