“The Masque of Red Death”: Study Questions

“The Masque of Red Death”: Study Questions Name: ______________________________ Plot Questions 1. What lies “without” the abbey? Outside the abbey lies the Red Death, a devastating plague 2. How long had Prospero and others been inside the abbey when the party takes place? Prospero and the others had been inside the abbey for about five or six months 3. How many apartments or rooms are inside the abbey? There are seven distinct rooms or apartments inside the abbey 4. The last room is described as being what color? The last room is described as being black 5. Whenever the clock chimes, how do the revelers react? When the clock chimes, the revelers momentarily stop their activities and become silent 6. At what time do the revelers notice the stranger? The revelers notice the stranger at midnight 7. What is the stranger dressed up as? The stranger is dressed up as the Red Death, with a mask resembling a corpse and clothes stained with blood 8. What kind of weapon does Prince Prospero approach the stranger with? Prince Prospero approaches the stranger with a dagger or a sword 9. When the stranger is unmasked, what is strange about his appearance? When the stranger is unmasked, there is nothing beneath the costume; he is simply dressed as the Red Death itself, suggesting that he is the embodiment of the plague Analysis Questions 10. What does the stranger personify? The stranger personifies the Red Death itself, symbolizing the inevitability of death and the futility of trying to escape it 11. What is the double meaning of the word “masque” in the title? The double meaning of "masque" in the title refers to both the literal masquerade party within the story and the masque or mask of death that ultimately overtakes Prospero and his guests 12. Time is referenced a lot in the story. What is its importance to the story? Time is important in the story as it symbolizes the inevitability of death and the inability to escape it. Each toll of the clock represents the passage of time and brings the revelers closer to their demise 13. Who is the protagonist? Who or what is the antagonist? The protagonist of the story could be argued to be either Prince Prospero or the stranger, depending on the interpretation. The antagonist is the Red Death itself, representing mortality and the inevitability of death 14. What is the tone of the story? The tone of the story is dark and ominous, with a sense of foreboding and dread permeating the narrative 15. At one point in the story, the narrator refers to Herod. What figure of speech does this represent? Referring to Herod is an allusion, a figure of speech where the narrator indirectly references Herod's infamous massacre of the innocents. This adds to the sense of impending doom and death in the story 16. What does the color black represent in this story? What about the scarlet? In "The Masque of the Red Death," black represents death and the inevitability of mortality, while scarlet symbolizes the blood and the horror of the Red Death itself, as well as the decadence and luxury within Prospero's party