The Masque of the

Red DeathEdgar Allan Poe

Monday, Oct. 22·Masque of the Red Death

background·begin readingI CAN:

* define, understand, & apply symbolism & allegory* use the historical background & biographical history of an author to understand a short story

The Masque of the Red Deathby Edgar Allan Poe

Pay attention...Mrs. Loomer is a scary smart

lady!

Who is that freaky genius,

Edgar Allan Poe?

·born in 1809, died in 1849·dad = deserted family·mom = died when he was 3·taken in by a foster family

more Poe...·great athlete and very intelligent, but moody and irresponsible

·Foster-mom (who he was close with) also died

·did not get along with foster dad, who refused to pay his gambling debt at the univ. of WV

more Poe (and it gets ugly!)·early signs of alcoholism

·married his 13-year old cousin

·Wife died of TB, causing complete mental breakdown

·Numerous rumors about his death (including rabies, murder and suicide)

So, what is The Masque of

the Red Death

about?

Poe invented the "Red Death" for this story but he bases it on both the Black Death and tuberculosis.

The Black DeathIn the 1300s, a plague called the Black Death swept across Europe, killing as many as 25 million people. Most of those who caught the disease died within three to five days after their symptoms appeared. Subsequent outbreaks of plague continued in Europe until recent times.

Watch video

·TB = infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, but can attack almost any part of the body. ·spread from person to person through the air.·When people with TB in their lungs or throat cough, laugh, sneeze, sing, or even talk, the germs that cause TB may spread throughout the air.·Many of the women in Poe's life died from TB including his mother and his wife. · He realizes his wife has TB when she stands up to sing one evening and a drop of blood appears on her lip. ·He later develops the story "Masque of the Red Death" based on his fear of this life ending disease.

Tuberculosis

AllegoryAn allegory is a story or tale with two levels of meaning---a literal level and one or more symbolic levels. The events, setting, and characters in an allegory are symbols for ideas or qualities.

In other words---symbolic story telling or when you tell one story to represent or stand for another.

Once a symbol is established it can be used to represent another event...it becomes an allegory. One example is this cover from The New Yorker magazine after the economy crashed.

Look out for characters and/or symbols that represent something greater than themselves.

Allegory in "Masque of the Red Death"

Symbols to watch for: ·The use and importance of color

·the importance of numbers·symbolism of East/West·the number 7

Two levels of meaning: 1. the literal elements of the plot (the colors of the rooms, for example) and2. their symbolic counterparts, which often involve large

philosophical concepts (such as life and death).

Symbolic Numbers:

·Do you know the seven deadly sins?·The seven ages of man?·The seven cardinal virtues?

The Seven Deadly Sins:·Pride

·Envy·Anger·Sloth·Greed·Gluttony·Lust

Which of these sins will Prince Prospero commit?

The Seven Ages of Man:·infant

·schoolboy·lover·soldier·judge·pantaloon·second childhood

Which stage might the ebony clock symbolize?

Symbolism:East to West

What direction are the rooms lined up in? What color is each room?

What can color symbolize?Please look at the paper in front of you and list on that sheet all of the ideas, events, emotion, etc. that come to mind when you see that color.

·Does the color remind you of a particular season/holiday?·Have you heard phrases that use that color?·What emotions does the color evoke?

List at least 10 images that come to mind.

The Meaning of Color:·blue-peace, intelligence, stability, depression·purple-royalty, spirituality·green-life, growth, envy, youth, spring, health·orange-energy, warmth, autumn·white-purity, cleanliness, innocence·violet-femininity, grace, elegance·black-evil, death, night·red - anger, blood, heat, love, power