illustration of a dark, menacing cracked house with large, red eyes looking through the windows

The Fall of the House of Usher

by Edgar Allan Poe

Start Free Trial

The Fall of the House of Usher Questions on Roderick Usher

The Fall of the House of Usher Study Tools

Take a quiz Ask a question Start an essay

The Fall of the House of Usher

The phrase "his heart is a suspended lute; which resonates as soon as touched" in Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" symbolizes Roderick Usher's extreme sensitivity. Roderick, afflicted with a...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick's motives and actions regarding Madeline in "The Fall of the House of Usher" are complex and driven by fear and desperation. He believes she is dead and buries her prematurely, possibly to...

4 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher and Madeline Usher are twins who share a deep, almost supernatural bond. The narrator is an old friend of Roderick's who visits to offer companionship and support during Roderick's...

9 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick and Madeline Usher are not vampires based on several points. Roderick's ability to leave the house during the day and Madeline's death contradict vampire traits, as vampires cannot tolerate...

3 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

The "Mad Trist" narrative in "The Fall of the House of Usher" reflects the characters' psychological states rather than serving as a self-fulfilling prophecy. It parallels the events in the main...

3 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick's studio, paintings, and music in "The Fall of the House of Usher" reflect his disturbed state of mind by mirroring his inner turmoil and mental instability. The gloomy and oppressive...

4 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" features several parallels, including the physical decay of the mansion mirroring the mental and physical deterioration of its inhabitants, Roderick...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Roderick Usher believes in the "sentience" of all things, including inanimate objects like the stones of his mansion. He is convinced that these elements possess...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" evokes feelings of terror and dread, primarily through its gothic atmosphere and themes of isolation and decay. The story's single effect is shock,...

6 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Roderick says that Madeline's attempts to escape from the Usher family tomb are causing the sounds in the house. While the narrator is reading aloud to Roderick...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

Madeline in "The Fall of the House of Usher" is characterized by her mysterious and ghostly presence, which heightens the story's eerie atmosphere. Her appearances, particularly her premature burial...

3 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

The inclusion of Usher's poem in "The Fall of the House of Usher" serves as a literary device, character development, and plot device. It foreshadows the tragic end of Usher and the house, hinting at...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

During the final storm in "The Fall of the House of Usher," Roderick Usher confesses to the narrator that he knowingly buried his sister Madeline alive in a crypt beneath the house. Despite his...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," the narrator reads "The Mad Trist" by Sir Launcelot Canning to distract Roderick Usher from the storm. This choice is ironic, as the story's events parallel the...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

The narrator and Roderick Usher read books focused on religion, mysticism, and the supernatural. Specific works include "Ververt et Chartreuse" by Gresset, "Belphegor" by Machiavelli, "Heaven and...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher believes the House of Usher is sentient and his sense of his relationship to the house is what makes him who he is.

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

The conclusion of "The Fall of the House of Usher" is more intriguing than surprising, as it raises more questions than it answers. The story's atmosphere and plot development hint at the inevitable...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

During the storm in "The Fall of the House of Usher," the narrator observes the eerie and oppressive atmosphere while attempting to comfort Usher. He reads aloud to distract Usher, but both become...

3 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Madeline's placement in the temporary tomb reveals a deep, possibly incestuous bond between her and Roderick. They are fraternal twins, which inherently strengthens their relationship. The narrator...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Usher's attitude and mood seem to switch back and forth while talking to the narrator, with such changes being especially marked in the instances that directly precede his breakdown.

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

The servants in "The House of Usher" are characterized by their quietness and detachment, performing only essential duties, possibly due to awareness of Roderick Usher's condition. Their "stealthy...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

The Usher twins, Roderick and Madeline, have a deeply intertwined relationship characterized by genetic and psychological connections. Their bond is so profound that they appear as alter egos,...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

In "The Fall of the House of Usher," Roderick Usher's art reflects his melancholic and foreboding nature. His paintings are abstract and evoke a sense of gloom, embodying his emotional turmoil....

3 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher claims a special connection with his sister Madeline by revealing they are twins in Edgar Allan Poe's story. He describes their bond as sharing "sympathies of a scarcely intelligible...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher asks the narrator if he has seen "it," referring to a disturbing presence or phenomenon, during a frenzied moment after his sister Madeline's death. This question highlights Roderick's...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher symbolizes the decline of the aristocracy and is characterized by his acute sensitivity and mental instability. Madeline represents the physical aspects of decay, suffering from a...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

Discussion points for "The Fall of the House of Usher" include the pervasive theme of insanity, evident in Roderick's and Madeline's conditions. The story explores Poe's fascination with premature...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

The narrator discovers that Madeline and Roderick Usher are twins when he views Madeline in her coffin. This revelation underscores the intense connection between the siblings, raising the unsettling...

2 educator answers

The Fall of the House of Usher

"The Fall of the House of Usher" is a blend of supernatural and psychological drama. The primary focus is on the Narrator, who is depicted as suffering from depression, possibly exacerbated by opium...

1 educator answer

The Fall of the House of Usher

Roderick Usher is a man who is both physically and psychologically unhealthy. His appearance is startlingly cadaverous, and his mind is marked by melancholy and fear. Roderick's mental state further...

1 educator answer