THE MACABRE

1
THE MACABRE

• Suggesting the horror of death and decay gruesome

2
Origin of the Word...

• From the French expression la danse macabre
  (Dance of Death)
• Refers to the allegorical representation of the
  universal power of death.

ALLEGORY a story in which the characters and
events are symbols that stand for ideas about
human life
3
In Literature...

• Characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere
• Emphasis on the details and symbols of death

4
Famous Macabre ...

• Stephen King
• H.P. Lovecraft
• Edgar Allen Poe
• Tim Burton

5
Symbols in The Masque of the Red Death
6
The Seven Chambers

• The stages of life
• From Shakespeares Seven Ages of Man in As You
  Like It

7
The Black Chamber

• The grave, a coffin, forebodes of death (the red
  symbolizes blood)

8
The Tripod with Flames

• It is light think heat and LIFE

9
The Clock

• Our time on Earth. (It chimes regularly like the
  beating of a heart)

10
The Masked Visitor

• Death

11
Other Symbols...

• What other symbols can you notice?