Final answer:
Edgar Allan Poe builds suspense in "The Masque of the Red Death" through thematic use of color, character reactions, and gothic descriptions that create a foreboding atmosphere.
Step-by-step explanation:
Edgar Allan Poe uses several techniques to build suspense in the excerpt from "The Masque of the Red Death." His thematic use of color, specifically the blood-tinted panes and the dark chamber, evokes a sense of foreboding. The intense reaction of the characters to the chamber, where they exhibit fear and reluctance to enter, also heightens the sense of uncertainty and dread.
Furthermore, Poe's rich, gothic descriptions, involving words like 'ghastly,' 'wild,' and 'blood-red,' create a chilling atmosphere that leaves the reader anticipating something ominous.