““The Masque of the The Masque of the Red Death”Red Death”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Known for what type of literature?Known for what type of literature?

Horror, Suspense, Mystery

Other works by Poe Other works by Poe include:include:

CASK OF AMONTILLADO CASK OF AMONTILLADO FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM ANNABEL LEE ANNABEL LEE ELDORADO ELDORADO THE RAVEN THE RAVEN THE TELL-TALE HEART THE TELL-TALE HEART

Literary Focus:Literary Focus:Figurative Language Figurative Language

Language enriched by word Language enriched by word imagesimages and and figures of speechfigures of speech

Designed to make the reader Designed to make the reader take an imaginative leap to take an imaginative leap to understand the author’s point. understand the author’s point.

Includes the use of similes, Includes the use of similes, metaphors, personification, etc. metaphors, personification, etc.

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language

Dead Metaphor – Dead Metaphor – ClichéCliché – a phrase, – a phrase,

expression or idea that has been expression or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its overused to the point of losing its intended force or novelty.intended force or novelty.

Applies also to almost any situation, Applies also to almost any situation, subject, characterization that has subject, characterization that has become overly familiar or commonplace. become overly familiar or commonplace.

Cliché in writing or speech can indicate a Cliché in writing or speech can indicate a lack of creativity or sincerity.lack of creativity or sincerity.

1. Why do Prince Prospero 1. Why do Prince Prospero and his followers retreat to and his followers retreat to

his palace?his palace?

To escape the Red To escape the Red Death PlagueDeath Plague

2. Describe in specific detail the 2. Describe in specific detail the series of rooms in which the series of rooms in which the

Masquerade Ball takes place. Masquerade Ball takes place.

A series of 7 rooms in A series of 7 rooms in a zig-zag patterna zig-zag pattern

Going from East to West:Going from East to West:

BlueBluePurplePurpleGreenGreenOrangeOrange

WhiteWhiteVioletVioletBlackBlack

To serve as lighting, there are To serve as lighting, there are large bowls of burning coals large bowls of burning coals between the rooms.between the rooms.

In the black room there In the black room there stands a huge ebony stands a huge ebony grandfather clock.grandfather clock.

The decorations match the The decorations match the color of each room.color of each room.

There is a Gothic window in There is a Gothic window in each room which panes match each room which panes match the color of the room.the color of the room.

The black room’s window The black room’s window panes are the only exception: panes are the only exception: its panes are “blood” red.its panes are “blood” red.

3. Explain how the party is 3. Explain how the party is constantly disrupted.constantly disrupted.

Every time the clock strikes off another hour, the orchestra

stops playing and the people stop dancing.

4. Compare life outside the 4. Compare life outside the palace with the life of the people palace with the life of the people

Prospero brought inside. Prospero brought inside. OutsideOutsideInside

RealityRealityFantasyFantasy

Death; DestructionDeath; DestructionLifeLife

SorrowSorrowHappinessHappiness

HealthHealth Disease/SicknessDisease/Sickness

DespairDespairHopeHope

WealthWealth PovertyPoverty

5. What do you learn about 5. What do you learn about Prospero's character from his Prospero's character from his

desire to keep his palace free of desire to keep his palace free of the plague?the plague?

He is afraid to die.He is afraid to die.He is prejudice against the He is prejudice against the

poor.poor.He thinks he can cheat He thinks he can cheat

death. (He thinks he can death. (He thinks he can buy his way out.)buy his way out.)

6. What mood or effect is 6. What mood or effect is created by the colors and created by the colors and the lighting in the rooms of the the lighting in the rooms of the

ball? ball?

It causes a dream-like effect.It causes a dream-like effect.FantasyFantasy

7. 7. WhyWhy does the clock have does the clock have such a dramatic effect on such a dramatic effect on

the dancers?the dancers?It symbolizes reality; their It symbolizes reality; their lives slowly ticking away.lives slowly ticking away.

8. 8. WhyWhy does the visitor frighten does the visitor frighten the guests? the guests?

Because he suddenly and mysteriously appears out of nowhere

Because he looks like someone with the Red Death Plague

Because he just stalks to and fro and doesn't talk

DescribeDescribe the intruder’s the intruder’s appearance and behavior. appearance and behavior.

It has a tall, gaunt It has a tall, gaunt appearanceappearance

It is “shrouded” with the It is “shrouded” with the “habiliments” of the dead“habiliments” of the dead

It resembles someone with It resembles someone with the red death disease.the red death disease.

Its face is dabbed in blood.Its face is dabbed in blood.

9. 9. ListList 6 aspects of how Poe builds 6 aspects of how Poe builds terror in the story:terror in the story:

Description of the plague’s symptoms Doors welded shut; one couldn't leave

even if one wanted toDim, pulsing lights from the burning coalsBlack room with the red panesAppearance and behavior of the intruderClock constantly stopping the party

LITERARY FOCUSLITERARY FOCUS 10. A. Define 10. A. Define AllegoryAllegory::

A type of story in which the A type of story in which the characters, settings, and characters, settings, and events are an interconnected events are an interconnected series of SYMBOLS.series of SYMBOLS.

The deeper or symbolic The deeper or symbolic meaning of the story may meaning of the story may contain a LESSON ABOUT contain a LESSON ABOUT LIFE.LIFE.

B. What is the allegorical B. What is the allegorical lesson in the story? lesson in the story?

(write in the 3(write in the 3rdrd Person) Person)

One cannot escape his or One cannot escape his or her fate or death.her fate or death.

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

What might each What might each Symbol from the Symbol from the story represent?story represent?

11. Prince Prospero –11. Prince Prospero –

Wealth; prosperity

He represents mankind's futile attempt to live forever.

12. The masquerade –12. The masquerade –

Fantasy; escaping from reality

13. The masked figure –13. The masked figure –

Death in general;

More specifically, the Red Death Plague

14. The number 7 -14. The number 7 -

The Seven Deadly Sins

LIST AND DEFINE THE LIST AND DEFINE THE 7 7 DEADLY SINS. DEADLY SINS.

EXPLAIN THE EXPLAIN THE POTENTIAL POTENTIAL

CONSEQUENCES OF CONSEQUENCES OF EACH.EACH.

G-G-NAMENAME - Gluttony - Gluttony

DEFINITION DEFINITION - The - The overindulgence of anything.overindulgence of anything.

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

E-E-

NAMENAME - Envy - Envy

DEFINITIONDEFINITION - Jealousy of - Jealousy of others.others.

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

L-L-

NAMENAME - Lust - Lust

DEFINITIONDEFINITION - Impure - Impure thoughts and desires.thoughts and desires.

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

C-C-

NAMENAME - Covetousness - Covetousness

DEFINITIONDEFINITION - The desire - The desire for others’ thingsfor others’ things

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

A-A-

NAMENAME Anger Anger

DEFINITION DEFINITION - An out-of-- An out-of-control emotion of ragecontrol emotion of rage

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

P-P-

NAMENAME Pride Pride

DEFINITIONDEFINITION - An - An overconfidence in one’s self or overconfidence in one’s self or one’s abilitiesone’s abilities

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

S-S-

NAMENAME - Sloth - Sloth (Procrastination)

DEFINITIONDEFINITION - Laziness - Laziness

CONSEQUENCESCONSEQUENCES - Death - Death

* Give (2) reasons why these * Give (2) reasons why these sins are considered to be so sins are considered to be so

dangerous.dangerous.

Society accepts and promotes them.

When taken to the extreme they all lead to death.

WHAT MIGHT EACH WHAT MIGHT EACH COLOR REPRESENT?COLOR REPRESENT? (LIST A FEW FOR EACH.) (LIST A FEW FOR EACH.)

16. GREEN16. GREEN

Envy; luck

17. WHITE17. WHITE

Purity; peace

18. BLACK18. BLACK

Death; mourning

19. PINK19. PINK

Femininity

20. ORANGE20. ORANGE

Caution

21. RED21. RED

Love; Hatred; Passion; Help

22. BLUE22. BLUE

Masculinity; Sadness; Melancholy; Calm

23 PURPLE23 PURPLE

Royalty

24. YELLOW24. YELLOW

Cowardice