Definition of a Short Story

"The Cask of the Amontillado" is a short story by Poe, which he further categorizes as a literary genre.  Poe defines short stories as literary genres because they are tales told about an event or occurrence between one or two people. There is not a lot of details regarding their backgrounds or much in depth on the setting or cause for the tale. A short story is more about bringing in the reader emotionally. To be as descriptive on the single happening going on as though the reader were actually with the characters in the act. 

I believe Poe was correct in his definition of a short story from the reading, "The Brief Prose Tale".  From further reading "The Cask of Amontillado", I sense the relationship between Fortunato and the narrator.  The emotions overall are felt when the narrator is building the wall and hears the moans coming from the catacomb...the shock and anxiety for escaping alive from this dark damp tomb where many mans remains were left to waste prior before this tale. 

A short story is to evoke the overall emotions and underlying theme that the author expresses in this event.  Regardless if you are aware of the events previous to this or later, you will learn about this moment and understand through the event the characters partaking in the situation.