Edgar Allan Poe Essay

1. According to the first paragraph, what characteristics of the â€Å"Red Death† make it such a horrible disease? * The characteristics of the â€Å"Red Death† that make it such a horrible disease are the profuse amounts of blood, sharp pains, sudden dizziness, and the seizure. 2. Describe in detail Prospero’s plan for escaping the epidemic. * Prospero’s plan for escaping the epidemic was to gather a thousand hale and light-hearted friends from his court and keep them within a wall. The courtiers brought massy hammers to weld the bolts. Within the wall the people basically rejoiced to keep away from the â€Å"Red Death.† 3. What do the ebony clock and its arresting chimes add to the plot? Can you think of any symbolic value the clock might have? * 4. What symbolic evidence can you find in Poe’s use of the following? * A. the number seven – B. the use of colors, especially the black and scarlet in the seventh room – C. the movement from east to west in the sequence of the rooms and throughout the story – 5. In your opinion, how does this allusion add a layer of meaning to this story? * 6. â€Å"The want of parental affection,† wrote Poe â€Å"has been the heaviest of my trials.† Explain why Poe would make such a statement. * 7. What prominent military academy did Poe attend? Did he graduate? Why or why not? * 8. In great detail, comment on Virginia Clemm. * 9. Why is much of what we know about Poe wrong? * 10. Poe is widely known for inventing what type of story? *