Question

In "The Masque of the Red Death," Edgar Allan Poe personifies the Red Death. Which excerpts from the story reflect this fact?Excerpt 1
The "Red Death" had long devastated the country. No pestilence had ever been so fatal, or so hideous. Blood was its Avatar and its seal—the redness and the horror of blood.

Excerpt 2
The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave. The mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had difficulty in detecting the cheat.

Excerpt 3
His vesture was dabbled in blood—and his broad brow, with all the features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror. And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night.

Excerpt 4
But in the western or black chamber the effect of the fire-light that streamed upon the dark hangings through the blood-tinted panes, was ghastly in the extreme, and produced so wild a look upon the countenances of those who entered, that there were few of the company bold enough to set foot within its precincts at all.

Answer 1

Excerpt 3 clearly personifies the Red Death. It says "He had come like a thief in the night." This is describing the Red Death doing something that a human does, which is personification.

Answer 2

Answer:

Excerpt 2

The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave. The mask which concealed the visage was made so nearly to resemble the countenance of a stiffened corpse that the closest scrutiny must have had difficulty in detecting the cheat.

Excerpt 3

His vesture was dabbled in blood—and his broad brow, with all the features of the face, was besprinkled with the scarlet horror. And now was acknowledged the presence of the Red Death. He had come like a thief in the night.

Excerpt 2 describes the Red Death as tall and gaunt, and as wearing clothes from the grave. Excerpt 3 describes the Red Death as a thief in the night. Both of these excerpts describe the Red Death as possessing human qualities, such as wearing clothes or behaving badly. These are examples of personification. Personification occurs when inanimate objects, animals and plants are described as having characteristics that are exclusive to humans.