The Masque Of The Red Death Syntax Analysis

Poe is often known for his dark, sometimes twisted short stories and poems. “The Masque of the Red Death” is no exception. In this short story, Poe creates and eerie and ominous mood by using a wide variety of literary techniques including imagery, diction, and syntax. Poe’s use of imagery contributes to the dark and mysterious mood of the short story, “The Masque of the Red Death.” In the first paragraph, a sense of darkness is conveyed in the sentence, “There was no light of any kind emanating from lamp or candle within the suite of chambers.” This precisely explains the darkness of the room because it is mentioned that there was no light of any kind. Another source of imagery that conveys a haunting mood is the sentence in the first paragraph

Poe, who is often known for using challenging and varying sentence structure, uses elements of syntax such as polysyndeton and parallel structure to create a dark and ominous mood. Poe uses syntax in the first paragraph when he starts several sentences with “But in the…” and then names a specific room. This is effective because he describes each room with different features, but each feature has an equally discomforting feeling accompanying it. He uses polysyndeton in the second paragraph when he described the sound the clock made; he wrote, “...there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and exceedingly musical.” The combination of the different qualities of the sound are important because not only does it mirror the complex reaction the characters have to it, but it illustrates the significance of the clock. Parallel structure/ polysyndeton is also used when Poe describes the effect the clock has on the people by saying, “... and thus the waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions, and there was a brief discomfort of the whole gay company; and, while the chimes of the clock yet rang, it was observed that the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused reverie or meditation.” The polysyndeton used in this sentence bolsters the overall effect that the eerie chimes of the clock had an effect on everyone who heard them. Poe effectively uses literary techniques such as imagery, diction, and syntax to convey a threatening and sinister mood in “The Masque of the Red Death.” His powerful use of descriptive adjectives, effective choice of words with strong negative connotations, and supporting structure of words and sentences contribute to the well- established mood Poe sets throughout the excerpt from “The Masque of the Red