You will chose one of the following topics to write an analytical, research driven essay:
- “The Cask of Amontillado” (Examines POV)
- Poe is noted for his use of psychology, and this story’s first person narration allows readers to glimpse the inner workings of the murderous Montresor’s mind.
- How is first person narration essential to this story in particular?
- What might change if the POV was altered?
- Consider how this story would differ in theme, characterization, plot, etc. if told by a third person narrator (objective and/or omniscient), or a different first person narrator (such as Fortunato).
- "The Tell Tale Heart" (Examines Theme)
- Poe's use of madness is especially noted.
- Consider the theme of this story in terms of what it says about sanity/evil:
- Is the narrator mad? Or is he a sane person having a breakdown?
- Is he just an evil person? Or is he suffering a crisis of conscience?
- What is Poe trying to say about the mind in this tale of the tell-tale heart?
You will need a minimum of:
- one primary source (the story you are responding to)
- five secondary (outside research) sources
- 1500 words for this essay.