The Masque of the The Masque of the Red DeathRed Death

Pre-Reading SymbolismPre-Reading Symbolism

Literary SymbolsLiterary Symbols

Reminder: A symbol is an object or image that Reminder: A symbol is an object or image that represents a feeling, thought, idea, or concept.represents a feeling, thought, idea, or concept.

Examples:Examples:A flag represents a country.A flag represents a country.A dove represents peace.A dove represents peace.Red can represent blood, violent passion, Red can represent blood, violent passion,

sacrifice, and disorder (which it represents sacrifice, and disorder (which it represents depends upon the context of what you’re depends upon the context of what you’re reading)reading)

White represents purity and innocenceWhite represents purity and innocence

7 Symbolism: 7 Symbolism: Completeness & LuckCompleteness & Luck

In general, the number seven has several In general, the number seven has several implications in Western Culture. Here are a few:implications in Western Culture. Here are a few:

In the Hebrew, seven ([b'v, - Sheh'-bah) is from a root word In the Hebrew, seven ([b'v, - Sheh'-bah) is from a root word meaning meaning to be complete or full.to be complete or full.

The number 7 is often considered The number 7 is often considered luckylucky, and it has a definite , and it has a definite mystique, perhaps because it is a mystique, perhaps because it is a prime number—that is, it cannot —that is, it cannot be obtained by multiplying two smaller numbers together…but it be obtained by multiplying two smaller numbers together…but it can also be associated with can also be associated with bad luckbad luck…breaking a mirror is seven …breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck, etc.years bad luck, etc.

7 Days of the week - 7 Days of the week - (Sun-day, Moon-day, Tiw’s-day, Woden’s-day, (Sun-day, Moon-day, Tiw’s-day, Woden’s-day, Thor’s-day, Frigg’s-day, Saturn-day). Thor’s-day, Frigg’s-day, Saturn-day).

Tiw was a Norse god of war, parallel to Mars in role but to Zeus in Tiw was a Norse god of war, parallel to Mars in role but to Zeus in etymologyetymology

Frigg was the Old English version of Frea (or Freya) Frigg was the Old English version of Frea (or Freya) wife of Woden (= Odin). wife of Woden (= Odin).

7 Symbolism7 Symbolism The sum of the spiritual 3 and the material 4 is 7. The sum of the spiritual 3 and the material 4 is 7.

In medieval education, students pursued the trivium In medieval education, students pursued the trivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy), a (music, arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy), a total of seven subjects, collectively known as the total of seven subjects, collectively known as the liberal arts.liberal arts.

Pythagorean interest in the mathematical patterns Pythagorean interest in the mathematical patterns in music gives 7 a privileged role, for there are in music gives 7 a privileged role, for there are seven distinct notes in the musical scale—seven distinct notes in the musical scale—corresponding roughly to the white notes on a corresponding roughly to the white notes on a piano. Counting from 1, the eighth note up the scale piano. Counting from 1, the eighth note up the scale is the exceedingly harmonious octave, which is how is the exceedingly harmonious octave, which is how the name arose. the name arose.

The Number 7 Symbolism – The Number 7 Symbolism – as it relates to the storyas it relates to the story

7 Deadly Sins7 Deadly Sins Sloth (laziness)Sloth (laziness) Avarice (greed)Avarice (greed) Envy (jealousy)Envy (jealousy) Gluttony (excess)Gluttony (excess) WrathWrath LustLust PridePride

7 Stages of Life 7 Stages of Life InfantInfant School boySchool boy LoverLover SoldierSoldier JusticeJustice GrandpaGrandpa Back to childBack to child

Color SymbolismColor Symbolism

Blue – Water, coolness, wisdom & skyBlue – Water, coolness, wisdom & sky

Purple – Royalty & PowerPurple – Royalty & Power

Green – Nature, Growth, Life, HopeGreen – Nature, Growth, Life, Hope

Orange – Mid-day, high noon of Orange – Mid-day, high noon of existence, harvest, fire & destructionexistence, harvest, fire & destruction

Color SymbolismColor Symbolism

White – PurityWhite – Purity

Violet – Memory, knowledgeViolet – Memory, knowledge

Black – Gloom, deathBlack – Gloom, death

Scarlet/Red – Violent passion, blood, Scarlet/Red – Violent passion, blood, sacrifice, and disordersacrifice, and disorder

SymbolismSymbolism

East & Rising Sun – Birth, Rise of the East & Rising Sun – Birth, Rise of the Hero, GoodnessHero, Goodness

West & Setting Sun – Death, Fall of the West & Setting Sun – Death, Fall of the Hero, Evil/ CorruptionHero, Evil/ Corruption