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The Masque of the Red Death Versus Nothing in the Dark

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General Information The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Author: Edgar Allan Poe Genre(s): Allegory, Horror short story Publication date: May, 1842 Author: George Clayton Johnson Genre(s): Science Fiction, Fantasy, Suspense Original air date: January 5, 1962

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Setting The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark When: The Middle Ages During a plague outbreak During a masquerade ball Where: European countryside Prosperos Abbey/Castle The royal suite of 7 interconnected rooms When: 1950s During the winter A single day Where: American city A condemned tenement Wandas apartment

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General Characters The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prince Prospero 1000 retainers Musicians/servants The Red Death Wanda Dunn Officer Harold Beldon/ Mr. Death Contractor

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Protagonists The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prince Prospero Wealthy Young Robust Cruel Extravagant Wanda Dunn Poor Elderly Frail Compassionate Simple

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Antagonists The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark The Red Death Tall Gaunt Face of a stiffened corpse Wrapped in funeral shroud Blood spattered Relentless merciless Harold Beldon /(Mr. Death) Young Well built Handsome Dressed as a policeman Wounded Determined Kind

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General Plot The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark A wealthy powerful prince locks himself and 1000 loyal subjects in his castle in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid The Red Death A lonely old woman refuses to leave her apartment for fear of meeting "Mr. Death.

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Exposition The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Setting established Plague explained Prospero is introduced Prosperos precautions/preparations against plague Setting established Wanda is introduced

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Conflict The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prince Prospero vs. The Red Death Wanda vs. Mr. Death

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Rising Action The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prospero holds a masquerade Someone appears among the guests dressed as a victim of the plague Prospero pursues this guest through the rooms Wanda overcomes her fears of venturing outside to bring in a wounded policeman He tries to persuade her to obtain help for him A contractor shoves his way into her apartment The officer is of no help to her Wanda realizes the policeman is Death in disguise

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Climax The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Prospero falls dead to the floor followed by everyone else Wanda takes Deaths hand

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Falling Action The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Death holds dominion over all Wanda walks out of her apartment with Death

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Resolution The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark No one escapes Death Death is not necessarily something to fear.

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Point of View The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Third-person omniscient the narrator knows all the thoughts, actions, and feelings of all characters. The author may move from character to character to show how each one contributes to the plot. Some critics have argued that Death, himself, is the narrator. Third-person objective a narrator who tells a story without describing any character's thoughts, opinions, or feelings; instead, it gives an objective, unbiased point of view. Rod Serlings Intro and Outro inject a bit of Third- person omniscience

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Symbolism The Masque of the Red Death Nothing in the Dark Rooms = stages of life/death Clock = passing of time Red Death = Death Policeman = Death Furniture = prison Winter = old age