"The Masque of the Red Death" versus "The Raven"

Essay by PudgyPigeonHigh School, 10th gradeA, May 2004

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Edgar Allen Poe is a writer noted for consistencies in the dark and gothic style in his writing. Poe was very popular for his short stories and poems, which clearly show his creative brilliance. Poe's writing is uniquely terrifying, intriguing, and at the same time, brings up the questions of life and death. He utilizes the theme of death, which is probably related to the death of his young wife "Virginia" or his mother, who died when he was only three (encyclopedia). Poe is also obsessed with the use of color throughout his writings, with imagery. In the short story, "The Masque of the Red Death", and the poem "The Raven", Edgar Allen Poe uses death and color to convey his ideals. For example, in "The Mask of the Red Death" the short story talks about a plague that killed 75% of Europe's population. In addition, "The Raven" displayed images of black areas that portrayed fear for the reader.

Edgar Allan Poe uses death to convey his ideals. By looking at his language, one can tell his abilities to strike terror into the hearts of the readers. All of his adjectives and adverbs are very dark, sinister, and gothic. For example, the opening line of "The Raven" brought forth a very dark setting with the word "dreary". Also, "The Masque of the Red Death", uses the word "pallid", which is defined as pale, and paleness represents death (dictionary & thesaurus). In "The Raven", the story is about the man who dreads over the death of his beloved wife, Lenore. Throughout the story he wants to have the ability to see her again and pleads to a raven if he will let him, which relates to death. The raven itself symbolizes...