Agenda October 30

• House of Usher discussion• DHL Ch 6 discussion

The Fall of the House of Usher• What is the epigram? What is its significance?• How do Usher's paintings reveal his thoughts?• Why is the poem included? What does it mean?• How is foreshadowing used in this story?• What is the significance of Ethelred's tale?• Is the ending of the story clear? What do you

believe has happened at the end of the story?• Is there a warning/moral/message in this story?• Franklin Roosevelt once famously said, "the only

thing we have to fear is fear itself." Would this be an apt comment on this short story or not? Why?

DHL ch 6• Poe is a scientist rather than an artist: do we agree?• Is there something wrong with Poe's "spiritual" love,

as DHL calls it?• Why is DHL disturbed by Glenvill's quote (p. 72)?• "Each man kills the thing he loves. To know a living

thing is to kill it." Is this true? In some or all cases?• Is the need to know and be known an American trait?

Is it a human trait?• Does Roderick Usher really "quiver on the edge of

material existence"? What does that mean?• Is Poe (as DHL says) luring us into the world that is

killing him? If not, then what is Poe's purpose in writing?