Boo! Please post two passages from "The Fall of the House of Usher."
One should represent Poe's style. Please provide page # and a few sentences of analysis.
The second should represent an important theme of the story. Please provide page # and a few sentences of analysis.
Thank you for your hard work!
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Theme: “The body having been encoffined, we two alone bore it to its rest. The vault in which we placed it was a small damp and entirely without means of admission for light, lying, at great depth, immediately beneath the portion of the building in which was my own sleeping apartment.” (Pg 558)
This quote seemed to be a clear instance of Poe’s theme of evil and darkness. The entire story is dark and miserable, but this passage really put a picture in my mind and really spoke to me as well. I just admire his use of vocabulary to describe possibly the most miserable room in all existence. He describes it as just this room way beneath the earth, with no light or hope. That is why I thought this was a good example of Poe’s themes.
Style: “A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and pallid, but of surpassingly beautiful curve; nose of a delicate Hebrew model, but with a breadth of nostril unusual in similar formations.” (Pg 553)
In this passage Poe is describing, through his character, the features of Roderick Usher. I thought this was a clear and thought provoking example of Poe’s style. One of the key things Poe does is uses precise vocabulary, and this quote is a good example of that. The words he uses to describe a face, such as luminous and cadaverousness, are just amazing. I was also interested in the foot note relating to this passage, saying how some people think that in the quote Poe may actually be describing himself in a sort of self portrait. --fitch
Style: "There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart-an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught and sublime." (551)
In this passage, Poe demonstrates his vivid descriptions that almost seem to come to life during the reading. His use of bold images is makes the reader feel as though they are in this enchanted and mysterious house. He turns what could be such a simple description into something so complex.
Theme: "It was, especially, upon retiring to bed late in the night of the seventh or eighth day after the placing of the lady Madeline within the donjon, that I experienced the full power of such feelings." (559)
This quote is especially refelctive of the story's theme because feelings are such a powerful aspect in this story. Throughout the story, the narrator's comments, especially towards the end, illustrate his feelings of the situation at hand. The effects of this almost unexplainable house and the shocking events that later unfold are shown through the feelings of the narrator.
That last comment was by Joe DePalo
THEME:
“What was it- I paused to think- what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher? It was a mystery all insoluble; nor could I grapple with the shadowy fancies that crowded upon me as I pondered.” (551)
~This quote shows the theme of confinement and loneliness expressed throughout this short story. This story demonstrates imprisonment and not being able to escape many times. For example, the burial tomb, Madeline’s coffin, and the house itself. Poe focused on creating the image of being alone and unable to escape your fears. This theme is also reflected in the fact that the story is told by the one narrator. Poe was able to achieve a sense of loneliness by only giving his readers one point of view. The narrator seems to be completely alone in this situation with no one but himself to get through it with. Just by reading the word “I” over and over again, gives you the image of solitude and isolation.
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STYLE:
“While I gazed, this figure rapidly widened- there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind- the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight- my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder- there was a long tumultuous shouting like the voice of a thousand waters- and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of the HOUSE OF USHER.” (562)
Poe does an excellent job of creating imagery throughout this passage. You can see the “burst”, feel the “whirlwind”, and hear the walls collapsing. This passage also has a dark mood to it. By using words like “sullenly” and “silently” you get a sense of death. This creates such a striking image because the house, which once contained almost a personality of its own and is almost another character in the story, is now dead. Poe also incorporates the supernatural into his plots, which is clearly seen in this story, especially at the end.
~Victoria Welch
Style: "No outlet was observed in any portion of its vast extent, and no torch or other artificial source of light was discernible; yet a flood of intense rays rolled throughout, and bathed the whole in a ghastly and inappropriate splendor." (555)
This quote really captured Poe's ability to create a visual for the reader in an unexpected way. I would never think to describe a tunnel with rays of light as having "inappropriate splendor", but it is the perfect way to create that unique visual. It makes the setting even more mysterious and haunting.
Theme: "An air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom hung over and pervaded all." (553)
This quote captured Poe's theme of darkness in every aspect of both the house and the people in it. It is a gloomy story, and this passage definately accentuates that. This also demonstrates the feelings that Poe was trying to evoke in his readers by writing such an intense and twisted story; when the reader reads this, they are able to sense that underlying theme of helplessness against the darkness in life.
-Shannon Langella
“…..with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveler upon opium….”pg. 551
This passage depicts perfectly the kind of description of which Poe is a master. In such a small string of words, he manages to pack quite a punch, and paints the reader a clear and precise picture of how the narrator felt at this point. With the addition of “utter” in front of depression, the reader gets the idea the sorrow and dread that the narrator feels from looking at this dreary edifice is hopeless and bottomless.
“What was it- I paused to think- what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher? It was a mystery all insoluble; nor could I grapple with the shadowy fancies that crowded upon me as I pondered.” pg. 551
This passage exemplifies the mysteriousness of the House of Usher that is evident throughout the course of the plot. The way Poe says the narrator is greeted with “shadowy fancies” provides a good visual of how there is something wrong with this house, something strange and peculiar, that the narrator just cannot put his finger on.
~Alyssa Bacon
Style:
• “I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees—with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveler upon opium—the bitter lapse into every-day life—the hideous dropping of the veil.” (551)
In this passage, Poe leaves nothing to the imagination. He acutely describes every detail in a very precise way. His writing flows beautifully and his comparisons and metaphors create a vivid picture in my mind. I loved the line, "upon a few white trunks of decayed trees—with an utter depression of soul," because i so clearly get the image of a decayed hunched over, miserable looking tree.
Theme:
• “I felt that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow. An air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom hung over and pervaded all” (553)
I chose this quote for theme because it is simple and exactly the theme of the story. Throughout "The Fall of the House of Usher," Poe gets more and more creeped out by the house. He feels the gloom, death, and spirits that float around the mansion. This story has a haunting vibe to it, and this passage portays that.
-Jacob Burnstein
theme:
"Having deposited our mournful burden upon tressels within the region of horror, we partially turned aside the yet unscrewed lid of the coffin, and looked upon the face of the tenant. A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention; and Usher, divining, perhaps, my thoughts, murmured out some few words from which I learned that the deceased and himself had been twins, and that sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature had always existed between them." (page 559)
-When reading, this quote caught my attention. The narrator describes the relationship between Usher and Madeline in a surprising and uncomfortable way. He is able to realize that they are twins, and that they have a deep connection and a "scarcely intelligible nature" between them. This connection between Usher and Madeline is portrayed at the end of the short story when the two men continue to hear noises when the narrator is reading him stories. Usher realizes that it is Madeline, and that they buried her alive and she was trying to escape. The fact that Usher was able to hear the noises before the narrator proves the connection and intelligible nature between he and Madeline.
style:
"I looked upon the scene before me-upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain-upon the bleak walls-upon the vacant eye-like windows-upon a few rand sedges-and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees-with an utter depression of soul which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of the reveller upon opium-the bitter lapse into every-day life-the hideous dropping off of the veil." (page 551)
-This quote shows Poe's vivid and dark descriptions and style of writing. The scene he is describing could not get more miserable and depressing. He describes decayed trees, desolate walls, empty windows, and the lack of soul and energy. Poe's descriptive and precise vocabulary create a creepy and frightening story, and allow the reader to clearly imagine the spooky scene.
-BK
STYLE: "bleak walls...vacant eye-like windows...trunks of decayed trees-with an utter depression of the sould which I can compare to no earthly sensation more properly than to the after-dream of thereveller upon opium" (551)
IN this truly distrurbing and melancholy passage Poe is using his descriptive nature to describe a dilapitated house in which he senes an unearthly evil. Using phrases that paint pictures in the reader's mind (vacant eye-like walls, depression of the soul) creates a mood for the reader and really sets a sullen tone for the rest of the story. The mood set also pertains to the plot of the story in which nothing happy can result from such an exposition, the plot is doomed for sadness and fear right away.
THEME: "..which i learned that the desceaed and (Roderick) had been twins, and that sympathies of a scarcely intelligible nature had always existed between them" (559)
When the narrator and Roderick are burying Madeline in the tomb, the narrator notices that the two are in fact, twins. This statement is a vital detail, although subtle, because it explains the sickness and also the relationship of the siblings. When Madeline dies, Roderick's state becomes worse, and hysteria becomes a part of his symptoms. When the narrator reads to him, he mumbles to himself insanely and forsees Madeline standing in the dorway. It is an internal relationship between the two twins that they live off of each other and can't live their own lives because they are so similar.
--A Putnam
Style:“… but he had buried his face in his hands, and I could only perceive that a far more than ordinary wanes had overspread the emaciated fingers through which trickled many passionate tears.” p.554
I think this excerpt is really representative of Poe's style because of the wonderful adjectives he chooses to describe fingers and tears. They aren't ridiculous words that no one has heard of (although he does tend to use a few of those) but they help the sentence flow, and give indirect characterization to Usher. I just thought this was a beautifully worded sentence, a technique Poe certainly has a wonderful understanding of.
Theme:“I could not help thinking of the wild ritual of this work [referring to the large quantity of supernatural books in Usher’s library], and of its probable influence upon the hypochondriac…” p.558
The theme of the supernatural is prominent in this quote, however, for us as modern day students to really understand it, we had to read the foot note. By including references to the supernatural books in Usher's library, Poe gives us a sense of Usher's mind and brings out the permeating theme of the supernatural that culminates in Madeline coming back to life.
-Victoria Mauro
Theme: "And thus, as a closer and still closer intimacy admitted me more unreservedly into the recess of his spirit, the more bitterly did I pervieve the futility in all attempt at cheering a mind from which darkness, as if an inherent positive quality, poured forth upon all objects of the moral and physical universe in one unceasing radiation of gloom." (page 555)
That sentence really couldn't get anymore intense. This passage is an incredibly clear representation of the theme of the story and the overall central feeling of evil and opressive gloom that seems to come from everything in the house of Usher. Everything from the first page to the last gives the narrator a horribly uncertain feeling and this passage is the moment where it becomes clear to him that hopelessness and depression are two things that seem to thrive in the House of Usher, and he realizes that no matter how much he tries to ignore or conquer the oppressive feeling of doom, it will still overpower him.
Style: "The now ghastly pallor of the skin, and the now miraculous lustre of the eye, above all things startled and even awed me. The silken hair, too, had been suffered to grow all unheeded, and as, in its wild gossamer texture, it floated rather than fell about the face, i could not, even with effort, connect its Arabesque expression with any idea of simple huimanity."
This is a fantastic example of how powerful Poe is in his use of imagery. He goes into incredibly detail without being too meticulous or annoying about it, and helps his readers create the perfect idea of what he is trying to get across. With his impressive word choice, it is easy for one to completely absorb the scenes or pictures he puts forth. Poe's genius is that he knows how to control the detail so that it affects the mood of the story, which is definitely an advantage for this particular one, for his strong point is indeed creating the feeling of dispair and gloom.
I would also like to say in response to Fitch's comment about Poe's potential and questionable self-reflection in the description of Roderick Usher- Poe was an incredibly creepy looking guy, and judging by the description of Roderick, I wouldnt be surprised at all if it were true.
-Shay
Style:
"From these paintings over which his elaborate fancy brooded, and which grew, touch by touch, into vagueness at which I shuddered the more thrillingly, because I shuddered not knowing why from these paintings..."
~These lines stood out to me because they seemed to show the contrasting range of emotions and sensations described in Poe's writing. He constantly portrays a melancholy quality, but also he writes with a powerful sense of anticipation. He incorporates several elements regarding mystery, and suspense giving his writing a distinctly disturbing, but also "thrilling" quality.
Theme:
"His contenance was as usual, cadaverously wan--but, moreover, there was a species of mad hilarity in his eyes--an evidently restrained hysteria in his whole demeanor. His air appalled me--but anything was preferable to the solitude which I had so long endured..."
~As briefly mentioned above , Poe's work is marked by sickness and uneasiness of the mind and soul. Contributing to the suspenseful quality of his writing he incorporates evident pyschological unrest, usually to the point of "hysteria." This feeling of anxiety and emotional discord prevails throughout Poe's work.
-Carolyn Maiorana
Style: "No outlet was observed in any portion of its vast extent, and no torch or other artificial source of light was discernable; yet a flood of intense rays rolled throughout, and bathed the whole in a ghastly and inappropriate splendor.”(pg 555)
This quote exhibits how Poe used intense descriptions to create a visual picture for the reader. He is describing how it should be dark, because there is no presence of a window or torch, but instead it is filled with a brilliant light that gives it splendor. This quote also stood out to me because it is describing light and brilliance in contrast to how he usually is describing darkness and sorrow.
Theme: "The general furniture was profuse, comfortless, antique, and tattered. Many books and musical instruments lay scattered about, but failed to give any vitality in the scene. I felt that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow."(pg 553)
This quote demonstrates the overall theme of dullness and sorrow that the House of Usher presented. How although the house was filled with usual furniture, and even items that are usually used for entertainment and enjoyment, there was still an overall feel of sadness. There was a sense of death everywhere.
-Rhian Duggan
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