The document provides instructions for a 600-1000 word essay analyzing how symbolism, imagery, and characterization are used to portray the mood in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Masque of the Red Death". Students are asked to discover the mood of the story, gather evidence of these literary devices, and write a thesis-driven essay in MLA format focusing on clear thesis statement, fully developed paragraphs with direct quotes, and meeting specified grading criteria. The essay should analyze how these literary elements enhance the mood conveyed in the story.

1. Literary terms in “The Masque of the Red Death”
– Type 3
Due: Monday, February 9
Length 600 - 1000 words
Project Summary: We’ve gone over a few literary terms within the last week including imagery,
characterization, and symbolism. Now you have to analyze all these terms within Edgar Allan
Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death.” The main point of this essay is to discover the mood of
the story and analyze how these literary terms enhance this mood. Use quotes from the text to
prove your argument.
Purpose: To analyze how the mood is portrayed through symbolism, imagery, and
characterization.
Writer’s Role: You, student with knowledge of the story.
Audience: Me (Ms. Durand)
Form: Type 3 essay, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font. Include standard MLA
heading requirements on the top left and write “Type 3” on the top right, along with
abbreviations for the focus correction areas (FCAs) and their possible percentages. Make sure
to insert page numbers on your essay in the top right corner of the page, with your last name
before it. Example: Durand 1.
Focus Correction Areas:
1. Clear thesis statement at the end of your introduction (30%)
2. Three or more fully-developed body paragraphs (30%)
3. Two or more pieces of direct textual evidence per
body paragraph (40%)
Procedures:
• Discover the mood of the story.
• Gather evidence by searching for imagery or descriptions that add to the mood you
selected.
• Gather more evidence by searching for symbolism. Make sure to interpret what the
symbol stands for and then use as evidence to prove the mood.

2. • Pick an important character within the story. Analyze his or her actions and motives.
Analyze how the character has changed through the story. Observe what the narrator
explains about the character. Use this and other direct and indirect characterization
techniques to prove your view of what the mood of the story is.
• Make sure to use MLA format for your quotes. Use parenthetical citations. Parenthetical
citations: (author’s last name page #) Ex: (Durand 6)
• Make notes about quotes you want to use, its page number, and the significance of that
quote towards your essay.
• Outline your essay. State what you think the mood of the story is within your thesis
statement. Providing a paragraph for each literary term is suggested. For example, there
would be one paragraph talking about the symbolism within the story, then another
paragraph for imagery, and another for characterization.