“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe Author Notes, Culture/Context and Literary Devices

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

by Edgar Allan Poeby Edgar Allan Poe

Author Notes, Culture/Context Author Notes, Culture/Context and Literary Devicesand Literary Devices

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

Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe is now is now recognized as a recognized as a great writer of great writer of short stories and short stories and poetry, but he poetry, but he lived a short and lived a short and tragic life.tragic life.


Poe was born in Boston, Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a Massachusetts to a family of poor actors. family of poor actors. His father; David Poe Jr. His father; David Poe Jr. abandoned the family, abandoned the family, never claiming him as never claiming him as his child. Soon after, his his child. Soon after, his mother; Elizabeth Poe, mother; Elizabeth Poe, died of tuberculosis died of tuberculosis (consumption). (consumption).


Poe was raised, but Poe was raised, but never adopted, by never adopted, by the wealthy Allan the wealthy Allan family. family.

Poe and John Allan Poe and John Allan were constantly in were constantly in conflict, particularly conflict, particularly due to expulsion due to expulsion from the University from the University of Virginia and later of Virginia and later from the U.S. Army. from the U.S. Army.


Poe was forced to Poe was forced to live in poverty with live in poverty with his aunt; Maria his aunt; Maria Clemm and his Clemm and his cousin; Virginia. cousin; Virginia. Despite her Despite her relatively young age relatively young age (13), Poe later (13), Poe later married her and married her and acted as her provider acted as her provider and protector.and protector.


One evening, One evening, Virginia Clemm was Virginia Clemm was singing and a spot of singing and a spot of blood appeared on blood appeared on her lip… a sure sign her lip… a sure sign of the deadly of the deadly disease tuburculosis.disease tuburculosis.


As Virginia As Virginia Clemm was dying Clemm was dying of consumption, of consumption, Poe wrote Poe wrote perhaps his most perhaps his most famous poem, famous poem, “The Raven”“The Raven”


In the poem; “The In the poem; “The Raven,” the Raven,” the tortured narrator tortured narrator laments the loss of laments the loss of his beloved Lenore his beloved Lenore (likely symbolizing (likely symbolizing Virginia, as well as Virginia, as well as the idea of grief the idea of grief and loss).and loss).


In addition to poems like, “The In addition to poems like, “The Raven,” Poe is credited with several Raven,” Poe is credited with several unforgettable short stories such as:unforgettable short stories such as:– The Fall of the House of UsherThe Fall of the House of Usher– The Tell Tale HeartThe Tell Tale Heart– The Cask of AmontilladoThe Cask of Amontillado– The Murders in the Rue Morgue (Poe is The Murders in the Rue Morgue (Poe is

credited with creating the detective credited with creating the detective genre).genre).


““The Masque of the The Masque of the Red Death” may Red Death” may symbolize, symbolize, consciously or consciously or unconsciously, the unconsciously, the loss of so many loss of so many women beloved by women beloved by the author, who the author, who succumbed to the succumbed to the terrible disease of terrible disease of tuberculosis.tuberculosis.


Edgar Allan Poe himself Edgar Allan Poe himself died under mysterious died under mysterious circumstances in a circumstances in a Baltimore alley. What Baltimore alley. What caused his death is caused his death is unclear. He died poor unclear. He died poor and delirious in a and delirious in a hospital bed shortly hospital bed shortly after he was found. His after he was found. His life, though tragic, left life, though tragic, left a powerful literary a powerful literary legacy to future legacy to future generations.generations.

Culture / ContextCulture / Context

The story “The The story “The Masque of the Red Masque of the Red Death” is seemingly Death” is seemingly set in medieval set in medieval Europe, although it Europe, although it references events references events from later in history from later in history as if it is a dream.as if it is a dream.


In the 1300’s and 1400’s in Europe, a In the 1300’s and 1400’s in Europe, a plague known as “The Black Death” plague known as “The Black Death” swept across the countryside, killing 1 swept across the countryside, killing 1 out of every 3 people for a death toll out of every 3 people for a death toll of approximately 25 million.of approximately 25 million.


Carried by fleas on Carried by fleas on rats, the Black rats, the Black Death (likely Death (likely Bubonic Plague or a Bubonic Plague or a variation of that variation of that disease) also swept disease) also swept through London in through London in the 1300’s and the 1300’s and again in 1665.again in 1665.


In Poe’s day, the In Poe’s day, the “plague” was “plague” was tuberculosis (or tuberculosis (or “consumption” as “consumption” as it was often it was often called). Since the called). Since the victims often died victims often died coughing up blood, coughing up blood, the “Black Death” the “Black Death” becomes the “Red becomes the “Red Death” in the Death” in the story.story.


The “masque” The “masque” in the story is in the story is a masquerade a masquerade ball, such as ball, such as carnival in carnival in Venice or Venice or Mardi Gras in Mardi Gras in New Orleans.New Orleans.

Literary TerminologyLiterary Terminology

Allegory:Allegory: a poem, play, picture, etc, in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning.

Ex: The Creation Story of Adam and Eve from the Old Testament. Adam symbolizes Man, Eve symbolizes woman, the serpent symbolizes evil, the apple symbolizes temptation, etc.

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“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe Author Notes, Culture/Context and Literary Devices