Review for Red Death Test

Part I. Multiple Choice on Thursday The Multiple Choice test will have two parts: 1. Knowledge of the text. 2. Literary Devices: Metaphor Simile Symbol Personification Onomatopoeia Types of Imagery (aural, visual, tactile…) Alliteration Hyperbole Allusion Foreshadowing

Part II. Essay; Thurs-Fri You will write a 4 paragraph essay explaining how Poe uses two symbols create theme in his work. You are allowed one 3x5 card of notes to aid you on this exam. On this card, you should have a theme statement and the quotations you plan to use in your essay.

Structure of the Essay Introduction: This should introduce the story and author as well as the theme. For example: In Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death,” he shows that no matter a person’s wealth, one cannot avoid death. Body Paragraph 1: Symbol 1: “Quote” that shows the symboleffecttheme III. Body Paragraph 2: Symbol 2: IV. Conclusion: Restate thesis What are the implications of the work/what does this issue look like today.

Sample 1   Edgar Allen Poe uses symbolism with the color red a lot to build meaning in the story. In many descriptions, he uses lines such as “blood-colored” and “scarlet horror” to put meaning behind red. It’s not just a color, it stands for sacrifice, anger, blood and murder. There is also a big meaning behind the color black, it holds an important part in the story. It stands for death and gloom. Black is used for the very last room to symbolize the end of life, when the “ebony” clock rang, the guests were quiet because they were reminded that the time is ticking for everybody. Including the Prince. He also uses purple. This color is used for the Prince to symbolize his pride. When he shouted at the figure, it was from the purple room because he was trying to display his power to the guests. This color was a symbol for his conceited character.

Sample 2 One of the ways Poe builds meaning in “The Masque of the Red Death” is by using color symbolism. Poe describes Prospero’s rooms in great detail, ranging from “vividly blue” to “a deep blood color.” The colors of the rooms represent everything from royalty, purity, and life to violence and death. Using color symbolism gives a meaning to every room that the Prince has. Another way Poe builds meaning in “The Masque of the Red Death” is by using the clock. The clock is described as “gigantic” and “ebony” and the chiming of the clock made even the most happiest guest “grow pale” until the chimes died away. The clock represents our eternal clocks ticking and time running out. The guests were frightened of the clock because it reminded them that death is near and no one can escape death. A third way Poe builds meaning in the story is by using the number seven. When describing Prince Prospero’s rooms, Poe tell us that “there were seven” of them. The number of the rooms represent the seven stages of life from birth to death.

Writing Tips: Write in present tense. Quotations should be five words or less. Writing should be in third person Commentary should explain the meaning/theme correlation AND the connotations of the evidence as it relates to tone/mood of the piece. Sample: The chiming of the ebony clock foreshadows the death of the revelers which creates an eerie suspense, especially considering the clock is ebony and in the western most room – since both the color black and the west represent death. The reader knows the party goers are in peril even though they party and delight to try to forget the Red Death. But, it’s hard to be dauntless when faced a force like time. The clock’s hourly chiming serves as a bitter reminder for the revelers that they cannot elude death.