“The Masque of the Red Death”
Pre-reading Webquest
Pre-reading Webquest
"In the face of poverty Poe was still able to find solace at home with his wife and mother-in-law, but tragedy struck in 1842 when Poe’s wife contracted tuberculosis, the disease that had already claimed Poe’s mother, brother, and foster mother." ~Poe's Life - Edgar Allan Poe Museum
Visit the following websites and take notes on the epidemic that Poe calls “The Red Death” in his story. Use the questions to guide you, but feel free to write down anything you find interesting.
Site 1: The Bubonic Plague
http://www.themiddleages.net/plague.html
What was the Bubonic Plague?
What happens to those who have it?
Why do you think Poe might have been obsessed with this disease as a writer?
Site 2: Poe and Tuberculosis, or “Consumption”
http://www.lung.ca/tb/abouttb/what/
What is tuberculosis, and how did it influence Poe’s life?
From what you see on this site, can you make any guesses about how Tuberculosis might play a role in “The Masque of the Red Death?”
Make a quick prediction:
What do you think “The Masque…” is going to be about?
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