The Masque of the Red Death Versus Nothing in the Dark
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General Information The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the
Dark Author: Edgar Allan Poe Genre(s): Allegory, Horror short story
Publication date: May, 1842 Author: George Clayton Johnson
Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fantasy, Suspense Original air date:
January 5, 1962
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Setting The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark When:
The Middle Ages During a plague outbreak During a masquerade ball
Where: European countryside Prosperos Abbey/Castle The royal suite
of 7 interconnected rooms When: 1950s During the winter A single
day Where: American city A condemned tenement Wandas apartment
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General Characters The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the
Dark Prince Prospero 1000 retainers Musicians/servants The Red
Death Wanda Dunn Officer Harold Beldon/ Mr. Death Contractor
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Protagonists The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark
Prince Prospero Wealthy Young Robust Cruel Extravagant Wanda Dunn
Poor Elderly Frail Compassionate Simple
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Antagonists The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark The
Red Death Tall Gaunt Face of a stiffened corpse Wrapped in funeral
shroud Blood spattered Relentless merciless Harold Beldon /(Mr.
Death) Young Well built Handsome Dressed as a policeman Wounded
Determined Kind
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General Plot The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark A
wealthy powerful prince locks himself and 1000 loyal subjects in
his castle in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid The Red Death A
lonely old woman refuses to leave her apartment for fear of meeting
"Mr. Death.
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Exposition The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark
Setting established Plague explained Prospero is introduced
Prosperos precautions/preparations against plague Setting
established Wanda is introduced
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Conflict The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prince
Prospero vs. The Red Death Wanda vs. Mr. Death
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Rising Action The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark
Prospero holds a masquerade Someone appears among the guests
dressed as a victim of the plague Prospero pursues this guest
through the rooms Wanda overcomes her fears of venturing outside to
bring in a wounded policeman He tries to persuade her to obtain
help for him A contractor shoves his way into her apartment The
officer is of no help to her Wanda realizes the policeman is Death
in disguise
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Climax The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prospero
falls dead to the floor followed by everyone else Wanda takes
Deaths hand
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Falling Action The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark
Death holds dominion over all Wanda walks out of her apartment with
Death
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Resolution The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark No
one escapes Death Death is not necessarily something to fear.
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Point of View The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark
Third-person omniscient the narrator knows all the thoughts,
actions, and feelings of all characters. The author may move from
character to character to show how each one contributes to the
plot. Some critics have argued that Death, himself, is the
narrator. Third-person objective a narrator who tells a story
without describing any character's thoughts, opinions, or feelings;
instead, it gives an objective, unbiased point of view. Rod
Serlings Intro and Outro inject a bit of Third- person
omniscience
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Symbolism The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Rooms
= stages of life/death Clock = passing of time Red Death = Death
Policeman = Death Furniture = prison Winter = old age