““The Masque The Masque of the Red of the Red

Death”Death”

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

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)

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

Symbolism connects the Symbolism connects the ThemeTheme

Symbol: a person, animal, thing, event, or idea that represents something in addition to itself

heart = love cross = religion or Christianity skull = death red = passion, blood white = purity, innocence

what could symbolize life? death? freedom? joy? hate?

***symbols help readers understand the meaning of the story by focusing on specific ideas related to the theme

Symbolism Connects the Symbolism Connects the themetheme

Projected symbolism:Projected symbolism: The author writes without the intent to make things symbolic, but the reader can draw symbols from the story.

Intended symbolism:Intended symbolism: The author The author writes with the intent to make things writes with the intent to make things symbolic or representative of symbolic or representative of something elsesomething else

Prince Prospero –Prince Prospero –

Wealth; prosperity

He represents mankind's futile attempt to live forever.

The masquerade –The masquerade –

Fantasy; escaping from reality

The masked figure –The masked figure –

Death in general;

More specifically, the Red Death Plague

The number 7 -The number 7 -

The Seven Deadly Sins

The clock -The clock -

The passing of timeThe passing of time

Gluttony - OverindulgenceGluttony - OverindulgenceEnvy - Jealousy of othersEnvy - Jealousy of othersLust - Impure thoughts and desiresLust - Impure thoughts and desiresCovetousness - The desire for Covetousness - The desire for

others’ thingsothers’ thingsAnger - An out-of-control emotion Anger - An out-of-control emotion

of rageof ragePride - An overconfidence in one’s Pride - An overconfidence in one’s

self or one’s abilitiesself or one’s abilitiesSloth - LazinessSloth - Laziness

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

BlueBluePurplePurpleGreenGreenOrangeOrange

WhiteWhiteVioletVioletBlackBlack

The Seven The Seven RoomsRooms Color associationColor association

7 phases of life 7 phases of life ending in deathending in death

7 deadly sins7 deadly sins

AssignmentAssignmentWith a With a partner or on your ownpartner or on your own you you

need to design an illustration of one of need to design an illustration of one of the symbols mentioned on your study the symbols mentioned on your study guideguide

Prince ProsperoPrince ProsperoThe masqueradeThe masqueradeThe masked figureThe masked figureThe clockThe clockAny of the seven rooms mentioned in Any of the seven rooms mentioned in

the storythe story

RequirementsRequirementsYou MUST find quotes or a passage that You MUST find quotes or a passage that

explains what you think is symbolic of explains what you think is symbolic of this objectthis object

You MUST explain the use and meaning You MUST explain the use and meaning of the symbol on the back of your of the symbol on the back of your illustrationillustration

You MUST illustrate to the best of your You MUST illustrate to the best of your abilities using color, cut outs, whateverabilities using color, cut outs, whatever

BOTH you and your partner MUST speak BOTH you and your partner MUST speak and present this symbol to the classand present this symbol to the class

You MAY use the computers to researchYou MAY use the computers to research

Requirements Requirements Your product should include:Your product should include:

Illustration of the symbolIllustration of the symbolQuote or passage of the symbol on the Quote or passage of the symbol on the

illustrationillustrationExplanation for the meaning and use of Explanation for the meaning and use of

this symbol as it relates to the theme.this symbol as it relates to the theme.

Questions to ponderQuestions to ponder

How does this symbol help develop the How does this symbol help develop the theme that death is inescapable?theme that death is inescapable?

What could this object represent and What could this object represent and why?why?

What is the purpose of this object?What is the purpose of this object?Who is affected by the object and how Who is affected by the object and how

are they affected?are they affected?Do the colors or description help Do the colors or description help

symbolize the object further?symbolize the object further?