Task:
As we have seen in the past few weeks, many writers of the American Renaissance engaged with a central epistemological question: To what degree can we understand the nature of the universe and the meaning of our very existence? Edgar Allan Poe connects with this very question in his short story “The Masque of the Red Death.” Write an essay in which you analyze Poe’s use of horror and terror in that story. How does Poe use these elements to comment on the capability of human understanding?
This essay will require a close reading of the short story. Do not incorporate any outside sources into your paper.
Purpose:
The purpose of this paper is for students to closely explore a canonical text in connection with larger themes in American literature. This paper will also give students an opportunity to gain experience in analyzing and interpreting a work of literature while formulating a thesis-driven and well-supported essay.
Length:
This paper should be approximately 3-5 pages in length.
Format:
The format for this paper is MLA.
Evaluation:
This paper is worth up to the equivalent of two quiz A’s.
Deadline:
Email me your paper by 9pm on Wednesday 5/11.
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