Gothic Elements in The Masque of the Red Death 英语毕业论文.docxVIP

Gothic Elements in The Masque of the Red Death Introduction Edgar Allan Poe was one of the early American practitioners of short story. His melancholy brilliance, passionate lyricism and his tormented soul made him one of the most widely read writers in American literature. Edgar Allan Poes short story The Masque of the Red Death was first published in 1842. In this macabre tale, Prince Prospero sealed himself and a thousand of his friends into the abbey of a castle in order to protect them from a deadly pestilence—the red death—that was ravaging the country. But when the people was indulging in a lavish costume ball in order to distract themselves from the suffering and death outside the walls, the red death, disguised as a costumed guest, entered and claimed the lives of everyone present. The story is narrated in a manner which gives it the quality of a myth, allegory or fairy tale, exploring themes of mans fear of death, sin, madness, and the end of the world. This tale is a prime example of Poes gothic horror fiction. Poe evokes a dark and eerie mood in a story that focuses on images of blood and death, while the personification of the red death lends an element of the supernatural. The Masque of the Red Death embodies Poes mastery of the short story; in addition, it illustrates his literary philosophy. According to Poe, a short story should be tightly focused so that every word, from beginning to end, contributes to the overall effect. In The Masque of the Red Death, powerful imagery and an illusive narrative voice are tightly woven into a macabre tale of horror with insight into the human condition. I A brief introduction to The Masque of the Red Death The Masque of the Red Death is a remarkable and bloodcurdling story written by Edger Allan Poe, who is very crafty in the gothic stories by adding the gloomy, mysterious, death- related elements. He has a mad sense of imagination which makes him paint the rooms and the castle to the reader using words. The plot