1.Why did Franklin write his Autobiography?
Franklin says that because his son may wish to know about his life, he is taking his one week vacation in the English countryside to record his past. He also says that he has enjoyed his life and would like to repeat it
2.What made Franklin decide to leave the brother to whom he had been apprenticed?
His brother was passionate, and had often beaten him. The aversion to arbitrary power that has stuck to him through his whole life .After a brush with the law, Franklin left his brother.
3.How did he arrive in Philadephia?
First he set out in a boat for Amboy, the boat dropped him off about 50 miles from Burlington, the next day he reached Burlington on foot, in Burlington he found a boat which was going towards Philadelphia, he arrived there about eight or nine o’clock, on the Sunday morning and landed at the Market Street wharf.
4.What features do you find in the style of the above selection?
It is the pattern of Puritan simplicity, directness, and concision(言简意赅). The narrative is lucid(易懂的), the structure is simple, the imagery is homely(朴素的).
二、Questions
1.How many characters does Poe include in The Cask of Amontillado? What are these names? Montresor, Fortunato and Luchesi
2. What drink are the French most famous for?
Wine
3.Does Montresor have something of great value to him which we might consider to be his treasure? His pride and the pride of his French family heritage. Perhaps his devious plot of revenge.
4.Does Montresor seem to have much respect for Italians?
Montresor does not have much respect for Italians. He feels the French are superior, especially with respect to wine.
5.What was Fortunato's insult?
Poe does not tell us directly, but only implies it in the third paragraph
6.Which wine does Montresor use to lure Fortunato into the catacombs?
"Amontillado" (the Spanish wine; Montresor's ruse to lead Fortunato down into the catacombs.
7.Why does Montresor entertain Fortunato with wines from his collection?
Montresor wants to get Fortunato drunk enough to be able to trap him in his plan of vengeance.
8.In what two ways does Montresor imprison Fortunato?
He fetters (chains and locks) Fortunato to the wall of the catacombs.
He builds a wall to close Fortunato off in a small corner of the catacombs, where Montresor will leave him to die.
9.In what ways is The Cask of Amontillado grotesque? First, which of Montresor's actions are abnormal? The whole obsessive plot of vengeance.
The fettering and entombment of Fortunato.
Montresor's sick sense of humor.
10.Is there anything grotesque about Fortunato?
His obsession with alcohol.
His drunkenness.
His tendency to berate Luchesi (he may have been drunk and may have insulted Montresor in a similar
