Short Story Portfolio

By Benjamin Cohen

“The Cask of Amontillado”by Edgar Allan Poe

• “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe is a melancholy tale of a man seeking revenge. The narrator Montresor is seeking revenge on Fortunato for an unknown reason. Montresor finds that Fortunato’s weakness is his lover for wine. He coaxes Fortunato into a underground vault by saying he has wine as fine as Amontillado. When Fortuanato gets to the vault he takes him, binds him to the wall, and builds a brick tomb around him and leaves him for dead.

Poetical or Lyrical Connection“Sweet Revenge” by Matt Pyke

Left for dead,This worlds so bleak,No power left inside,Not even for me to speak,Hurt so many times,But never truly healed,No you cannot see them,My emotional scars are sealed,Sometimes they ask me,Have I always been this way?It breaks my heart to answer,But it is the truth that I must say,No I have not always,But probably will always be,The darkness that dwells inside,Is the living part of me,

I’ve kept it in for so long,So much anger never let out,Struggled with every tantrum,Suppressing the urge to shout,But the turning point is now,You will not be my demise,I will uplift my spirit,And spring to your surprise,No longer will you hurt me,No more pain will I feel,This day will end my sorrows,And break that holy seal,My emotions will flow with hatred,And death you will meet,Through this day of reckoning I have realized,Revenge through success is sweet.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionContinued…

• “Sweet Revenge” by Matt Pyke has many connections to “The Cask of Amontillado.” “The darkness that dwells inside, Is the living part of me” This relates the Montresor because he does not seem like a evil or dark man. “It must be understood that neither by word nor deed had I given Fortunato cause to doubt my good will.” This shows that Montresor’s darkness is hidden within him. “My emotions will flow with hatred,And death you will meet.” This prelates greatly to the story because the person in the poem is planning on killing. Just as Montresor plans on doing

Artistic ConnectionTrapped II by Diana Calvario

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This painting represents the “The Cask of Amontillado” perfectly. The hour glass represents time. The amount of time that it takes Fortunato to die. There is also a man trapped inside the hour glass the represents Fortunato trapped inside his tomb. The people around the hour glass represent Montresor watching his tomb and hearing his screams from the outside.

“The Lady or the Tiger?”by Frank Stockton

“The Lady or the Tiger” by Frank Stockton takes place in an old kingdom ruled by a ruthless king. As punishment for violating laws in the kingdom this king put a tiger behind one door and a lady behind another that the man would marry, but the criminal does not know which door. When the king found out that his daughter (the princess) had a lover he put him up to this same punishment. The princess motions to him which door to pick, but does she chose the door with the lady or the tiger?

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionIrreplaceable by Beyoncé

To the leftTo the left To the leftTo the left Mmmm to the left, to the leftEverything you own in the box to the leftIn the closet, that's my stuffYes, if I bought it, baby, please don't touch And keep talking that mess, thats fineCould you walk and talk, at the same time?And it's my name thats on that jagSo go move your bags, let me call you a cab

Standing in the front yard, telling meHow I'm such a fool, talking 'boutHow I'll never ever find a man like youYou got me twisted You must not know 'bout meYou must not know 'bout meI can have another you in a minuteMatter fact, he'll be here in a minute (baby) You must not know 'bout meYou must not know 'bout meI can have another you by tomorrowSo don't you ever for a second get to thinkin'You're irreplaceable? So go ahead and get goneCall up that chick, and see if shes home

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There are many connections between “Irreplaceable” and “The Lady or the Tiger,” some are more obvious than others. One of the obvious connections is “to the left to the left.” This could be the princess telling her lover which door to pick. “You must not know 'bout me. You must not know 'bout me. I can have another you by tomorrow. So don't you ever for a second get to thinkin.’ You're irreplaceable?” This is what the princess could be thinking. She does not know if she could bare to see him with another women. So she might let jealousy get the best of her, and start thinking that she could get any man she wanted. “Everything you own in the box to the left.” This is another line in the song that greatly applies to the story. The box could represent the door, everything you own could represent his life.

Artistic ConnectionTwo Big Black Hearts by Jim Dine

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This statue by Jim Dine has lots of meaning that relates to the story. The two hearts represent the two doors. The princess loves her lover, and must make the choice to see him with another women or see him die. That is why the hearts are both black. Black acts as a metaphor for death and envy, but the either choice will be made out of love.

“The Most Dangerous Game”by Richard Connell

“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell follows story of Sanger Rainsford. He is an acclaimed hunter on a yacht passing by a Island that is said to be evil. Raisnford accidentally falls off the yacht and his forced to swim the island. When he arrives he meets to men, General Zaroff and his strong Partner Ivan. General Zaroff also enjoys hunting and seems very welcoming at first, but soon Rainsford is in a battle for life in death because General Zaroff does not hunt for animals on that island. He hunts for people.

Poetical and Lyrical ConnectionsFriend of the Devil by Grateful Dead

I lit out from reno, I was trailed by twenty houndsDidn't get to sleep last night till the morning came around.Set out runnin but I take my timeA friend of the devil is a friend of mineIf I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.Ran into the devil, babe, he loaned me twenty billsI spent the night in utah in a cave up in the hills.Set out runnin but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine,If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.I ran down to the levee but the devil caught me thereHe took my twenty dollar bill and vanished in the air.

Set out runnin but I take my timeA friend of the devil is a friend of mineIf I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night,The first ones named sweet anne marie, and she's my hearts delight.The second one is prison, babe, the sheriffs on my trail,And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail.Got a wife in chino, babe, and one in cherokeeThe first one says she's got my child, but it don't look like me.Set out runnin but I take my time,A friend of the devil is a friend of mine,If I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep tonight.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionContinued…

“I lit out from Reno, I was trailed by twenty hounds. Didn't get to sleep last night till the morning came around.” This relates to the story because it talks about running away, and being chased. Just as Rainsford was chased in the story. “And if he catches up with me, I'll spend my life in jail.” If “He” (General Zaroff) catches up with Rainsford then Rainsford could die, not spend his life in jail. Jail acts as a metaphor for death. Overall the song is about being on the run which is of course what the story is about, but if Zaroff catches up with Rainsford he will spend a lot more than a life in jail.

Artistic ConnectionHunter or Hunted by Dan Nance

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This painting truly tells a story. It tells the story of anger, and battle for survival. The Native American in the story is holding a gun. Something unusual that could have changed history. Native Americans were hunted in the 1800’s for land. It was unfair because they had no chance against people with advanced weaponry, but if they could of fought back with guns it would have been a different outcome. This relates to the story because, the Indian could be Rainsford. Rainsford was hunted most of the story until he decides to the Hunter. Just as the Native American is doing in the picture. He is refusing to be hunted. The Native American also shows a lot of anger in his face. Just as Rainsford projects anger in the story by killing Zaroff. It is this extreme change from hunted to hunter that makes this picture so meaningful to the story.

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson takes place in a village filled with tradition. The villages biggest tradition is the lottery held every year. The head of the house goes and takes a slip of paper form a old box and if his paper has a black dot then his family is chosen. Your whole family then takes a slip of paper from the box and whichever member of the family has a black dot gets stoned to death. This year is Tessie Hutchison's year.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionDeath by Stoning by Stephen Watts

Last night wolves were howling I heard their voices last night they brought me your torn clothesthe blue shirt your auntie made youI wish her dear hand had been broken

your blue shirt is red with bloodand I cannot make out its print or pattern

they said their skirts were filled with stones their hands were full of stones, their skirts everywhere stones were being rained down the world was become a world

of stone

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There are many obvious connections between the poem and the story. The poem is about the aftermath of being stoned to death. This is one thing that story left up to the imagination is the stoning and the aftermath of the stoning. This poem helps you picture what the after math would like. “They said their skirts were filled with stones their hands were full of stones, their skirts everywhere stones were being rained down he world was become a world of stone.” This does a good job of showing what it is like to be stoned. Something that the story leaves out.

Artistic ConnectionThe Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche

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This photo shows a women much like Tessie Hutchison getting blindfolded and prepared for execution. The colors in this photo are meant to project sadness, and the people around her are obviously grieving. The people around her represent her family. Who in the end even contributed to her stoning.

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?by Joyce Carol Oates

This story is set somewhere in 1960’s America. It follows a 15 year old girl named Connie. She is known for being a bit rambunctious. One day while her parents are out a stranger comes to her house. His name is Arnold Friend. He seems friendly at first, but continuously seems more and more creepy as the story goes on. He ends up taking Connie, and the rest is left up to imagination, but it is assumed she is raped and killed.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionGood and Evil by Mark Spencer

The nature of good and evilIs more than black and white.They are the darkness in our souls,Likewise they are the light.They dwell at human nature's core,And breed virtue and sin.They are the fundamental force,Within the hearts of men.They fuel our greed and selfishness,Our pride and vanity,They fan the flames of bigotry,Inciting enmity.Or darkness in our souls,No thought of who, or what we are,No wide eyed dreams or goals.Good and evil form our center,Like the roots of a tree.They're human nature's architect,They are humanity.

They also teach us how to love,And live righteous lives.This struggle between right and wrongDetermines who survives.The sum of every human heartIs measured by this scale.It will bring life to those who learn,And death to those who fail.Without them there would be no lightOr darkness in our souls,No thought of who, or what we are,No wide eyed dreams or goals.Good and evil form our center,Like the roots of a tree.They're human nature's architect,They are humanity.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionContinued…

This poem represents the battle of good and evil that friend is going through. In the beginning he seems like a nice charming young man. This represents someone that Friend used to be. “It will bring life to those who learn, And death to those who fail.” Friend is an example of someone who failed, because he never learned the difference between good and evil. This is what causes him to do what he does to Connie.

Artistic ConnectionDeception by Lynet McDonald

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This truly creepy painting is perfect for describing Arnold Friend without words. Deceptive, evil, and good looking. This painting shows the devil using a mask to cover himself. Just as Arnold Friend does when he first meets Connie. He acts welcoming and gentle, but as the story progresses he slowly starts to take the metaphorical mask off and show his true evil.

“Orientation” by Danial Orozco

Out of all the stories this is the strangest. It takes place in an office building. A new employee is being show around the office by his/her boss. She is pointing out every single detail, and knows everything about everyone. The other employees are strange. One can tell you when and how you will die, and another is a serial killer that has not been caught yet. Also there are many things that you cannot do with out being fired. For example making personal phone calls.

Poetical or Lyrical ConnectionA Bunch of Misfits by Chelsea

Struggling to stay on boardHanging on to what we have

We're a bunch of misfitsTrudging on the same path

If I stumble and fallYour there

If you have to much baggageIll carry some of your loadWe're a bunch of misfits

Toddling down the same roadPeople left and right

Stopped at the side of the trailWatching curiously as we goYes we're a bunch of misfits

Making our way in this world

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This poem is about a group of misfits, which is what the employees at the office seem like. There are many typical outcasts like and obese guy, a phycho girl, and a serial killer, and there also seems to be a ongoing love between the employees which could also suggest that they are outcasts in the outside world because they confine themselves to love only people at the office.

Artistic ConnectionLandscape with Figures by George Tooker

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This paintings illustrates the story perfectly. It shows a bunch of people in rows of cubicles. These people do not seem happy, but instead they seem angry, tired, and evil. This really connects the diversity of personalities in the story into the painting.

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