The document provides an analysis of symbolism in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death". It discusses three key symbols: 1) The Red Death represents tuberculosis, which was a fatal disease during Poe's time. 2) The zig-zag layout of the rooms in the castle symbolizes the unpredictability of the future. 3) The colors of the seven rooms, ranging from east to west, symbolize the progression from birth to death.