2. Describe in detail Prospero's plan for escaping the epidemic.
3. What do the ebony clock and its arresting chimes add to the plot? Can you think of any symbolic value the clock might have?
4. What symbolic evidence can you find in Poe's use of the following: (You may need to visit Boheme Magazine Online for some tips in responding to these.)
1. the number seven
2. the use of colors, especially the black and scarlet in the seventh room
3. the movement from east to west in the sequence of the rooms and throughout the story
Ebony clock
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5. In the last paragraph, Poe alludes to a prophecy from the Bible: "For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so cometh like a thief in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:2) "The Day of the Lord" is a way of referring to Judgment Day, or the last day of the world. In your opinion, how does this allusion add a layer of meaning to this story?
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