ELA 9-10 Masque of Red Death

ELA 9-10 Masque of Red Death. Through this lesson, students will analyze parts of the poem Masque of Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe for purpose, text structure, language features, and knowledge domains.

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Standards & Objectives

Essential and guiding questions: 

Comprehension:

  • What is the story about?
  • Who is Prince Prospero and what do you know about him?

Vocabulary:

  • Based on context, what is a mummer? What words and phrases does Poe use to describe the mummer and what do these words mean?

Significance:

  • Why are all the rooms different colors?

Interpretive:

  • Why do the revelers cease dancing and listen to the chiming of the clock?
  • What is the central theme of the story? Support your answer with textual evidence.
  • Why does Prince Prospero call the mummer’s appearance “blasphemous mockery”?

Significance:

  • Identify and explain an important symbol from the story.

Activity/Task Variations

Differentiation suggestions: 

Scaffolding and support for special education students, English language learners, and struggling readers:

  • Modeling of reading difficult text may be required for struggling students; chunking the text would also be helpful. Vocabulary support is also necessary as many of the terms are archaic. After reading a particularly difficult passage, have students record questions they have that impede their understanding and then work together to try to resolve their questions. 
Originator: 
Tennessee Department of Education