Title:
1The Masque of the Red DeathObjective
Analyze how symbolism is used in the story
2What is 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.
3What is the background/setting
- Setting during the bubonic plague - 14th and
17th centuries - Bubonic plague was an illness carried by fleas
who bit rats that traveled on ships - The Black Death is estimated to have killed 30
60 of Europe's population - Symptoms boils in the groin, the neck and
armpits, which oozed pus and bled when opened
vomiting blood, fever - http//www.squidoo.com/black-death-history
4What is the significance of the rooms
- Rooms are going east to west signifying the life
cycle - sunrise
- and
- sunset
5Going from East to West
- Blue birth
- Purple youth (beginnings of growth)
- Green youth
- Orange adult hood
- White mid-life
- Violet elderly
- Black death
- Red reserved for blood and fear
6What does the clock symbolize?
- It symbolizes reality their lives slowly ticking
away.
7What does Prince Prosperos name symbolize
- Wealth prosperity
- He represents mankind's futile attempt to live
forever.
8What does the mask figure symbolize?
- Death in general
-
- More specifically, the Red Death Plague
9Vocabulary
- Avatar the incarnation of a God (Hinduism)
- Pestilence a deadly epidemic disease
- Sagacious keen practical sense shrewd
- August inspiring reverence or admiration
- Contagion the communication of disease by
contact - Dauntless not to be intimidated fearless bold
- http//www.needcoffee.com/2009/10/11/masque-red-de
ath-audio/
101. Why do Prince Prospero and his followers
retreat to his palace?
- To escape the Red Death Plague
112. Explain how the party is constantly disrupted.
Every time the clock strikes off another hour,
the orchestra stops playing and the people stop
dancing.
123. Compare life outside the palace with the life
of the people Prospero brought inside.
Inside
Outside
Wealth
Poverty
Fantasy
Reality
Life
Death Destruction
Happiness
Sorrow
Health
Disease/Sickness
Despair
Hope
134. 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.)
145. 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
156. Why does the visitor frighten the 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
167. List 6 aspects of how Poe builds terror in
the story
- Description of the plagues 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
17Processing
- Create a foldable
- On the back upper half, write the title, author
and theme (13) - On the outside of the flap, state the questions
- On the flat side, when you open the flap, answer
the question. - On the other side of the flap, draw a picture
- On the back answer lower half, short response
1 ONLY
18Question of the Day
- Create a plot diagram, and explain the exposition
and rising actions events so far in the story
19Question of the Day
- Finish the plot diagram you started yesterday.
Please fill in the climax and resolution.