The Fall of the House of Usher
How does Roderick Usher die?
Guilt of burying Madeline alive.
Describe Roderick Usher - his appearance, his weaknesses, his attitudes.
He greets the narrator with sincerity and warmth. He looks different from when he was a boy, so much that he was nearly unrecognizable. He was thin and soft looking, with a ghostly pallor. He had a paranoid manner.
Explain the various meanings of the "House of Usher."
It is a physical house, but also where the Usher family ends. The House represents Roderick physically and mentally.
In what ways is this story Romantic?
It uses imagination to create a mysterious mood.
What evidence is there to support the claim of some critics who have argued that Madeline and Roderick are actually physical and mental components of the same being?
Madeline is deteriorating physical and Roderick is deteriorating mentally.
Poe chose to characterize Roderick and Madeline as twins, not simply as brother and sister. Why do you think he made this choice?
She was wasted away, mentally and physically, just as Roderick is now. They have a special twin bond between them.
Which descriptive details of the interior of the house suggest that the narrator has entered a realm that is quite different from the ordinary world?
The atmosphere and the walls, and how silent and dark the house is, bringing out the darkness of the past. The house is gothic, scary, and antique, but is in shambles. The archway that the narrator passes under represents him entering into a different "realm."
What is the mood at the beginning of the story, and how does Poe create this mood?
The mood is dark and mysterious. Poe uses imagery and description to create this mood. He describes the trees and building in great detail, revealing the dark mood of the landscape.
What happens in the poem, "The Haunted Palace?" What are the parallels between this poem and the story of the Ushers?
The valley used to be happy and golden and light, but was turned dark and gloomy. The Ushers used to be a perfect family, but now the mansion is mysterious and gloomy and dark.
In what ways is this story a Dark Romantic?
There is no optimism, but it does use imagination and spiritual effects to show and highlight ideas of darkness and death in the story.
Describe the history of the Usher family. What kind of interests do they have? What type of people are they?
They are an ancient family, and are known for their works in art and music. They are a "perfect" family, always keeping character of the Usher name and being charitable.
In what ways is the appearance of both the interior and exterior of the house related to Usher's appearance and to the condition of his mind?
Usher is emotionally unstable and not easily focused, and he is pale and ghostly looking, just as the house is. The inside of the house is dark and silent, reflecting Usher's unstable mental condition. The house looks dead like Usher does. The house also reflects Usher's depression.
