THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
By Edgar Allen Poe
Keywords to understand: pestilence, epidemic, plague, allegory
Background infromation of the story:
1. The Black Death: 1348-1350
2. The origins of the Black Death: The plague bacteria are thought to have spread from central Asia.
From the mid-thirteenth century, increased commercialization in Europe opened up silk routes, and
the reading posts set up to service the reade formed convenient stepping stones for infectec fleas to
break out of the area.
3. There are 3 varieties of plague: bubonic, pneumonic and septicaemic.
4. By 1350, between 25% and 50% of Europe's population had fallen victim of the pestilence.
5. What were the effects of The Black Death on Europe's culture, society and economy?
6. Literature related to the Black Death: The Decameron by the Italian writer Giavanni Boccaccio
Questions for discussion:
Setting and POV:
1. What is the POV of the story?
2. When and where does the story happen?
3. What are the historical contexts of the story?
Characters:
1. Why is the prince named Prospero? What is the significance of the name?
2. How does Poe describe the appearance of "Red Death"?
3. Why was Prince Prospero angry with the masked figure?
Plot, Style and Interpretation:
1. What is "allegory"? ( It is a narrative technique in which characters representing things or abstract
ideas are used to convey a message or teach a lesson. Allegory is typically used to teach moral, ethical,
or religious lessons, but is sometimes used for satiric purposes.) Can you give some examples?
2. Please draw a floor plan of the 7 rooms in the castle and mark the doors and windows.
3. What is special about the last room?
4.
5.
6.
7.
Why did the people at the masque tend to avoid the black room with red windows?
Why are there 7 rooms in the castle?
What effect did the large clock have on the guests every time it chimed?
How would you describe the story in an adjective? Why?
Symbol and Imagery:
1. Is there any use of symbol and imagery in the story? Please identify.
2. Why do the guests wear masks? What do the masks represent?
3. Use five vivid words to describe the Red Death image.
Theme:
1. What is the theme (the main idea) of the story?
Questions for further discussion:
1. When a serious health crisis strikes a community, what is the responsibility of the community's leader?
What do you think about the Prince's response to the situation?
2. Do you think reaction of the prince and his court---trying to wall themselves away from the
problem---is a natural response to an uncontrollable situation? Why or why not?