The Masque of the red death Edgar Allan Poe Julianne gnadinger, alexa glass, bailey masterson, Olivia marino, Elizabeth flutz, & ally mattingly

Basic information Title: names of other characters and a description for each: ◦The Masque of the Red Death Author: ◦Red Death- masked figure shrouded in a dark cloak ◦By Edgar Allen Poe Setting: ◦Prince Prospero's castle had a mask that was made to look like the people who died from the Red Death point of view: ◦3rd person omniscient name of Violent protagonist and a descriptor with major traits: tall and gaunt; ghost-like ◦Guests- friends of Prince Prospero ◦Prince Prospero stayed in the castle with him and partied happily strange eclectic taste Dauntless were terrified of the masked figure

Plot summary When a disease called the Red Death starts becoming rampant, Prince Prospero locks the gates of his palace with him and his friends inside, hoping to leave the death and disease behind the walls. After a few months he decides to throw a masquerade ball for everyone inside the walls of the castle. He decorates the rooms of the palace for the ball, each one in a single different color. There’s blue, purple, violet, green, orange, white and an ominous black room that is furnished with an ebony clock. Every hour the clock rings and everyone freezes because of the loud and disturbing sound. Otherwise, all rooms, except for the strange black room, are filled with merriment and laughter. When the clock rings midnight a figure appears. He is dressed like a corpse in a funeral shroud, like someone who had died from the Red Death. This stranger’s mask angers the prince and he goes to confront the man. When he catches the mysterious figure he dies, and when the party-goers finally find the body of the prince, they learn that there was no one in the grotesque costume at all. Everyone else in the castle soon parishes as well. The Red Death has infiltrated the castle and triumphed.

Conflicts This story’s conflict is control versus fate. Prince prospero was attempting to take control of his current situation by hiding from the issues at hand and disregarding his other obligations. This conflict is resolved when death makes an appearance at the ball and conquers everyone.

Humans cannot cheat death. Theme Humans cannot cheat death. •The theme is developed by Prince Prospero and his friends believing they can abandon the outside world and live in seclusion to escape the Red Death. Despite their beliefs the plague, the man in the ugly mask and robe, finds its way into the castle and kills all of the partygoers.

Literary elements Sentence Structure: Character development: Pace: ◦This is in third person omniscient ◦They contain many subordinate clauses. ◦The perspective plays a role because it doesn’t show a bias from other characters ◦There are little to no interruptions; if these were used, they were used for emphasis. Character development: ◦The word order is unconventionally crafted and personalized by Poe. ◦Because we are specifically only addressed to two characters in this story, he has the ability to focus strongly on forming and developing these characters. Prince Prospero is introduced at the very beginning as a wealthy, well-off man. While the other character, Red Death, isn't even human, but is presented as one. Pace: ◦The writing is heavily descriptive and focuses on much of the setting and atmosphere. Expansive VS Economical Diction: ◦This short story is written in a long-winded and drawn out, elaborate manner. ◦Prince Prospero and Red Death are both static and flat characters. Each have a small group of characteristics that remain constant throughout. ◦Poe used this to divert the reader's attention to different aspect of the story, making the ending even greater and more emphasized. ◦Prince Prospero impacts the reader in a way that we all can relate to, trying to escape danger and death. Red Death impacts readers because we realize it is all something we can't escape. Vocabulary/Word Choice: ◦Poe uses many intricate and sophisticated adjectives to describe situations. Tone and Voice: Description and Figurative Language: ◦This story is written in a serious voice, but can also be lighthearted at times. When it is describing the death, it is solemn and bleak. When it talks of the long parties and celebrations, it vividly describes the laughter and fun. ◦There is an abundance of description; ◦There is sensory detail when the Red Death is described; when it is symbolized as a person. ◦Personification plays a key role in this story because it comes to a point when the Red Death is waltzing about the party as a "person". Story Elements: Use of Dialogue: ◦The writing contains much irony; the Red Death was always going to get the guests and prince., which the readers knew, but the characters didn’t. ◦There is no dialogue included in this story. Point of View:

quotes "An now again the music swells, and the dreams live, and writhe to and fro more merrily than ever.” Poe creates a description of the mood of all the rooms well and uses comparison of the rooms to the overall feeling of the people at the masquerade. "But to the chamber which lies most westwardly of the seven, there are now none of the maskers who venture; for the night is waning away; and there flows a ruddier light through the blood-colored panes; and the blackness of the sable drapery appals. Poe uses a lot of description to create a visual of the dark room. This shows his great use of imagery in his writing. "There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be touched without emotion." Poe uses many of literary elements; this metaphor creates deeper thoughts.

The masque of the red death -shmoop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14gQjK5CV2w

Activity Procedure: •Create a mask out of construction paper so you can attend Prince Prospero's party! •Make it appealing for the fabulous party or make one to look like the Red Death!