Home > The Fall of the House of Usher Summary & Study Guide > The Fall of the House of Usher Group > Discussion Board

I am doing a paper on this topic and have found alot of examples of this in the story but would like to have some out side sources to collaborate this idea.

I don't know of any (try using a search engine with "Madeline Usher is a figment of Roderick's imagination" or something similar to seek more information), but be sure you address the fact that the narrator, Roderick's friend, also sees Madeline in the story.  If she isn't real, and serves only as a figment of her brother's imagination, then how can the narrator also see her and hear her beating against her coffin?  You should be able to explain this in order to adequately argue your point of imaginary sister in your paper.

Good Luck!

I would look at two different sources to research this:

1)  A literature reference series located at your school library or any public library (like the Gale Reference Series for Literature).  Ask your local librarian how to find information in them.  They cannot be checked out of the libraries, but you may make copies of the pages you need.

2)  Go to your school librarian and ask about a literary database that can be accessed via the Internet.  Ours in NC is called NC-Live and it contains dozens of databases with critical articles on everything from literature to psychology.