Edgar Allen Poe "The House of Usher"

Question 1

Who wrote “The House of Usher”

Answer 1

Edgar Allen Poe

Question 2

time period and relevant historical context “The House of Usher”

Answer 2

published 1839, potentially as Toni Morrison suggests, indicative of fears of a degrading racial hierarchy

Question 3

plot summary “The House of Usher”

Answer 3

Narrator goes to visit his sick friend Roderick Usher who he has not seen for many years. Rodrick displays signs of a mental illness and confirms he is terrified of fear. His sister Madeline Usher dies and Roderick and the narrator put her in a coffin in the vault. Roderick deteriorates until the end of the story when during a storm as the narrator attempts to read and calm Usher, Madeline reappears angry and alive, before dying along with Roderick. The narrator flees as the mansion collapses

Question 4

key characters “The House of Usher”

Answer 4

Narrator
Roderick Usher (sick man of the house)
Madeline Usher (sick, dying/deceased twin sister)

Question 5

notable formal or stylistic elements “The House of Usher”

Answer 5

first-person perspective, information dense/metaphor heavy, description architecture, science, weather, art to set gothic tone

Question 6

important themes and recurring motifs “The House of Usher”

Answer 6

Separation, decay, fear, neuroticism

Question 7

literary ‘schools’ or genres; analytical concepts; relevance to history “The House of Usher”

Answer 7

gothic fiction

Question 8

2-3 quotation samples “The House of Usher”

Question 9

other useful hints ID “The House of Usher”

Answer 9

alternating book quotes parallel story
description of environment eerie