Usa

Thesis: The depression and hardships experienced by Edgar Allan Poe during his lifetime led to reoccurring themes of death and Goth in many of his short stories.

I. “The Cask of Amontillado”

A. Premeditated murder is the theme of “The Cask of Amontillado”.

1. Montresor has a deep hatred for Fortunato.

2. Fortunato plans to kills Montresor.

B. The setting of “The Cask of Amontillado” leads to feeling of Goth in the story.

1. The catacombs of Fortunato’s home lead to the place of death.

2. Death is a major component of Gothicism.

II . “The Masque of Red Death”

A. Death is the theme of this short story.

1. Everyone at the party dies.

2. The Prince planned the deaths before hand.

B. The palace shows the signs of death.

1. The rooms of the palace are laid out in this cycle of death.

a. The rooms go from east to west, just as the sunrises and sets in the sky.

b. They start out with light and