Objective: students will read “The Objective: students will read “The Masque of the Red Death” in order to Masque of the Red Death” in order to compare to other romantics and compare to other romantics and examine for allegory.examine for allegory.

Warm-up: Define Warm-up: Define allegoryallegory (462) and (462) and copy the chart to fill out after you copy the chart to fill out after you read.read.

AllegoryAllegoryPerson, Object or Event

Possible Meaning

Possible Lesson of Story

The prince

The abbey

The series of seven roomsThe clock

The stranger

The Masque of The Masque of the Red Deaththe Red Death

Edgar Edgar Allan Allan PoePoe

Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe1809-18491809-1849

His Family and Tragic His Family and Tragic LifeLife

Born in BostonBorn in Boston The son of traveling actorsThe son of traveling actors Lived a tragic and unhappy lifeLived a tragic and unhappy life

Tragic and Unhappy Tragic and Unhappy LifeLife Mother died of Mother died of

tuberculosis when tuberculosis when Poe was onePoe was one

Father deserted him Father deserted him at the age of twoat the age of two

Adopted by Mr. and Adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John AllanMrs. John Allan

Had constant Had constant disagreements with disagreements with his step-fatherhis step-father

John Allan

. . . continued. . . continued Studied briefly at the University of VirginiaStudied briefly at the University of Virginia Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him Drinking and gambling difficulties kept him

from continuing at UVAfrom continuing at UVA

University of Virginia, 1856

. . .continued. . .continued Received an appointment to Received an appointment to

West Point, but provoked his own West Point, but provoked his own dismissaldismissal

Caused a final separation Caused a final separation between himself and step-fatherbetween himself and step-father

West Point Crest

. . .continued. . .continuedIn 1836 married his In 1836 married his

14 year old cousin, 14 year old cousin, VirginiaVirginia

Last 12 years of life Last 12 years of life worked as journalist, worked as journalist, editor, and creative editor, and creative writerwriter

Virginia Clemm

. . . continued. . . continued Lived in poverty Lived in poverty

stricken stricken conditions most conditions most of his lifeof his life

In 1846 wife died In 1846 wife died after a long after a long illnessillness Poe’s home during the

1840’s

AddictionAddiction All evidence suggests All evidence suggests

that Poe was an that Poe was an alcoholic.alcoholic.

Poe also habitually used Poe also habitually used drugs such as morphine, drugs such as morphine, opium, and laudanum to opium, and laudanum to treat depression and treat depression and other health conditions.other health conditions. Poe had a weakened Poe had a weakened

nervous system due to a nervous system due to a brain lesion and a heart brain lesion and a heart condition.condition.

Laudanum, a highly Laudanum, a highly addictive, opium based addictive, opium based medicine, was commonly medicine, was commonly used to treat headaches used to treat headaches and stomach pains in and stomach pains in 1800’s.1800’s.

. . . continued. . . continued Died in Baltimore Died in Baltimore

after having after having been found in a been found in a drunken stupordrunken stupor

Died a poor manDied a poor man

Poe’s WorkPoe’s Work

Known for:Known for: Tales of Tales of

mystery and mystery and terror storiesterror stories

Introducing the Introducing the modern modern detective storydetective story

Short Stories:Short Stories: The Tell-Tale The Tell-Tale

HeartHeart The Cask of The Cask of

AmontilladoAmontillado The Black Cat, The Black Cat, The Pit and The The Pit and The

PendulumPendulum

Just a Few Just a Few TitlesTitles

Poems:Poems: The RavenThe Raven Annabel LeeAnnabel Lee To HelenTo Helen LenoreLenore

“The Masque of the Red Death”

“The Masque of the Red Death”

The Setting: An abbeyThe Setting: An abbey

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

The Setting: An abbeyThe Setting: An abbey

The Setting: An abbeyThe Setting: An abbey

The PlagueThe Plague is usually associated with the worst contagion to hit Europe before the 20th century—

the Black Death

— which, in the mid-14th century, killed roughly one-third of the continent’s population.

is usually associated with the worst contagion to hit Europe before the 20th century—

the Black Death

— which, in the mid-14th century, killed roughly one-third of the continent’s population.

The PlagueThe Plague

Its spread: 1347-1351

The PlagueThe Plague came from a bacterium now named Yersinia pestis

came from a bacterium now named Yersinia pestisthat normally lived in the bloodstreams of fleas, which, in turn, lived on black rats.

that normally lived in the bloodstreams of fleas, which, in turn, lived on black rats.

The PlagueThe Plague

When therats died,the fleas had to find new homes — humans — and a new food supply —human blood. When fleas bit people, they passed along the bacteria — the same pestis that had killed the rats.

When therats died,the fleas had to find new homes — humans — and a new food supply —human blood. When fleas bit people, they passed along the bacteria — the same pestis that had killed the rats.

The PlagueThe Plague in human hosts (such as this modern victim)

in human hosts (such as this modern victim)

From this symptom camethe disease’scommon names: Black Death and Bubonic

Plague.

From this symptom camethe disease’scommon names: Black Death and Bubonic

Plague.

infected the lymph nodes, causing black swellings, called buboes.

infected the lymph nodes, causing black swellings, called buboes.

The PlagueThe Plague Poe’s version of this illness — the “Red Death” — does

not strictly correspond to bubonic plague. He

combines it with tuberculosis, which killed several family members,

and plays up thebloodiness of the disease.

For dramaticeffect, he also shortens the infection’s time span, from

years (tuberculosis) or days (bubonic plague) to minutes

(Red Death).

Poe’s version of this illness — the “Red Death” — does

not strictly correspond to bubonic plague. He

combines it with tuberculosis, which killed several family members,

and plays up thebloodiness of the disease.

For dramaticeffect, he also shortens the infection’s time span, from

years (tuberculosis) or days (bubonic plague) to minutes

(Red Death).

The PlagueThe Plague in the Middle Ages had no effective cure. Doctors tried to treat it by lancing the buboes.

in the Middle Ages had no effective cure. Doctors tried to treat it by lancing the buboes.

The PlagueThe Plague , either way, killed millions, , either way, killed millions,

The PlanThe Plan

Before the Red Death arrived, Prospero Before the Red Death arrived, Prospero planned to be elsewhere — specifically, in his converted abbey, with all that extra room.

planned to be elsewhere — specifically, in his converted abbey, with all that extra room.

The PlanThe Plan

”a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court.”

”a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from among the knights and dames of his court.”

The PlanThe Plan

... then the doors could be

welded shut,

and the abbey could

becomea fortress

…

... then the doors could be

welded shut,

and the abbey could

becomea fortress

…

The MasqueradeThe Masquerade

So the guests prepared their costumes ...

So the guests prepared their costumes ...

“There were much glare and glitter and

piquancy and phantasm …

The MasqueradeThe Masquerade

VocabularyVocabulary

Define the vocabularyDefine the vocabularyComplete Vocabulary in Action (463)Complete Vocabulary in Action (463)

Literary Term: Literary Term: AllusionAllusion Reference to a famous historical or Reference to a famous historical or

literary figure or eventliterary figure or event Best sources are literature, history, Best sources are literature, history,

Greek mythology, and the BibleGreek mythology, and the Bible Serves to explain or clarify or enhance Serves to explain or clarify or enhance

whatever subjectwhatever subject

Literary Term: Literary Term: Gothic ElementsGothic Elements

Supernatural horrors and an Supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the actionpervades the action

High emotion, sentimentalism, High emotion, sentimentalism, but also pronounced anger, but also pronounced anger, surprise, and especially terror surprise, and especially terror

Use of words indicating fear, Use of words indicating fear, mystery: apparition, devil, mystery: apparition, devil, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, ghost, haunted, terror, fright, faintingfainting

Literary Term: Literary Term: SymbolSymbol

Something that is itself and yet also Something that is itself and yet also represents something elserepresents something else

Universal symbols embodying universally Universal symbols embodying universally recognizable meanings recognizable meanings

Invested symbols give symbolic meaning Invested symbols give symbolic meaning by the way an author uses them in a by the way an author uses them in a literary workliterary work

Symbols are very common in literatureSymbols are very common in literature

Allegory: A Story Allegory: A Story Behind a StoryBehind a Story

An An allegoryallegory is a narrative that is a narrative that is really a is really a double storydouble story. One . One story takes place on the surface. story takes place on the surface. Under the surface the story’s Under the surface the story’s characters and events represent characters and events represent abstract ideas or states of being, abstract ideas or states of being, things like love or freedom, evil things like love or freedom, evil or goodness, hell or heaven.or goodness, hell or heaven.

To work, an allegory must To work, an allegory must operate on operate on two levelstwo levels. On the . On the level of pure storytelling, an level of pure storytelling, an allegory must hold our attention. allegory must hold our attention. Its characters must seem Its characters must seem believable and interesting believable and interesting enough for us to care about enough for us to care about them. On the allegorical level them. On the allegorical level the ideas in the story must be the ideas in the story must be accessible to us. As you read, accessible to us. As you read, you should find that the you should find that the allegorical level of the story allegorical level of the story gradually begins to strike you.gradually begins to strike you.

See if you find that See if you find that Poe’s story of Poe’s story of arrogance and death arrogance and death hooks you on both hooks you on both levels.levels.

The Masque of the Red The Masque of the Red Death: Death:

BackgroundBackground Poe’s Poe’s fictionalfictional Red Death Red Death

is probably based on the is probably based on the Black Death, which swept Black Death, which swept fourteenth-century fourteenth-century EuropeEurope and Asia, killing and Asia, killing as many as two thirds of as many as two thirds of the population in some the population in some regions in less than regions in less than twenty years. Poe calls twenty years. Poe calls the plague “the Red the plague “the Red Death” because victims Death” because victims oozed blood from painful oozed blood from painful sores. In this story a sores. In this story a fourteenth-century prince fourteenth-century prince gives a costume party, or gives a costume party, or masque, to try to forget masque, to try to forget about the epidemic about the epidemic raging all around him.raging all around him.

The Black DeathThe Black Death This particular type of plague was This particular type of plague was

the bubonic plague, which is the bubonic plague, which is caused by a bacteria that lived in caused by a bacteria that lived in rats and other rodents. Human rats and other rodents. Human beings were beings were infected through infected through bites from the fleasbites from the fleas that lived on that lived on these rats. The symptoms these rats. The symptoms associated with plague are bubos, associated with plague are bubos, which are painful swellings of the which are painful swellings of the lymph nodes. These typically lymph nodes. These typically appear in the armpits, legs, neck, appear in the armpits, legs, neck, or groin. If left untreated, plague or groin. If left untreated, plague victims die within two to four victims die within two to four days. Victims of this disease days. Victims of this disease suffered swelling in the armpit suffered swelling in the armpit and groin, as well as bleeding in and groin, as well as bleeding in the lungs. Victims also suffered a the lungs. Victims also suffered a very high fever, delirium, and very high fever, delirium, and prostration. prostration.

SummarySummary Poe’s tale of an Poe’s tale of an

eccentric nobleman and eccentric nobleman and the Red Death ravaging the Red Death ravaging his land can be read his land can be read both as a chilling ghost both as a chilling ghost story and as an allegory story and as an allegory representing human representing human folly and the folly and the inevitability of death. inevitability of death. (In other words, you (In other words, you cannot hide from death cannot hide from death regardless how much regardless how much money you have.)money you have.)

Comprehension CheckComprehension Check

1.1. Why does Prince Prospero close Why does Prince Prospero close himself and his courtiers off in the himself and his courtiers off in the abbey? abbey?

2.2. Why does the masked figure’s Why does the masked figure’s presence cause such a sensation?presence cause such a sensation?

3.3. What happens to the prince and the What happens to the prince and the revellers?revellers?

Time for further thoughtTime for further thought

Complete questions 1-7Complete questions 1-7

SummarySummary Prince ProsperoPrince Prospero invites a thousand lords and invites a thousand lords and

ladies to escape death by living luxuriously ladies to escape death by living luxuriously in his castle until the pestilence passes. in his castle until the pestilence passes.

To entertain his guests Prospero hosts a To entertain his guests Prospero hosts a masquerade party that takes place in masquerade party that takes place in seven seven hallshalls, each a different color., each a different color.

SummarySummary At the stroke of midnight, At the stroke of midnight,

a tall figure in a blood-a tall figure in a blood-splattered burial costume splattered burial costume appears. appears.

Prospero demands that his Prospero demands that his friends seize the intruder, friends seize the intruder, but everyone is frozen but everyone is frozen with fear as the stranger with fear as the stranger slowly walks through the slowly walks through the rooms.rooms.

Finally, Prospero rushes Finally, Prospero rushes after him into the black after him into the black seventh room.seventh room.

SummarySummaryWhen the intruder When the intruder

turns, the host falls turns, the host falls dead.dead.

The revelers then The revelers then grab the stranger grab the stranger but find the but find the costume empty.costume empty.

All soon die of the All soon die of the Red Death.Red Death.

CommentsComments The allegorical meaning of the story is found in such details as The allegorical meaning of the story is found in such details as

Prospero’s name (Prospero means prosperous)Prospero’s name (Prospero means prosperous) Unfortunately, the Red Death attacks the rich and poor alikeUnfortunately, the Red Death attacks the rich and poor alike

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

The rooms of the palace, lined up in a series, allegorically represent the The rooms of the palace, lined up in a series, allegorically represent the stages of life. stages of life.

Their colors, particularly the black (death) and red (blood) of the Their colors, particularly the black (death) and red (blood) of the westernmost room with its ebony clock marking the inevitable passage westernmost room with its ebony clock marking the inevitable passage of time.of time.

“No matter how beautiful the castle, how luxuriant the clothing, or how rich the food, no mortal, not even a prince, can escape death. “

-Sparknotes.com

SymbolsSymbols

Symbols are people, places, events, Symbols are people, places, events, or things that stand for ideas larger or things that stand for ideas larger than themselves.than themselves.

SymbolismSymbolism

What symbols do you see in this What symbols do you see in this story?story?

The Seven RoomsThe Seven Rooms

Blue- East, windows the same colorBlue- East, windows the same colorPurple- windows the same colorPurple- windows the same colorGreen- windows the same colorGreen- windows the same colorOrange- windows the same colorOrange- windows the same colorWhite- windows the same colorWhite- windows the same colorViolet- windows the same colorViolet- windows the same colorBlack- West, blood-red windowsBlack- West, blood-red windows

Other Symbols & MeaningsOther Symbols & Meanings

1.1. The Ebony ClockThe Ebony Clock

2.2. The Masquerade BallThe Masquerade Ball1.1. wearing masks, anonymous… could wearing masks, anonymous… could

represent everyonerepresent everyone

3.3. Plague(The Red Death)Plague(The Red Death)

4.4. The Uninvited GuestThe Uninvited Guest

The Seven Rooms: The Seven Rooms: What do they symbolize?What do they symbolize?

Where does the sun rise/set?Where does the sun rise/set?East & WestEast & West

Which color symbolizes death?Which color symbolizes death?BlackBlack

A day can represent a person’s life…A day can represent a person’s life…Sunrise is birthSunrise is birthSunset(or night) is deathSunset(or night) is death

The Ebony Clock:The Ebony Clock:What does it mean?What does it mean?

Time… running out?Time… running out?Mortality – time running out eventually Mortality – time running out eventually

ending in deathending in death

The Uninvited Guest?The Uninvited Guest?

A representation of death A representation of death (specifically The Red Death) that (specifically The Red Death) that comes to kill Prince Prospero and the comes to kill Prince Prospero and the rest of the nobles. rest of the nobles.

Theme?Theme?

No one, no matter how rich or No one, no matter how rich or powerful, can escape the slow march powerful, can escape the slow march of time…and ultimately death.of time…and ultimately death.

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