Friday, February 5, 2016

What are some allusions (and explanations of allusions) from "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe?If you could list some and explain them...

ALLUSIONS IN EDGAR ALLAN POE'S "THE CASK OF
AMONTILLADO"


An allusion is a
literary figure of speech that makes a brief "reference to, or representation of, a
place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art, either directly or by implication."
The term is often mistaken for what is otherwise a "simple reference." There are several
examples of allusions in "TCOA."


  • "He prided
    himself on his connoisseur-ship in wine. Few Italians have the true virtuoso spirit. For
    the most part their enthusiasm is adopted to suit the time and opportunity, to practise
    imposture upon the British and Austrian millionaires." -- The mention of the "British
    and Austrian millionaires" is an allusion to the subjects whom the Italian wine experts
    aim their verbal expertise.

  • "It was about dusk, one
    evening during the supreme madness of the carnival season, that I encountered my
    friend." -- This alludes to the annual carnival (presumably in an unidentified Italian
    town), which occurs throughout many parts of the world.


  • 'I forget your arms.' ”
    “ 'A huge human foot d'or, in a field azure; the foot
    crushes a serpent rampant whose fangs are imbedded in the heel.' ”
    “ 'And the
    motto?' ” '
    " 'Nemo me impune lacessit.' " -- Poe alludes
    here to both the Montressor coat-of-arms and the family
    motto.

  • “ 'Then you are not of the brotherhood.'
    "
    “ 'How?' ”
    “ 'You are not of the masons.' ” -- An important
    allusion in the story, Fortunato is asking Montressor (by flashing a secret sign) if he
    is a member of the Freemasons, a secret brotherhood. Although Montressor claims that he
    is a member, he is not; instead, in an ironic twist, he holds up a trowel in response to
    the hand sign displayed by Fortunato. The trowel is a masonry tool--the one which will
    seal Fortunato's doom.

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