"The Masque of the Red Death"

What is the central theme of "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe?

• Death is more powerful than life or growth.

• Death is unavoidable, regardless of one's wealth or power.

• People must confront their problems rather than try to hide from them.

• Fear is a strong tool that leaders can use to increase their power.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Identify the figurative meaning of the phrase "the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all" in the story.

• The Red Death was a minor inconvenience.

• The Red Death was easily defeated.

• The Red Death had complete control.

• The Red Death was a source of joy.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What is the meaning of the phrase "the Red Death" in the context of the story?

• A type of dance

• A deadly plague

• A royal title

• A precious gem

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CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How does the description of the different colored rooms contribute to the story's theme?

• They represent the stages of life.

• They show the wealth of the prince.

• They indicate the happiness of the guests.

• They highlight the beauty of the castle.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the significance of the masquerade ball in the story?

• It symbolizes the characters' attempt to escape reality.

• It represents a celebration of life.

• It shows the unity of the kingdom.

• It highlights the characters' generosity.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the role of Prince Prospero in the development of the story's theme?

• He represents the futility of trying to escape death.

• He symbolizes hope and renewal.

• He embodies wisdom and foresight.

• He signifies love and compassion.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does the use of imagery in the description of the masquerade ball enhance the story's theme?

• It highlights the joy and celebration of life.

• It emphasizes the inevitability of death.

• It showcases the beauty of the setting.

• It underlines the wealth of the characters.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What is the effect of the repeated references to the clock in the story?

• It creates a sense of timelessness.

• It builds suspense and tension.

• It suggests a carefree atmosphere.

• It indicates the characters' happiness.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does the phrase "untenanted by any tangible form" in paragraph 14 suggest about the intruder?

• The intruder has no physical form and therefore cannot be restrained, which makes it similar to death and disease.

• The intruder is able to vanish when it is attacked, which implies that it comes from another world, possibly the land of the dead.

• The phrase conveys the extreme violence with which the revelers handle the intruder, who is seemingly left without a body.

• The intruder's body consists of disease-ridden vapors, which the Prince and other revelers unwittingly release by attacking it.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.4

The narrator describes the courtiers as resolving "to leave means neither of ingress or egress" in paragraph 2. What does this description reveal about the courtiers' attitudes?

• The courtiers' decision to allow people to leave the abbey but never to re-enter shows that they value collective security over individual freedom.

• The courtiers believe that the plague will never make it into the abbey, and in their arrogance they leave no options for escape.

• The courtiers have no desire to every reconnect with the outside world and wish to build a new society in complete isolation.

• The courtiers take advantage of the rule that all homes be locked up in times of plague because it gives them an excuse to ignore the people's suffering.

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CCSS.RL.9-10.3