The Romantic Age created a new path for American literature and showed different ways of viewing life. Since writers of this time were more idealistic, they looked at life at how it could or should be, not as it was. Great literary works such as Irving's "The Devil and Tom Walker," Hawthorne's "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment," and Poe's "The Masque of the Red Death" are representative of their literary age because they exemplify numerous Romantic age characteristics. In Washington Irving's short story, "The Devil and Tom Walker," great use of imagination is shown. As Tom walks through the forest, several stories explain what he sees. A firm piece of ground is said to be from an Indian fort for refugee squaws and children during a war with the …show more content…
The disease known as the "red death" devastated and killed several people across the country. Nothing had been so hideous, fatal, and bloody. It was so horrid that Prince Prospero created a new civilization in his Abby to escape the gruesome fate of the dying outside world. A figure appeared at the prince's masquerade ball in shrouds, a mask resembling a corpse, and venture dabbed in blood. It was said to be sprinkled in red horror. The Prince attempted to seize the figure by running through all seven of his chambers until he got too close and died. This was the red death personified, and it killed all those living inside the abbey. Vivid descriptions of important items are shown. The prince's abbey is described as "an extensive and magnificent structure." It has soft, lofty walls with strong gates of iron. Its interior and chambers are described with having great beauty. The chambers each have gothic stained glass windows that match the room's color of blue, purple, green, orange, white, violet, or black. The black chamber however had scarlet windows with blood tinted panes. It is described as so ghastly and extreme that only the brave dared to enter. No candle or light was present in any room. There was a fire behind the window which projected throughout the whole room. The ebony clock also has an important value. Each hour passing