1. THE MACABRE Suggesting the horror of death and decay; gruesome

2. Origin of the Word... From the French expression la danse macabre (‘Dance of Death’) Refers to the allegorical representation of the universal power of death. ALLEGORY: a story in which the characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life

3. In Literature... Characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere Emphasis on the details and symbols of death

4. Famous Macabre... Stephen King H.P. Lovecraft Edgar Allen Poe Tim Burton

5. Symbols in The Masque of the Red Death

6. The Seven Chambers The stages of life From Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man in As You Like It

7. The Black Chamber The grave, a coffin, forebodes of death (the red symbolizes blood)

8. The Tripod with Flames It is light – think heat and LIFE

9. The Clock Our time on Earth. (It chimes regularly like the beating of a heart)

10. The Masked Visitor Death

11. Other Symbols... What other symbols can you notice?