“The Masque of the Red
Death”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Known for what type of literature?
Horror, Suspense,
Mystery, & Gothic
Elements of Gothic Fiction
1. Setting in a castle or large estate.
– The action takes place in and around an old
castle, sometimes seemingly abandoned,
sometimes occupied.
– The castle often contains secret passages, trap
doors, secret rooms, dark or hidden staircases,
and possibly ruined sections.
– In some American Gothic fiction, the setting
might be in an old house or mansion.
Elements of Gothic Fiction
2. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense.
– The work is pervaded by a threatening feeling, a
fear enhanced by the unknown.
Elements of Gothic Fiction
3. Supernatural or otherwise inexplicable
events.
– Dramatic, amazing events occur, such as ghosts
or giants walking, or inanimate objects (such as a
suit of armor or painting) coming to life.
– In some works, the events are ultimately given a
natural explanation, while in others the events
are truly supernatural.
Elements of Gothic Fiction
4. High, even overwrought emotion.
– The narration may be highly sentimental, and the
characters are often overcome by anger, sorrow,
surprise, and especially, terror.
– Characters suffer from raw nerves and a feeling
of impending doom.
Elements of Gothic Fiction
5. The metonymy of gloom and horror.
– Metonymy is a subtype of metaphor, in which
something (like rain) is used to stand for
something else (like sorrow).
– Examples of metonymy
• wind, especially howling
• rain, especially blowing
• footsteps approaching
• lights in abandoned rooms
Elements of Gothic Fiction
6. The vocabulary of the gothic.
– The constant use of the appropriate vocabulary set
creates the atmosphere of the gothic.
•Mystery
•Fear, Terror, or
Sorrow
•Surprise
•Haste
•Anger
•Largeness
Other works by Poe include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
CASK OF AMONTILLADO
FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM
ANNABEL LEE
ELDORADO
THE RAVEN
THE TELL-TALE HEART
Literary Focus:
Figurative Language
• Language enriched by word images
and figures of speech
–Designed to make the reader take an
imaginative leap to understand the
author’s point.
–Includes the use of similes, metaphors,
personification, etc.
Figurative Language
• Dead Metaphor – Cliché – a phrase, expression
or idea that has been overused to the point of
losing its intended force or novelty.
– Applies also to almost any situation, subject,
characterization that has become overly familiar or
commonplace.
– Cliché in writing or speech can indicate a lack of
creativity or sincerity.