Chimes at Midnight

circuit of the face, and the hour was to be stricken, there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical.” (Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1064/1064-h/1064-h.htm) The chimes of the clock cause the guests to get a chilling feeling like their lives are about to end. When the chiming stops, the guests go back to the party as if nothing happened, but when the chiming starts again the guests get the same uncomfortable, haunting

clock strikes midnight and the clock in the scarlet red and black room makes its ghastly chime. Everyone stops dancing and notices this peculiarly dressed man in

the velvet. And then, for a moment, all is still, and all is silent save the voice of the clock. The dreams are stiff-frozen as they stand. But the echoes of the chime die away -- they have endured but an instant -- and a light, half-subdued laughter floats after them as they depart” (Poe) The clock is rung twelve times, up until midnight, and no more, and many people felt an uneasy presence, Because the clock did not strike anymore, this meant that someone’s or something’s time was up. “But now there

In this story, the ebony clock that is located at the back of the seventh room is a symbol of passing time, and with every passing hour, death becomes closer. In the story, the clock chimes loudly every hour, sending everything to an immediate halt and throwing everyone into a silent fear. In fact, “...while the chimes of the clock 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” (Poe 3). After

timeline and that they must eventually die. The ebony clock is the last symbolic setting that is mentioned in the story. This large clock stood in the western black room looming over the guests. Its chime rung at the start of every hour reminding the guests that soon their time will come. The chimes made the guests among with the musicians and performers stay still and listen quietly in the silence. Poe uses the gothic settings and suspenseful symbols to show us that the guests along with the prince

(BEND) verb [I] to bend the top half of the body forward and down manifold (MANY) adjective LITERARY many and of several different types chime verb (of bells) to make a clear ringing sound Let the church bells chime. [I] The grandfather clock chimed nine o'clock. [T] chimes plural noun Chimes are a set of small bells, or objects that make ringing sounds. wind chimes bear (ACCEPT) verb to accept, tolerate or endure esp. something unpleasant thrice adverb [not gradable] OLD USE three times care (WORRY)

how important the rooms are throughout the story and its main contribution to the theme. Within the story, the masked figure is used as an important symbol in portraying that no one can escape death. The masked figure, who made its presence at midnight, had not been seen by anyone before. The masked figure is described as “tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave” (Poe 5). Furthermore, when the mask of the Red Death appears, it is shocking to all the guests

From sounds to colors, it is the unity of effect that Edgar Allen Poe is known for. In “The Masque of the Red Death,” characters alone do not force the reader to perceive a story as creepy or horrific, rather the minute details and symbols that serve the same function, create the mood. Poe's symbols in "The Masque of the Red Death," heighten the macabre and horrific mood of the tale. As the Red Death spreads over Prince Prospero's country, he decides to lock himself with a thousand friends in his

lock himself away so he would be safe from the plague. He locked himself away in his castle with many of his friends and nobles. They have a large masquerade that lasts a whole 6 months till disaster strikes. During one night, at the ring of the midnight chimes, a dark figure appears in the middle of the ballroom. When the Prince Prospero takes notice of the figure, he shouts for the guests to seize him and have him hanged. But no one moves a finger. The dark figure was covered in large black

"It's midnight!" she exclaimed, jumping off the bench. The wine glass she was holding shattered on the ground. The Prince sprang up startled by her actions, "What is the matter?" "I am so sorry, but I must leave immediately." Before he could respond, she turned