The Fall of the House of Usher Themes

The themes of the story concern___________

• Fear of death and madness

• The kindness of friends

• Proper burial techniques

• The mystery of Gothic mansions

Roderick believes that the family's problems are caused by__________

• Bad luck

• Contagious disease

• Poor nutrition

• The evil atmosphere of the mansion

Which of the following contains the element of madness and mental anguish (negative thoughts that stress a person out)?

• "The writer spoke of acute bodily illness—of a mental disorder which oppressed him—and of an earnest desire to see me, as his best and indeed his only personal friend..." (par.2)

• "The room in which I found myself was very large and lofty. The windows were long, narrow, and pointed..." (par. 6)

• "At the request of Usher, I personally aided him in the arrangements for the temporary entombment. The body having been encoffined, we two alone bore it to its rest." (par.28)

• "As if a shield of brass had indeed, at the moment, fallen heavily upon a floor of silver—I became aware of a distinct, hollow, metallic, and clangorous, yet apparently muffled, reverberation" (par.45)

What feature does the narrator notice about the exterior of the house which extends from roof to tarn

• fissure

• fungi

• vacant, eye-like windows

• fallen masonry

How does the story of "The Fall of the House of Usher" relate to the broader theme of gothic literature?

• It explores themes of optimism and happiness.

• It features characters who are untroubled and content.

• It embraces an atmosphere of decay, madness, and the supernatural.

• It emphasizes the triumph of good over evil.

Match the following elements of Gothic literature to the appropriate example from the text:

• Roderick and Madeline are twins

• Confinement

• Lady Madeline buried alive

• Extremes

• Lady Madeline is afflicted with disease

• Doubles

• Roderick's hyper-sensitivity to stimuli

• Women in Distress

• Remote and dreary location of the house

• Wild Nature

Which of the following is NOT an element of Gothic literature?

• Always sunny weather

• Old spacious house or castle

• Supernatural or unknown forces

• Isolation and imprisonment

This word means extreme sadness and is a favorite word in gothic literature or scary stories.

• melancholy

• hideous

• cataleptical

• emaciated

Roderick's mental state throughout the story can best be described as _____________.

• Extremely agitated and anxious

• optimistic

• relaxed

• Pleased

Upon her death, where is Madeline put?

• in a vault

• family crypt

• family burial ground

• church on property