cask of amontillado, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowLiterary, academic
Quick answer
What does “cask of amontillado, the” mean?
A famous short story by Edgar Allan Poe (1846).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A famous short story by Edgar Allan Poe (1846).
The title refers to a specific barrel of Amontillado (a type of sherry wine) used as a lure and central symbol in the story. It represents revenge, deception, and the dark consequences of obsession.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. 'Cask' and 'sherry' are common terms in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical literary connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare outside literary discussion.
Grammar
How to Use “cask of amontillado, the” in a Sentence
be an allusion to ~reference ~discuss ~teach ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cask of amontillado, the” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lecture will Amontillado-ise the themes of Gothic horror.
American English
- You can't just Amontillado your problems away.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature courses discussing Gothic fiction, American Romanticism, or Poe.
Everyday
Very rarely, only as a cultural reference among those familiar with classic literature.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cask of amontillado, the”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cask of amontillado, the”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cask of amontillado, the”
- Incorrect: 'Cast of Amontillado', 'Cash of Amontillado', 'Cask of Amontillado' (without 'The').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a fictional short story. There is no real 'cask of Amontillado' associated with the plot outside the narrative.
Amontillado is a type of sherry, a fortified wine from Spain. In the story, it is used as bait.
It is famous as a classic example of Gothic horror, noted for its unreliable narrator, themes of revenge, and shocking climax.
Only as a literary or cultural allusion. In normal conversation, it would be obscure and likely misunderstood.
A famous short story by Edgar Allan Poe (1846).
Cask of amontillado, the is usually literary, academic in register.
Cask of amontillado, the: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːsk əv əˌmɒntɪˈjɑːdəʊ, ðə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæsk əv əˌmɑːntɪˈjɑːdoʊ, ðə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To wall someone up like in 'The Cask of Amontillado'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A CAST (cask) of characters: MONTI (Amonti-) is LADdened (llado) with revenge.
Conceptual Metaphor
REVENGE IS A FINE WINE AGED IN A CASK / TRUST IS A WALL BEING BUILT.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'The Cask of Amontillado' primarily about?