“The Masque of the Red Death”

Horror, Suspense, Mystery ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Known for what type of literature? Horror, Suspense, Mystery

Other works by Poe include: CASK OF AMONTILLADO FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM ANNABEL LEE ELDORADO THE RAVEN THE TELL-TALE HEART

Inside Outside Wealth Poverty Fantasy Reality Life Death; Destruction REVIEW: Compare and contrast inside versus outside of the Prince Prospero’s Abbey. Inside Outside Wealth Poverty Fantasy Reality Life Death; Destruction Happiness Sorrow Health Disease/Sickness Hope Despair

Going from East to West: Blue Purple Green Orange White Violet Black/Red

Literary Focus Suspense Foreshadowing Symbolism

Suspense The quality of a story that keeps you guessing Makes you read to find out what happens next!

Foreshadowing The use of hints about what is going to happen next Heightens suspense

Examples of Suspense/foreshadowing Description of the plague’s symptoms Doors welded shut; one couldn't leave even if one wanted to Dim, pulsing lights from the burning coals Black room with the red panes Appearance and behavior of the intruder Clock constantly stopping the party

Why does the prince think he can escape the plague? (infer) Various answers…

Uninvited guest or something else? Prove your point…

Symbolism Symbol – an object, person, or event that represents something else Used to make a point, create a mood, or reinforce a theme Many symbols have obvious/universal meanings, like COLORS

WHAT MIGHT EACH COLOR REPRESENT?

Group Work Symbolism through colors Rotate through “Color” Stations Think about objects associated with the colors to help you come up with ideas that the colors symbolize! Write your ideas on your Group Chart Pick your best ideas and write them on the COLORED construction paper Answer the questions at the bottom

Masculinity; Sadness; Melancholy; Calm 1. BLUE Masculinity; Sadness; Melancholy; Calm

2. PURPLE Royalty

3. GREEN Envy; luck; nature

4. ORANGE Caution

5. WHITE Purity; peace

6. PINK Femininity

7. BLACK Death; mourning

7. RED Love; Hatred; Passion; Help

Symbolism creates the “Mood” What mood or effect is created by the colors and the lighting in the rooms of the ball? It causes a dream-like effect. Fantasy

Symbolism makes a point… Why do you think the rooms are aligned from East to West? The sun sets from east to west symbolizing something coming to an end; death

Why do you think Poe chose to have SEVEN rooms? What could the number 7 represent/symbolize?

The Seven Deadly Sins! Or The Seven Stages in Life

Seven Stages of Life When you get to the “White” Room You will completed the 7 Stages of Life Handout.

Seven Deadly Sins “GELCAPS” is a mnemonic device. Mnemonic devices are tools for those who want help in remembering important facts. Click here for top 10 mnemonic devices!

Group Work Seven Deadly Sins Find the name(s) of the 7 deadly sins on the back of colored construction paper. Write the name on the appropriate line for “GELCAPS” You will complete 2 sins in the GREEN ROOM Come up with a definition Write down consequence(s) for each sin Answer the question at the bottom In the WHITE ROOM you will complete the 7 Stages of LIFE activity

Use these pictures to help you define the 7 Deadly Sins

DEFINITION - The overindulgence of anything. NAME - Gluttony DEFINITION - The overindulgence of anything. CONSEQUENCES - Death

DEFINITION - Jealousy of others. NAME - Envy DEFINITION - Jealousy of others. CONSEQUENCES - Death

DEFINITION - Impure thoughts and desires. L- NAME - Lust DEFINITION - Impure thoughts and desires. CONSEQUENCES - Death

DEFINITION - The desire for others’ things C- NAME - Covetousness DEFINITION - The desire for others’ things CONSEQUENCES - Death

DEFINITION - An out-of-control emotion of rage NAME Anger DEFINITION - An out-of-control emotion of rage CONSEQUENCES - Death

DEFINITION - An overconfidence in one’s self or one’s abilities P- NAME Pride DEFINITION - An overconfidence in one’s self or one’s abilities CONSEQUENCES - Death

NAME - Sloth (Procrastination) DEFINITION - Laziness CONSEQUENCES - Death

* Give (2) reasons why these sins are considered to be so dangerous. Society accepts and promotes them. When taken to the extreme they all lead to death.

Other symbols in the story… What might the following symbolize? Prince Prospero… The Masquerade… The Masked Figure… The Clock…

He represents mankind's futile attempt to live forever. Prince Prospero – Wealth; prosperity He represents mankind's futile attempt to live forever.

The masquerade – Fantasy; escaping from reality

More specifically, the Red Death Plague The masked figure – Death in general; More specifically, the Red Death Plague

It symbolizes reality; their lives slowly ticking away. The Clock It symbolizes reality; their lives slowly ticking away.

Why use all of these symbols? To say something without saying it! Poe is try to convey a deeper meaning from this story. In other words, we aren’t just talking about a party and a murdering spree! When a story has a deeper meaning than what’s on the surface it is called an …

Allegory: A type of story in which the characters, settings, and events are an interconnected series of SYMBOLS. The deeper or symbolic meaning of the story may contain a LESSON ABOUT LIFE.

He is prejudice against the poor. What do you learn about Prospero's character from his desire to keep his palace free of the plague? He is afraid to die. He is prejudice against the poor. He thinks he can cheat death. (He thinks he can buy his way out.)

What is the allegorical lesson in the story? (write in the 3rd Person) One cannot escape his or her fate or death.