Edgar Allen Poe

1. Edgar Allen Poe “Masque of the Red Death” (Notes) *These are long… you need to listen more and create your own set, rather than copy each word

2. Poe “Refresher” • 1809-1849 • Family Problems – no stable parental figures • Drinking / Gambling problems – dropped out of college • Married 13-year old cousin – Virginia Clemm • Literature was criticized for being strange and unusual (mostly non-traditional) • Virginia dies of Tuberculosis – Poe completely broke down as a result of her death • Found completely delirious in a tavern 2 years after her death and died a few days later • Cause of death – up for debate (alcohol poisoning … rabies?)

3. Brief History Lesson for this story: The Black Death – “The Bubonic Plague” • Arrived in Sicily in 1347 – carried by a fleet from the east (all sailors on the ship were dead or dying when it arrived) • The sick sailors were ordered to stay on board; however, sailors escaped down ropes that were tied to the docks (No one knew at the time!) • The carriers = black rats and the fleas that lived in their hair (the rats were looking for food, which caused them to travel – the flea used the blood of the rat to stay alive – the plague was often found in bacteria that lived in the flea’s stomach)

4. The Black Death – “The Bubonic Plague” • The bacteria did NOT harm the flea, nor many rats • However, the flea could contain so many bacteria, that it would invade the rat’s lungs or nervous system when the flea “bit for blood/food” • The flea had legs that allowed it to jump more than 150 times its own length; therefore, the fleas would jump from rat to rat • If no rat was “available” – a human being was the next option – allowing infection to set in!

5. European cities invaded • Conditions in many medieval cities caused an increase in rats/fleas • No regular garbage collection • Leftover food thrown on the floor or ground was customary • Damp flooring and grounds • No running water for people to bathe regularly or wash clothing

6. Reactions to the disease • Some people isolated themselves in their own homes • Ate lightly • Saw no one from the “outside” • Refused to receive reports of the dead or sick • Many had a different attitude • “play today and die tomorrow” • Drank heavily • Danced through the streets • Treated the Black Death as a joke • Others were rich enough to abandon their home and flee to the countryside in hopes of escaping the disease (even though it usually followed)

7. Death • Main symptom: oozing blood from painful sores on their body • Bodies piled up in the streets due to the high number of deaths • Created new jobs • For example: loading and unloading dead bodies… • Loss of respect for the dead • No bells tolling • Lack of emotion / numb reaction instead • Everyone soon expected death

8. Poe Unit Vocabulary • Symbol • Allegory

9. Poe Unit Vocab. • Symbol • Something that on the surface is its literal self but which also has another meaning or even several meanings. • Application: Each of the characters in Of Mice and Mensymbolizes a group in society.

10. Symbols Match a character from Of Mice and Men to a symbol below.

11. Symbolic Representation Wheelchair - Lennie, because he symbolizes how those with handicaps are often victimized by society. Bottle of Alcohol - George, because he symbolizes the working man's need to escape from reality through vice. His reckless spending on alcohol and prostitutes prevent him from ever raising enough money to finance his dreams of owning his own farm. Boxing Gloves - Curley, because he is a bully and symbolizes those in society who use their status (he's the boss's son) to hurt others. Segregation Sign - Crooks, because he symbolizes those forced to be outsiders based on race. Cane - Candy, because he symbolizes elderly abuse and discrimination. He also symbolizes those who finish their lives in poverty and misery. Cash Register - The boss, he doesn't have to do much to make money. He symbolizes business owners who generate passive income. Lipstick - Curley's wife, because she is superficial. She symbolizes the objectification of women and broken dreams. Lunch Pail - Carlson, because he works. He symbolizes blue collar workers who think little. They show up, do their job, and give little thought to the future.

12. Poe Unit Vocab. • Allegory • Narrative that is a double story – works on two levels • A story that has a literal and figurative meaning both. • One story takes place on the surface, meaning it’s highly obvious (literal) • However, under the story’s surface, you will find characters and events that represent abstract ideas (for example: love, freedom, evil, goodness, hell, heaven, etc.) (figurative) • “Masque of the Red Death” is an allegory! • Many things represent more than what they are literally! Be prepared to identify and explain the allegorical parts. • Application:Of Mice and Men is an allegory, each character should represent something different, in this case, a common person in society.

13. How is Of Mice and Menan allegory? • Each character in Of Mice and Mensymbolizes a group of people in society, making the novel allegorical. • The following characters symbolize a segment of society who faces discrimination: Lennie - the handicapped; Crooks - racial minorities; Curley's wife - women; Candy - the elderly. • The boss represents the faceless corporations who run things behind the scenes. • Curley, the boss's son, represents society's privileged bullies. • Carlson symbolizes the working man, who operates mechanically with very little thought. • George represents the frustrated working class who works hard, gets nowhere, and drowns his sorrows with alcohol and other vices.

14. For Monday… • Over the long weekend, you need to read “Masque of the Red Death” on pg. 419-427 • We will be applying the terms symbol and allegory to this Poe story. Be thinking of potential symbols, and how this story is allegorical.