“The Fall of the House of Usher” Take-Home QUIZ

*ANSWER QUESTIONS ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER.

1.  How does Poe create an eerie mood immediately in this story? Give THREE examples of how he did so from the first paragraph.

2.  Why has Roderick Usher asked his friend (the narrator) to come visit him? Why did the narrator agree to come?

3.  Briefly describe the Usher family using specifics from the story.

4.  Briefly describe the EXTERIOR of the house using specific examples from the story.

5.  Briefly describe the INTERIOR of the house using specific examples from the story.

6.  Briefly describe Usher’s appearance when the narrator first sees him using specific examples from the story.

7.  How does Usher’s attitude and mood seem to switch back and forth while talking to the narrator?

8.  From what does Usher tell the narrator he is suffering? [How are his SENSES affected by the “illness”?]

9.  Who is Madeline? Of what relation is she to Usher?

10.  Briefly describe the illness from which Madeline is affected/suffering.

11.  With what kinds of activities did the narrator try to distract Usher?

12.  Explain how the poem “The Haunted Palace” (also written by Poe and published several years earlier than this story) fits perfectly in the middle of this story.

13.  Why are the books that Usher and the narrator tend to read (several are listed) appropriate in this story?

14.  What did Usher say he planned to do with Madeline when she “was no more”? Why did he want to do this with her body?

15.  Why did Usher come to the narrator’s room in the middle of the night? What did the narrator do in order to try to calm Usher down?

16.  Why was the story of Ethelred a fitting one for the narrator to read given what noises he ACTUALLY started hearing?

17.  Who shockingly greets Usher and the narrator at the bedroom door? In what kind of condition is that person?

18.  What happens to Usher finally? Why/how?

19.  What does the narrator witness happen to the house at the end of the story?

20.  How is this story fitting of the ROMANTIC style [see your notes or p. 233-4]? How is this story fitting of the GOTHIC style [see your notes or p. 307]?