2. “Masque of the Red Death”

3. Symbols Heart – love White – innocence Snakes – evil/sin
Symbols – a person, object, or idea that represents something outside of its literal meaning.
Heart – love
White – innocence
Snakes – evil/sin

4. Review of theme Theme is… Author’s message to readers; a lesson.
Insightful idea about life.
Theme is not…
One word
Should not sound like a hallmark greeting/cliché
How can we uncover a text’s themes?
Characters and how they change
Title
Important symbols

5. Allegory
A story in which characters, setting, and plot all function as symbols to convey a message or theme.
Places can be symbols for a type of society
Characters can be personifications of abstract ideas such as charity, greed, or envy.
Objects, colors, and numbers can be symbols too

6. Symbols in “Masque of the Red Death”
Prince Prospero
The Masquerade Ball
7 Rooms (and/or colors)
The ebony clock
The masked/mysterious figure

7. Practicing with Theme
Mortality
Reality
Greed
Time
Fear
Foolishness
Choose two of the topics above and write a theme statement for each. Remember from yesterday– theme is a message or statement the author is trying to convey to readers.

8. Sticky note Analysis –
Choose 3 symbols from Poe’s story “Masque of the Red Death”
Label your symbols at the top of each square
Draw a simple image on the sticky-note
Include a quote beneath the note
Explain the significance of the symbol and connect to one of the text’s themes

9. Example:
Symbol: PROSPERO’S CASTLE Quotes: Prince Prospero bars the gates: “no egress or ingress” while the Red Death devastates the country. He remains in a “deep seclusion” with his wealthy friends while they party for months. Significance: Prospero’s castle represents mankind’s efforts to prevent or avoid death. Regardless of wealth, social position, or popularity, death arrives as an uninvited guest to all.