Excerpts from Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher

"The Fall of the House of Usher" and Other Works by Edgar Allan Poe

• Parallelism in prose enhances meaning by repeating structures, emphasizing emotions or states of mind.
• Usher's beliefs display excessive detail, indicating a deep, perhaps obsessive, introspection about his home and nature.
• The narrator actively attempts to alleviate Usher's melancholy, showing his commitment and concern for his friend's emotional state.
• Usher's increasing paranoia is highlighted through repetitive questioning, illustrating his mental unraveling.
• The weight and burden of emotional attachment to the House of Usher are conveyed through descriptive, repetitive imagery of desolation.
• Usher experiences intense fear and horror, marked by his inability to voice his traumatic experiences concerning his sister's fate.
• Psychological fixation manifests in Usher's obsession with sounds and imagined footfalls, creating a sense of impending doom.
• The narrator’s limited knowledge of Usher, despite their past closeness, showcases themes of distance in friendship and uncommunicated emotions.
• Insights into the narrator's observations often lead to inferences about his understanding of life’s transience and inner turmoil.
• The setting in "The Oval Portrait" compares a gothic, abandoned castle to the character's experiences, evoking a sense of isolation and foreboding.
• The narrator dismisses the idea of the portrait's lifelike quality, representing a defense mechanism against reality and a denial of deeper truths.

Explore key excerpts from Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' through flashcards. This quiz delves into the rich, gothic imagery and themes presented in the text, enhancing your understanding of its literary significance. Perfect for fans of American Gothic literature.