introduces the setting, the characters, and the basic situation as well as providing some background information: a plague, called "the red death" has "long devastated the country.
climax
Prince Prospero believes that he and his friends can escape the natural process of dying, but they face the Red Death directly when death shows up at their masquerade ball.
fallingaction
as guest arrive they are bewildered and amused by the grandiose rooms that próspero has created each room beginning from east to west is marked by a different color
resolution
as the party goes on and the clock is about to strike midnight an enigmatic guest appears dressed as a plague victim.
deeply disturbed by a guests poor judgment, prospero engages with the visitor. howerver, ass he reaches the figure, he fallas to his death.
he last line of the story indicates that the Red Death has triumphed over life: "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all