The Fall of the House of Usher Group

Question:


rokia
Teacher

In "The Fall of the House of Usher", what is exactly meant by "sentience" and why is this idea important in the story?

"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.

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Posted by rokia on Tuesday December 16, 2008 at 12:47 PM and tagged with importance, sentience, the fall of the house of usher.

Answers:

  1. surfpoetess
    surfpoetess Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    A sentient being is one with consciousness. It thinks and exists as its own entity. This is important because the house in this story is sentient; it understands the incestuous nature of its inhabitants and essentially commits suicide as a result. Only a sentient being can consciously destroy itself out of disgust.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/fall-house/

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    Posted by surfpoetess on Thursday December 18, 2008 at 9:34 AM