““The Fall of the The Fall of the House of Usher”House of Usher”

By Edgar Allan PoeBy Edgar Allan Poe

A. Read Poe bio. on A. Read Poe bio. on pages 260-261.pages 260-261. As you read, record the 5 most As you read, record the 5 most

important ideas from it. important ideas from it. Pay special attention to the Pay special attention to the

events that were reflected in his events that were reflected in his writing, his literary influence on writing, his literary influence on other writers and the Romantic other writers and the Romantic aspects of his writing.aspects of his writing.

B. Respond in a B. Respond in a paragraphparagraph(5 sentences minimum)(5 sentences minimum) Why do people like to be Why do people like to be

scared? Why do you read scared? Why do you read and watch things that and watch things that make you fearful? Explain.make you fearful? Explain.

C. Write down this C. Write down this definition.definition.

Atmosphere- creating a Atmosphere- creating a mood or single effectmood or single effect

D. Atmosphere- p. 264D. Atmosphere- p. 264

1)1) What type of figurative What type of figurative language appears in the first language appears in the first sentence? What effect is sentence? What effect is created by these words?created by these words?

2)2) To what does the narrator To what does the narrator compare the windows?compare the windows?

3)3) Draw the house.Draw the house.

E. StoryboardE. Storyboard Create a 6 panel Create a 6 panel

storyboard/cartoon of “The Fall of storyboard/cartoon of “The Fall of the House of Usher” with a one the House of Usher” with a one sentence caption for each sentence caption for each drawing. drawing.

You must choose events that You must choose events that span the entire story. (ex. The span the entire story. (ex. The last panel should be the final last panel should be the final scene of the story.)scene of the story.)

F. Finish reading the F. Finish reading the story. Then, complete story. Then, complete the following:the following:1. Answer Questions #4, 5, and 6 on 1. Answer Questions #4, 5, and 6 on

page 280.page 280.

2. Using your notes from pages 139-2. Using your notes from pages 139-150 that deal with the characteristics 150 that deal with the characteristics of Romanticism (page 144), find 5 of Romanticism (page 144), find 5 quotes from Poe’s story that show at quotes from Poe’s story that show at least 4 different characteristics in the least 4 different characteristics in the story.story.

(In other words, write down the quote (In other words, write down the quote and then say which characteristic it and then say which characteristic it embodies.)embodies.)

G. Symbolism- Explain G. Symbolism- Explain the following using the following using complete sentences.complete sentences.1. What do the vacant, eye-like windows 1. What do the vacant, eye-like windows

symbolize in terms of Roderick?symbolize in terms of Roderick?2. What does the gloomy, decaying 2. What does the gloomy, decaying

house represent?house represent?3. What does Roderick’s painting of a 3. What does Roderick’s painting of a

vault or tunnel represent?vault or tunnel represent?4. What does the frequent and violent 4. What does the frequent and violent

changes in the wind’s direction during changes in the wind’s direction during the storm represent?the storm represent?

H. Create your own H. Create your own atmosphere (p. 264)atmosphere (p. 264)

1.1. List the words from the 1List the words from the 1stst paragraph that suggest sterility, paragraph that suggest sterility, decay, finality and emptiness.decay, finality and emptiness.

2.2. Rewrite the first paragraph to paint Rewrite the first paragraph to paint a cheerful or cozy picture of the a cheerful or cozy picture of the House of Usher. Change the time of House of Usher. Change the time of day, the time of year, weather day, the time of year, weather conditions, landscape, etc.conditions, landscape, etc.

I. Important I. Important vocabularyvocabulary

Define these words, using a Define these words, using a good working definition:good working definition:

1.1. AllusionAllusion2.2. Gothic Gothic 3.3. VivaciousVivacious4.4. EquivocalEquivocal5.5. MorbidMorbid6.6. PallidPallid7.7. PalpablePalpable8.8. InordinateInordinate9.9. ProfuseProfuse10.10.SimilitudeSimilitude11.11.SojournSojourn12.12.StuporStupor

J. In literature, what J. In literature, what makes a narrator makes a narrator reliable or not? Is the reliable or not? Is the narrator in “The Fall of narrator in “The Fall of the House of Usher” the House of Usher” reliable? Give details reliable? Give details from the story to from the story to support what you support what you believe.believe.

So, what is a reliable So, what is a reliable narrator?narrator?

A reliable narrator is one who has a A reliable narrator is one who has a credible, authoritative voice in a narrative. credible, authoritative voice in a narrative.

The personal involvement of a reliable The personal involvement of a reliable narrator does not typically impede a narrator does not typically impede a truthful account of the story, and so truthful account of the story, and so determining reliability should be based in determining reliability should be based in part on the narrator's ability to distance part on the narrator's ability to distance him or herself from his or her personal him or herself from his or her personal relations with other characters to provide a relations with other characters to provide a more impartial account. more impartial account.

From the website for From the website for International Society for International Society for the Study of Narrativethe Study of Narrative. .

CatalepsyCatalepsy

a physical condition usually a physical condition usually associated with catatonic associated with catatonic schizophreniaschizophrenia, characterized by , characterized by suspension of sensation, suspension of sensation, muscular rigidity, fixity of muscular rigidity, fixity of posture, and often by loss of posture, and often by loss of contact with environment. contact with environment.