Most short stories and screenplays are rich in figurative language and literary elements. These are used to enhance the symbolism, motifs, and themes within the story. The use of similes, metaphors, personification, and onomatopoeia are abundant in this Poe short story.
After reading the story, ask your students to go on a literary scavenger hunt! Give them a list of figurative language to find, and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the story! They will have an absolute blast and master the words by the end.
DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |
---|---|---|
Hyperbole | Exaggeration or overstatement for humor or emphasis | “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could...” |
Metaphor | An implied comparison between two things | “He turned towards me, and looked into my eyes with two filmy orbs that distilled the rheum of intoxication." |
Foreshadowing | Hinting at something that will happen later on | “He had a weak point - this Fortunato - although in other regards he was a man to be respected and even feared. He prided himself on his connoisseurship in wine.” |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows five examples of literary elements in "The Cask of Amontillado".
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
---|---|---|---|
Identification of Literary Elements | All literary elements are correctly identified. | Most literary elements are correctly identified. | Few literary elements are correctly identified. |
Illustration | Illustrations show attention to the details of the story and demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations show little connection to the literary elements. |
Description of Literary Elements | Descriptions clearly explain what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Most descriptions tell what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Descriptions are unrelated to the literary elements. |
Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is very difficult to understand. |