The Fall of the House of Usher

The Fall of the House of Usher

Paragraphs 1-25

By Edgar Allen Poe

Arrival and Setting

• The narrator begins by describing his journey to the Usher family estate.

• He notes the dull, dark, and soundless day, which immediately establishes a sense of gloom.

• As he approaches the house, he experiences an inexplicable sense of dread.

First Impressions

• Upon seeing the House of Usher, the narrator is struck by its bleak and decaying appearance.

• He describes its gothic architecture, the fungi covering its stones, and the bleak reflection in the tarn (a small lake) nearby.

• This vivid imagery contributes to the story's ominous atmosphere.

Open Ended

How does Edgar Allan Poe's description of House of Usher upon the narrator's arrival contribute to the story's initial atmosphere and set the tone for the unfolding events?

Emotional Response

• The narrator reflects on his feelings of unease and impending doom as he looks at the house.

• He suggests that the building itself seems to have an effect on his mood, hinting at its almost supernatural influence.

The Usher Estate

• The narrator provides more background on the Usher family and their estate, emphasizing the family's tendency toward mental illness and the symbiotic relationship between the family and the house.

• The narrative conveys a sense of an inevitable decline tied to the family and its home.

The House’s Interior

• Upon entering the house, the narrator observes its dark and eerie interior.

• The halls are filled with somber tapestries and antique furniture, reinforcing the themes of decay and antiquity.

Open Ended

In what ways does Poe's depiction of the interior of the House of Usher enhance the themes of decay and antiquity, and how does this setting affect the narrator's perception of the Usher family?

Roderick Usher

• The narrator finally meets Roderick, who is physically altered and appears to be a shadow of his former self.

• Roderick is described as having a cadaverous complexion, large luminous eyes, and wild hair, all of which contribute to his unsettling appearance.

Open Ended

How does Poe's portrayal of Roderick Usher's physical appearance reflect his mental state, and what does it suggest about the connection between Roderick and the House of Usher?

Roderick’s Condition

• Roderick explains his heightened senses and acute anxiety, describing how he is affected by light, sound, and even texture.

• He reveals his belief that the house itself has a sentient quality that contributes to his condition.

Open Ended

In what ways does Roderick Usher's description of his heightened sensory experiences and acute anxiety illuminate his mental condition, and how does he believe this is connected to the House of Usher itself?

Madeline Usher

• The narrator is introduced to Roderick’s twin sister, Madeline.

• Her presence is ghostly and passive, and she suffers from a mysterious illness that leaves her in a death-like state.

• Her condition adds to the story’s atmosphere of morbidity.

Open Ended

How does Madeline Usher's mysterious illness and her ghostly presence contribute to the story's sense of foreboding?

Mood and Themes

• Throughout these paragraphs, Poe establishes the mood and themes of the story.

• The oppressive atmosphere of the house, the mysterious ailments of the Usher siblings, and the interwoven fate of the family and their ancestral home all hint at underlying supernatural elements and the inevitability of decay.

Open Ended

How does "The Fall of the House of Usher" explore the theme of isolation, and in what ways do the house and its inhabitants embody the consequences of seclusion and detachment from the outside world?

Poll

Do we like the story so far?

• yes

• no

• sort of