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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" Feeble gleams of encrimsoned light made their way through the trellised panes, and served to render sufficiently dstinct the more prominent images around; the eye, however, struggled in vain to reach the remoter angles of the chamber, or the recesses of the vaulted and fretted ceilings." (552) This passage creates a vivid picture of depression without being over-descritive. He tells it like it is, but in such a way that the reader feels creeped out by reading it.
- Cameron Duquette
"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 of the sublime." (551) This quote paints the vivid picture in your mind of the uses of imagery that Poe utilizes to create suspense while also suggesting the twisted and disturbing state of Poe's mind.
"Oppressed, as I certainly was, upon the occurence of this second and most extraordinary coincindence, by a thousand conflicting sensations, in which wonder and extreme terror was predominant, I still retained sufficient prescense of mind to avoid exctiting, by any observation, the sensitive nervousness of my companion." (561)
This depicts the main theme that Poe is trying to get at, the anticipated terrors in life will chew you up like any remorse or guilty feelings will do.
The last post was made by Eric Leone. I forgot to put my name in.
"A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thins and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of a delicate Hebrew model, but with a breadth of nostril unusual in similar formations; a finely moulded chin, speaking, in its want of prominence, of a want of moral energy; hair of a more than web-like softness and tenuity;- these features, with an inordinate expansion above the regions of the temple, made up altogether a countenance not easily to be forgotten." (553) These precise and dramatic descriptions really captured me into the story. Poe uses a language that is so succinct, and he is able to suck the reader into his emotions.
"I felt creeping upon me, by slow yet certain degrees, the wild influences of his own fantastic yet impressive superstitions." (559) Poe expresses a theme through saying that after spending some time at the house of Usher, the narrator begins to think in the ways of Rodderick Usher. The narrator is undeniably becoming influenced by Usher's imagination.
-Zenya Molnar
Style-
“Yet the character of his face had been at all times remarkable. A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid…” pg 553
The footnote says the description of Roderick Usher is the most perfect pen-portrait of Poe himself. I find it interesting that this is how Poe sees himself. Words such as cadaverous bring out his dark vocabulary.
Theme-
“… my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder-there was a long tumultuous shouting sound 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.” Pg 562
I think the theme of the story revolves around the House of Usher. Poe uses vivid and dark descriptions to describe all of the strange happenings that occur because of the House. I feel as though Poe wants to get across the point that the House of Usher is not a pleasant place for the narrator and each time it is mentioned the readers can see the negativity that comes from the House itself.
-Lauren Bowker
Poe's Style
"The windows were long, narrow, and pointed, and at so vast a distance from the black oaken floor as to be altogether inaccessible from within. Feeble gleams of encrimsoned light made their way through trellised panes..." (553)
Poe uses dark, depressing words such as "feeble". His whole description of the sitting room gives it a very dark, claustrophobic feeling.
Theme
"There was blood upon her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame. For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold - then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corse, and a victim to the terrors he anticipated." (562)
Poe uses this horror, darkness, and the paranormal in the climax of his short story. These characteristics are the main themes of Poe's writing
-bowen
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..." (551)
Poe likes to use very particular words to describe an especially dreary scene. He uses the repetition of words. He wrote about very depressing subjects, but had a wonderful way of telling them.
theme
"A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thins and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of a delicate Hebrew model, but with a breadth of nostril unusual in similar formations; a finely moulded chin, speaking, in its want of prominence, of a want of moral energy; hair of a more than web-like softness and tenuity;- these features, with an inordinate expansion above the regions of the temple, made up altogether a countenance not easily to be forgotten." (553)
Poe describes both the House of Usher and Usher himself in the same fashion. He says they're getting old, and falling apart, yet they still have an air of grandness.
-Steph Horan
Style: "a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued" (552). This passage shows poe's vivid imagery, and use of strong vocabulary to portray his image. With each word, it is easier and easier to feel what Poe is talking about, a recurring style within the story.
Theme: "Shaking off my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building...Beyond this indication of extensive decay, however, the fabric gave little token of instability" (552). Here he is looking at a mansion, and it's confusing appearance. This portrays the mentality of the narrator, and soon all the images have a twisted look, both beautiful and ugly, old and new, not a concise image.
~Jenna Williams
Style: “Surely, man had never before so terribly altered, in so brief a period, as had Roderick Usher!” (553)
This is a brief quote, but it captures Poe's energetic, yet ominous style. The alteration of this man's appearance is meant to strike the reader as horrific, and it does a good job doing that.
Theme: “An influence which some peculiarities in the mere form and substance of his family mansion had, by dint of long sufferance, he said, obtained over his spirit – an effect which the physique of the gray walls and turrets, and of the dim tarn into which they all looked down, had, at length brought upon the morale of his existence.” (554)
This quote summons up the mood and theme of the story perfectly. Poe's message that the gloomy atmosphere of the Usher house is it's own downfall is echoed by Roderick, in the quote, saying how the "gray walls" brought upon his current condition.
-Matthew Campbell
i reined my horse to the precipitous brink of a black tarn that lay in unruffled lustre by the dwelling, and gazed down- but with a shudder even more thrilling than before- upon the remodeled and inverted images of the gray sedge and the ghastly tree-stems, and the vacant and eye-like windows.
-karl young
pg. 551 this quote fills in the blanks where the beginning of the paragraph leaves off in explaining what exactly this house looks like, and gives the house a dark sheen, that dosent quite get creepy
-karl young (i posted too early)
"I felt that I breathed an atmosphere of sorrow. An air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom hung over and pervaded all." (553)
This short passage is relevant to the gothic style that Poe uses throughout this short story because it creates such a vivid, frightening image in one's mind. Poe's dark and mysterious writing style is unique to that of other author's due to his strong usage of vocabulary. "gloom hung over..." is an example of his style. Poe's description aids in developing a clear picture.
"To an anomalous species of terror I found him a bounden slave. 'I shall perish,' said he, 'I must perish in this deplorable folly. Thus, thus, and not otherwise, shall I be lost.'" (554)
This quote is relevant to the theme of this story because it reveals Roderick's true emotion regarding his reasons for living in the house. This connects to the theme that the condition of the house represents the condition of Roderick. He feels the need to stay in the house and watch it suffer... just as he himself is suffering inside.
--Laura Hundley
"...while the carvins of the ceilings, the sombre tapestries of the walls, the ebon blackness of the floor and the phantasmagoric armorial trophies which rattled as i strode..." page 553
i thought this represented his gothic style of writing because he even said in the section before that the house of usher basically screamed gothic style with the butler to match and everything. i was picturing the Rocky Horror house while reading this but the phrase, "ebon blackness" was incredibly descriptive and those two words entirely could define Poe
-Kelsey L.
"i felt creeping upon me, by slow yet certain degree's the wild influences of his own fantastic yet impressive superstitions." Page 559
this sentence reflects Poe's stylistic way of writing and the theme all in one due to the eerie trail it leaves behind and the way it sums up his feelings on the matter
-Kelsey L.
"but, with the first glmpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit."(551)
-I chose this quote because it displays Poe's grim use of clever vocabulary that creates a a dark image in your mind. When he says first glimpse of the building it gives off a picture of a rotting, old house that creates fear inside you as a sense of insufferable gloom had just stricked your spirit. This is jsut one of many different passages that show Poe's frightening and articulate style of writing that brings about the most haunting images people can imagine.
"I feel that the period will sooner or later arrive when I must abandon life and reason together, in some struggle with the grim phantasm, fear."
-I thought this quote symbolized the theme of the story. It describes the long fight throughout the short story, Roderick's fear, which controls him. It displays the theme of the book, the constant fear surrounding the house, the eventual downfall of the Usher family and the fear that had finally put Roderick's life to an end. Roderick desribes his end with this quote, and it offers some foreshadowing of what will come, because Roderick has already felt as if he knew his end was coming and that's why the narrator was called for assistance.
-Eric Wu
"this fissure rapidly widened- there came a fierce breathe of whirlwind-the entire orb of the satellite burst at once on my sight" (562). This is the theme of death that is prevalent throughout this story. It shows the ultimate demise of Usher and is the last nail in the coffin.
I reined my horse to the precipitous brink of a black and lurid tarn that lay in unruffled lustre by the dwelling and gazed down" (551). This shows Poe's exceptional vocabulary and his knack for detail and painting a vivid picture.
-Will Kearney
To an anomalous species of terror i found him a bounden slave. "I shall Perish, : said he, " i must perish in this deplorable folly. Thus, thus , and not otherwise, shall I be lost. I dread not the events of the future, not in themselves, but in their results. Pg.554
this passage builds up the reoccurring symbol of fear and how it effects the actions of people.
Theme Quote:
"and I soon found this to arise from a series of feeble and futile struggles to overcome a habitual treipancy--an excessive nervous agitation"(553) This passage shows how Poe always seemed in a state of agitation and was always nervous as he says here and this sentence reflects his struggle with it and himself essentially throughout his writing.
Style Quote:
"Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity. The discoloration of ages had been great. Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior, hanging in a fine tangled web-work from the eaves. Yet all this was apart from an extraordinary dilapidation" (552) Poe used a lot of gothic descriptions when he was describing the actual house as in the building throughout the story and that's what he focused on.
-Eric H
STLYE
“Not hear it? - yes, I hear it, and have heard it. Long - long - long - many minutes, many hours, many days, have I heard it - yet I dared not - oh, pity me, miserable wretch that I am! - I dared not - I dared not speak! We have put her living in the tomb! Said I not that my senses were acute? I now tell you that I heard her first feeble movements in the hollow coffin.” (562)
This is a great example of how Poe builds the suspense and terror inside the reader. Roderick tone of voice sounds frantic and panicky. Poe puts the emphasis on the line “We have put her living in the tomb” by putting the phrase in italics, and by doing so, you can feel the terror and panic in Roderick’s voice.
THEME
“The radiance was that of the full, setting, and blood-red moon which now shone vividly through that once barely-discernible fissure, of which I have before spoken as extending from the roof of the building, in a zigzag direction, to the base. While I gazed, this fissure 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 sound 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.” (563)
This quote is the how story ends. I think it represents the theme because the entire story revolves around the terror and mystery of the house. The fissure is a metaphor for the Usher family lineage. It doesn’t branch out at all, it just zigzags. When Madeline attacked Roderick and killed him, she ended the family lineage and causes the crack to expand and completely destroy the house.
Finally I posted this without the power going out.
-Scott Hagen
"And it might have been for this reason only, that, when i again uplifted my eyes to the house itself, from its image in the pool, there grew in my mind a strange fancy- a fancy so ridiculous, indeed, that i but mention it to show the vivid force of the sensations which oppressed me (552)."
This passage illuminates the house as being evil and fearsome, yet the narrator is enticed by the aura of the building.
"I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere which had no affinity with heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees, and the gray wall, and the silent tarn- a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish faintly discernible, and leaden- hued (552)."
This quote, which is coincidentally the line after my previous choice, i thought was a very clear example of Poe's characteristic writing style. The line is filled with strong imagery and very choice wording, and explicitly shows Poe's famous "creepy", ominous writing style.
-Christina Murphy
"DO i not distinguish that heavy and horrible beating of her heart? Madman!' Here he sprang furiously to his feet, and he shreiked out his syllables, as if in the effort he were giving up his soul. 'Madman! I tell you that shenow stands without the door!" (562) This suggests strongly his theme of inner conflict and fear. He uses the faults in human psychology to strike fear in the hearts of his readers.
Style
"While the objects around me-while the carving of the ceilings, the sombre tapestries of the walls, the ebon blackness of the floors, and the phantasmagoric armoral trophies which rattled as I strode," (553)
I think that this is a great representation of Poe's style of writing because it shows his "use of scrupulous words" such as "ebon blackness" and "sombre tapestries" and "phantasmagoric". His words are very precise and descriptive and fit in perfectly with the story. I can almost imagine everything that he is describing.
Theme
"...wonder and extreme terror are predominant" (561)
Although it is a shorter quote, it really stood out to me because it seemed to just capture the whole idea of the story and what Poe was trying to say. I feel like he is trying to say that terror and wonder are the most important ideas of all and it shows because the entire story has a creepy feeling to it beccause coffins, mental illnesses, and darkness are talked about. Throughout the story, Poe makes everything seem scary yet though provoking.
~Maryam Semenov
“There grew in my mind a strange fancy- a fancy so ridiculous, indeed, that I but mention it to show the vivid force of the sensations which oppressed me. I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves.” (552) This quote displays the idea that Poe has such a strong imagination creating all the ideas in his head. This theme of reality versus imagination and dreams is explored greatly in the House of Usher.
“I entered the Gothic archway. A valet, of stealthy step, thence conducted me, in silence, through many dark and intricate passages in my progress to the studio of his master.” (552)
This quote exemplifies Poe’s style by combining his sinister and mysterious thoughts, with his carefully chosen vocabulary.
- Katie Campbell
style:
"Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building. Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity. The discoloration of ages had been great." (552)
this excerpt highlights the way Poe used his vocabulary. It is a good example of the way he strings words together so that the reader gets the most out of the sentence, no matter what the length may be. His words a very, very descriptive.
Theme:
"Sleep came not near my couch--while the hours waned and waned away. I struggled to reason off the nervousness which had dominion over me." (559)
this quote depicts the theme of reason versus fear in the story. throughout the story, the narrator struggles to use reason to rationalize the fear he feels in being in the House of Usher. this is the point where that fear finally peaks.
--jillian pellegrini
Style:
"The discoloration of ages had been great. Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior, hanging in a fine tangled web-work from the eaves. Yet all this was apart from any extraordinary dilapidation. No portion of the masonry had fallen; and there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its stilll perfect adaption of parts, and the crumbling condition of the individual stones." (552)
While describing the building, Poe depicts every significant and insignificant detail about the house. Using pictures, such as "a fine tangled web-work from the eaves" creates a vivid picture in the reader's head.
"There was blood upon her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter stuggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame. For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold-then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated." (562)
This paragraph just shows how intense the character, Usher, really is. Death is within him, he expects it as though it were common for him. His darkness is portrayed in this paragraph, which sums up the story as a whole.
Gwendolyn Ngai
Style:
o “A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of delicate Hebrew model, but with a breadth of nostril unusual in similar formations; a finely moulded chin, speaking, in its want of prominence, of a want of moral energy; hair of a more than web-like softness and tenuity; -these features, with an inordinate expansion above the regions of the temple, made up altogether a countenance not easily to be forgotten” (553).
When reading this, I was drawn to the amount of information and imagery Poe was able to put together to not only desribe, but to actually paint a picture in your mind of what exactly he was trying to portray.
Theme:
"...wonder and extreme terror are predominant" (561).
Even with this quote being so diminutive, I feel it completely sums up what Poe is trying to expain throughout "The Fall of the House of Usher". Here, he is showing how having wonder about something in life comes hand-in-hand with terror: just how he pictures the House as big and horrifying, yet is still enticed BY eeriness.
-Krystle Doucette
“Here opium – the bitter lapse into every-day life – the hideous dropping off of the veil.” (551)
This quote speakes a lot to Poe's theme and the themes of romanticism. Poe, and many other romantics believe that every-day life is not truely living. The tasks which we routinely complete are obstacles to living freely and indendently. Poe believes that every-day life, like opium, prevents us from truely feeling and causes us to be numb to reality.
“…inverted images of the gray sedge, and the ghastly tree-stems, and the vacant and eye-like windows.” (551)
These images are quite haunting and pictures like this one are painted quite frequently in the mind of the reader. The images of the dying landscape are so powerful that you can almost feel them. I am especially amazed at the phrase "eye-like windows". I wonder what they eyes are metaphorically peering into. I think that the "eyes" are peering into the empty lives that we lead when we are surrounded by monotony, which is symbolized by the lack of life in the scene.
Sorry! That last one was from Kelley.
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 of the sublime.
Poe uses very descriptive and creepy words such as "unredeemed dreariness" when you read that you can see in your mind the sadness and terror that this house brings.(551)
Theme:
There was blood upon her white robes, and the evidence of some bitter struggle upon every portion of her emaciated frame. For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold - then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated.(562)
This shows the darkness within the whole story and within the characer. This was such a suspenseful ending and i thought it really summed up the story.
- Kristen Scopetski
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