Allegory

1. Allegory A work of art with two levels of meaning. In an allegory characters and objects stand for ideas outside the work, such as good and evil. They are often meant to teach moral lessons.

2. The Greek Myth of Sisyphus The man pushed the rock uphill. He struggled for a long time and almost reached the top. As he gave a last heave, the rock clipped and rolled all the way down. He had to begin again. He had already begun a hundred times. What do you think the man, the rock, and the hill might stand for?

3. Black Death/Plague Poe’s vision of the Red Death may have been influenced by the plague which ran rampant in Europe during the 14th century. No one was exempt, but towns had a higher rate of death than the countryside. Poe’s vision may also have been affected by the frequent outbreaks of yellow fever and cholera that afflicted American cities in the early 1800’s. In 1832, while Poe was living in Baltimore, a cholera epidemic killed 853 residents of that city.

4. Ideas to Consider Illusion of safety The name “Prospero” Escape Symbolism of the ebony clock Colors of the rooms as well as the red room being at the west end.

5. Possibilities for writing Mood/atmosphere Setting Symbolism Tension Foreboding Diction Figures of speech Irony