Symbolism in the Masque of the Red Death

Why do Prince Prospero and his guests lock themselves in an abbey?

• to pray in seclusion
• to celebrate his birthday
• to escape an invading army
• to escape the Red Death

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The revelers' masks and costumes symbolize their attempt to hide from the Red Death. What detail from the story supports this interpretation?

• The music stops each time the ebony clock chimes.
• The uninvited guest has blood on his mask and costume.
• The revelers look like dreams moving from room to room.
• There are seven chambers, each decorated in a different color.

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What do the red windows in the last chamber symbolize in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

• blood and death
• love and hope
• jealousy and fear
• elegance and wealth

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Prince Prospero's guests seem happy and carefree, but they stop celebrating and get very quiet every time the clock chimes. What does this tell you about how they are really feeling?

• They are annoyed that the clock keeps interrupting their fun.
• They are happy about their flawless escape from the Red Death.
• Under their happy exterior, they are still worried about the Red Death.
• While they are quiet, they think about how much they dislike Prospero.

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Which of the following is a symbol that suggests that the revelers will not live long in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

• the white room
• the locked gates
• the prince's dagger
• the ebony clock

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In "The Masque of the Red Death," what does the uninvited guest symbolize?

• anger
• wealth
• celebration
• death

How does Prince Prospero die?

• He is stabbed with a dagger.
• He is stricken by the plague.
• He is injured in a fall.
• He is hanged from the battlements.

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The tripods' flames go out when the last of the revelers dies. Based on this detail, what might the tripods' flames symbolize in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

• the revelers' lives
• the peasants' revenge
• that it was all a dream
• Prince Prospero's wealth

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What message is Poe trying to convey in "The Masque of the Red Death"?

• God punishes sinners.
• Time passes slowly.
• Wealth cannot protect one from death.
• One should not attend parties uninvited.

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Why does Prince Prospero decide to have a masquerade?

• to show off his good decorating taste to his friends
• to give the musicians and entertainers something to do
• to distract himself and his guests from the boredom and fear of their seclusion
• to taunt those outside the walls who are suffering and dying of the Red Death

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