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The Masque of the Red Death Edgar Allan Poe
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Edgar Allan Poe 1809-1849
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His Family and Tragic Life Born in Boston The son of traveling actors Lived a tragic and unhappy life
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Tragic and Unhappy Life Mother died of tuberculosis when Poe was one Father deserted him at the age of two Adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan Had constant disagreements with his step-father John Allan
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... continued Studied briefly at the University of Virginia Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him from continuing at UVA University of Virginia, 1856
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...continued Received an appointment to West Point, but provoked his own dismissal Caused a final separation between himself and step-father West Point Crest
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...continued In 1836 married his 14 year old cousin, Virginia Last 12 years of life worked as journalist, editor, and creative writer Virginia Clemm
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... continued Lived in poverty stricken conditions most of his life In 1846 wife died after a long illness Poe’s home during the 1840’s
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Addiction All evidence suggests that Poe was an alcoholic. Poe also habitually used drugs such as morphine, opium, and laudanum to treat depression and other health conditions. Poe had a weakened nervous system due to a brain lesion and a heart condition. Laudanum, a highly addictive, opium based medicine, was commonly used to treat headaches and stomach pains in 1800’s.
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... continued Died in Baltimore after having been found in a drunken stupor Died a poor man
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Poe’s Work Known for: TTales of mystery and terror stories IIntroducing the modern detective story
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Short Stories: The Tell-Tale Heart The Cask of Amontillado The Black Cat, The Pit and The Pendulum Just a Few Titles PPPPoems: TThe Raven AAnnabel Lee TTo Helen LLenore
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“The Masque of the Red Death” “The Masque of the Red Death”
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The Setting: An abbey
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The Setting The Setting is an abbey, or monastery, converted by the rich Prince Prospero into a private palace and banquet hall. is an abbey, or monastery, converted by the rich Prince Prospero into a private palace and banquet hall. The time is the Middle Ages The time is the Middle Ages
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The Plague Its spread: 1347-1351
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The Plague came from a bacterium now named Yersinia pestis that normally lived in the bloodstreams of fleas, which, in turn, lived on black rats.
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The Plague in human hosts (such as this modern victim) From this symptom came the disease’s common names: Black Death and Bubonic Plague. From this symptom came the disease’s common names: Black Death and Bubonic Plague. infected the lymph nodes, causing black swellings, called buboes. infected the lymph nodes, causing black swellings, called buboes.
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The Plague - “Red Death” Combines plague and tuberculosis, which killed several family members, plays up the bloodiness of the disease. shortens infection’s time span from years (tuberculosis) or days (bubonic plague) to minutes (Red Death). - “Red Death” Combines plague and tuberculosis, which killed several family members, plays up the bloodiness of the disease. shortens infection’s time span from years (tuberculosis) or days (bubonic plague) to minutes (Red Death).
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The Plague Poe’s version “… The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow-men. And the whole seizure, progress and termination of the disease, were the incidents of half an hour.” From “The Masque of the Red Death” “… The scarlet stains upon the body and especially upon the face of the victim, were the pest ban which shut him out from the aid and from the sympathy of his fellow-men. And the whole seizure, progress and termination of the disease, were the incidents of half an hour.” From “The Masque of the Red Death”
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The Plague Prince Prospero, was not hanging around for the Red Death to take him. He had other plans…. Prince Prospero, was not hanging around for the Red Death to take him. He had other plans….
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The Plan Before the Red Death arrived, Prospero planned to be elsewhere — specifically, in his converted abbey, with all that extra room.
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The Plan ”a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court.”
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The Plan … including the requisite musicians, jesters, jugglers, and other entertainers...
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The Plan... then the doors could be welded shut, and the abbey could become a fortress …... then the doors could be welded shut, and the abbey could become a fortress …
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The Plan After five or six months, the Prince decided that the plan needed to be expanded — that what he really needed, as a diversion, was a fancy costume ball. After five or six months, the Prince decided that the plan needed to be expanded — that what he really needed, as a diversion, was a fancy costume ball. He needed a masque. He needed a masque.
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The Masquerade So the guests prepared their costumes... So the guests prepared their costumes... “There were much glare and glitter and piquancy and phantasm …
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The Masquerade... and the ball began. And it was a success — up to a point, anyway —... and the ball began. And it was a success — up to a point, anyway —
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Literary Term: Allusion (1) Reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event Best sources are literature, history, Greek mythology, and the Bible Serves to explain or clarify or enhance subject
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Literary Term: Gothic Elements (2) Supernatural horrors & an unknown terror leads the action Emotional, sentimental, but also strong anger, surprise, & especially terror Words indicating fear & mystery: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, fainting
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Literary Term: Symbol (3) Something that represents something else Universal symbols represent universally recognizable meanings Symbols can also have meaning by the way an author uses them in a literary work Symbols are very common in literature
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Symbols (3a): Symbols & Meanings 1. The Ebony Clock 2. The Masquerade Ball 1. wearing masks, anonymous… could represent everyone 3. Plague (The Red Death) 4. The Uninvited Guest
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Symbols (3b): The Seven Rooms East (sunrise/birth) & West (sunset/death) East (sunrise/birth) & West (sunset/death) 1 Blue- East, windows: same 1 Blue- East, windows: same 2 Purple- windows: same 2 Purple- windows: same 3 Green- windows: same 3 Green- windows: same 4 Orange- windows: same 4 Orange- windows: same 5 White- windows: same 5 White- windows: same 6 Violet- windows: same 6 Violet- windows: same 7 Black- West, blood-red windows 7 Black- West, blood-red windows
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Allegory: A Story Behind a Story (4) Allegory: narrative with a double story; two levels Allegory: narrative with a double story; two levels One the surface- pure storytelling; must hold our attention; believable & interesting characters One the surface- pure storytelling; must hold our attention; believable & interesting characters Under the surface- the story’s characters and events represent abstract ideas; like love or freedom, evil or goodness, hell or heaven. Under the surface- the story’s characters and events represent abstract ideas; like love or freedom, evil or goodness, hell or heaven. Look for arrogance and death on both levels.
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Examples of Allegory (4a) Prospero’s name: prosperous Prospero’s name: prosperous Red Death attacks rich & poor Red Death attacks rich & poor The stranger’s appearance (Dressed like the Grim Reaper or Death) The stranger’s appearance (Dressed like the Grim Reaper or Death) The arrangement of the seven halls The arrangement of the seven halls Lined up rooms of the palace, represent the stages of life. Lined up rooms of the palace, represent the stages of life. colors: black (death) & red (blood) colors: black (death) & red (blood) ebony clock: inevitable passage of time. ebony clock: inevitable passage of time.
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Allegory Person, Object or Event Possible Meaning Possible Lesson of Story The prince The abbey The series of seven rooms The clock The stranger
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