Question

How does Poe use the first line of the story to build suspense?

Answer 1

Answer:

Poe uses the first line of the story to build suspense in the following manner:

C. Poe informs the reader that Fortunato has wronged the narrator but doesn't say  specifically what Fortunato did which creates a sense of uncertainty.

Explanation:

This question is about the short story "The Cask of Amontillado," by author Edgar Allan Poe. Take a look at how the story begins:

THE thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely, settled --but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish but punish with impunity. 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.

We get to know two things from the get-go: the narrator feels that Fortunato has offended him; and the narrator is adamant about avenging himself.

However, at no point does the narrator reveal what Fortunato has done. Apparently, Fortunato has injured him before. Now, it is an offense. But how can we trust this narrator if he does not reveal what happened? Maybe he is too sensitive and took things too personally. Maybe nothing happened at all- he might be insane, for all we know. We are left with this uncertainty, even though the narrator tells us we know him well. We do not. He does not offer us enough information to judge for ourselves.