A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.

Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a novel with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

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"The Cask of Amontillado" Plot Diagram Example

Exposition

During Carnival in Italy, Montresor runs into Fortunato, and offers to share a very nice bottle of Amontillado wine with him. However, this bottle is in his catacombs. It is late at night and Fortunato seems ill.

Conflict

The narrator, Montresor, claims that Fortunato has gravely insulted him, and is plotting to get his revenge.

Rising Action

Montresor lures Fortunato down into the dark and eerie wine vault. As suspense builds, Montresor keeps asking if Fortunato would like to turn back because he seems ill. Fortunato continues to drink wine to ease his cough.

Climax

When they reach their destination, there is no Amontillado, but there is a hole in the wall. Montresor shackles Fortunato inside, and begins to seal up the wall with bricks.

Falling Action

As the last few bricks are laid, Fortunato screams for Montresor to stop, but it is too late. Montresor has enacted his revenge.

Resolution

Montresor walks away with only the sound of Fortunato’s jingling jester bells echoing in the tomb. He replaces the bones of the crypt. In the end, he claims that no one has disturbed them for 50 years; he has gotten away with his plot!

One of the most taught literary terms is irony. In fiction, and in life, irony is all around. Common types of irony are: verbal, situational, and dramatic. It is critical that students distinguish between the types of irony. Asking students to create storyboards that depict each type of irony makes teaching these elements a breeze.

Verbal Irony

"I shall not die of a cough"

A prime example of verbal irony in "The Cask of Amontillado" is when an unsuspecting Fortunato is being led to his death by his former acquaintance, Montresor. As Montresor lures him into the catacombs, he questions Fortunato about his well-being. Montresor notices Fortunato has a cough, which is growing more severe the farther down the catacombs they travel. He asks if Fortunato would like to turn back. Fortunato replies, “I shall not die of a cough.” Montresor knowingly replies, “True – true.” The audience finds out at the end that this was in fact use of verbal irony. Montresor appeared to mean that the cough was harmless, but what he was also saying was that he planned to kill Fortunato.

In any classroom, vocabulary is a key component for expanding student knowledge. A perfect way for students to practice vocabulary skills is to create storyboards that show the use of a word in a real life context or visually depicted as meant in the text. When students define and then use a word, they master the use of it in context and retain it into their own vocabulary.

Vocabulary Words from “The Cask of Amontillado”

• Amontillado: A dry pale sherry, a type of alcohol similar to wine.
• Retribution: Payback, punishment, revenge.
• Impunity: Freedom from consequences.

Teacher's Note: There are two ways that you can use Poe’s vocabulary to teach your class. First, have students come up with their usage for each word in an original sentence authored by them. Second, have them find the usage of the word in the text and depict what the word means.

Visually Depicted Word Meanings from “The Cask of Amontillado” :

• "Luchesi cannot tell Amontillado from Sherry."
• A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong.
• I must not only punish, but punish with impunity.