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

Death”Death”

Why do Prince Prospero 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

Describe in specific detail the 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 A series of 7 rooms in a zig-zag patternzig-zag pattern

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

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

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

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

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

Explain how the party is 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.

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

What do you learn about 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 prejudiced against the He is prejudiced 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.)

What mood or effect is 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

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

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

WhyWhy does the visitor frighten the does the visitor frighten the guests? 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

ListList aspects of how Poe builds 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

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.

AllegoryAllegoryset of recognizable symbols whose set of recognizable symbols whose

meanings combine to convey a meanings combine to convey a message.message.

An allegory always operates on two An allegory always operates on two levels of meaning:levels of meaning:

the literal elements of the plot (the the literal elements of the plot (the colors of the rooms, for example) and colors of the rooms, for example) and their symbolic counterparts, which their symbolic counterparts, which often involve large philosophical often involve large philosophical concepts (such as life and death). concepts (such as life and death).

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

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

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

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

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS

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

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

Gluttony - The overindulgence of anything.Gluttony - The overindulgence of anything. Envy- Jealousy of others.Envy- Jealousy of others. Lust - Impure thoughts and desires.Lust - Impure thoughts and desires. Covetousness - The desire for others’ Covetousness - The desire for others’

thingsthings Anger-fury, also known as wrathAnger-fury, also known as wrath Pride- An overconfidence in one’s self or Pride- An overconfidence in one’s self or

one’s abilitiesone’s abilities Sloth Sloth (Procrastination)- Laziness- Laziness

The number 7 -The number 7 - 7; the world was created in 7 days; it symbolizes 7; the world was created in 7 days; it symbolizes

fullness, completion.fullness, completion. Room 1 (in the east): blue Room 1 (in the east): blue (water-life begins in (water-life begins in

water in womb)water in womb) Room 2: purple: royalty, power Room 2: purple: royalty, power (children control, (children control,

dominate family life)dominate family life) Room 3: green: growth, life Room 3: green: growth, life (youth, maturation(youth, maturation Room 4: orange: fertility Room 4: orange: fertility (adulthood; procreation (adulthood; procreation

& productivity)& productivity) Room 5: white: purification Room 5: white: purification (part of aging is (part of aging is

finding meaning in life & becoming more spiritual)finding meaning in life & becoming more spiritual) Room 6: violet: light purple Room 6: violet: light purple (weakening power as (weakening power as

result of aging body)result of aging body) Room 7: black/ red: evil, death, sorrow, lossRoom 7: black/ red: evil, death, sorrow, loss Full spectrum of colors represents the stages of Full spectrum of colors represents the stages of

man’s life from birth to death.man’s life from birth to death.

WHAT MIGHT EACH WHAT MIGHT EACH COLOR REPRESENT?COLOR REPRESENT?

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

BlueBluePurplePurpleGreenGreenOrangeOrange

WhiteWhiteVioletVioletBlackBlack

BLUEBLUE

Masculinity; Sadness; Melancholy; Calm

PURPLEPURPLE

Royalty

GREENGREEN

Envy; luck; growth

ORANGEORANGE

Caution ;fertility

WHITEWHITE

Purity; peace

VioletViolet

Mystery; sprituality

BLACKBLACK

Death; mourning