The Mask of the Red Death

Why does Prince Prospero invite a thousand healthy, happy friends to his palace?

• to celebrate that the plague is over

• to pray for the people who have already died of the disease

• to escape the red death

• to escape from a terrible mad man

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Although Prospero and his guests seem happy and carefree, they stop celebrating and are quiet each time the clock chimes. What does this suggest about how they are really feeling?

• They are annoyed that the clock keeps interrupting their fun.

• They secretly do not like Prospero.

• They feel guilty about the fun they are having while others outside the palace walls are surely dying of the red death.

• They are still worried that they may not have escaped the red death themselves.

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Prospero's guests are invited to a maquerade ball. The costumes and masks they wear symbolize...

• their attempt to hide themselves from the red death.

• their great wealth and good fortune.

• their shame for not helping others outside the palace walls.

• their appreciation for the finer things in life.

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Why does Prospero decide to have a masquerade after five months?

• to celebrate the end of the plague

• to distract his guests from their boredom and fears

• to enjoy the last of their supplies which are running low

• to show off all of the beautifully decorated rooms in his palace

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Which of the following details does not suggest that something is not right at the party?

• "It produced so wild a look on the faces of those who entered that there were few of the dancers who dared to step within those dark walls"

• "The dancers looked like the forms we might see in troubled dreams."

• "It did not seem that their steps followed the music, but that the music rose from their steps."

• "the clock spoke with a loud, clear voice, a deep tone as beautiful as music."

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Which three details from the story best help to explain why guests are horrified by finding the stranger at the party?

• "the stranger moved quietly, without being stopped, with a slow and measured step..."

• "The gentlemen, after they had entered, brought fire to heat the iron of the gates to make them close so firmly that nobody could open them."

• "He was tall and very thin, and covered from head to foot like a dead man prepared for the grave."

• "the masquerader whom nobody knew had made himself look like the red death itself."

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Based on what we know about color symbolism, why is it appropriate that Prince Prospero shouts, "Who dares? Take him! Seize him!" while standing in the blue room?

• because blue symbolizes passion and anger and Prospero is extremely angry

• because blue symbolizes wealth and Prospero is wealthy

• because blue symbolizes strength and security and Prospero is protecting his guests

• because blue symbolizes courage and confidence and Prospero believes he can defeat the intruder

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Based on what we know about the story and color symbolism, which of the following help to explain why it is appropriate that the stranger enters the black room with the red glass windows last?

• None of the guests had dared to enter that room earlier out of fear.

• The black clock inside the room stops as the party guests die.

• The red windows symbolize the red death.

• The black walls and furnishings symbolize ill-will and danger.

• All of the above.

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What moral or message does Poe convey in "The Masque of the Red Death?"

• Time flies when you're having fun.

• Money and power cannot protect you from death.

• You should never attend a party uninvited.

• It is unfair to exclude others.

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Which two details about Poe's life can not be connected to the theme, or message in this story?

• Poe's most dear family members died of terrible illnesses.

• Poe's wife was much younger than he was.

• Poe's adoptive father used his wealth to try to control Edgar's choices.

• Poe loved writing poems and stories.

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