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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the ruler in the early part of the song the narrator records?

2. How does the narrator describe the lapse into everyday life in his description upon spying the House of Usher?

3. What infects the narrator?

4. What does the narrator doubt when he studies over Usher's countenance?

5. How long does Usher want to keep Madeline's body before burial?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Roderick explain his invitation to a visit by the narrator?

2. What type of struggle is going on within Roderick?

3. What changes about Roderick's voice in the days following Madeline's death?

4. Why is the narrator unable to shake off his feelings of uneasiness the night of the storm?

5. What does the narrator notice Roderick doing as they hear a clanging sound at the same time the book mentions the same such sound?

6. What does the narrator say about Roderick's usual habits after Madeline dies?

7. How does the narrator attempt to calm Roderick?

8. What does Roderick say drives him to despair?

9. What does Roderick believe he has done to Madeline?

10. When does the narrator find he is unable to sleep and upon what does he blame that fact?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Poe does an exemplary job of portraying gloom, fear and horror.

Discuss some of the techniques Poe uses to elicit the emotions he wants from the reader. Use examples from The Fall of the House of Usher to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

Poe was a literary critic as well as a writer. He claims a story must concentrate on a single effect.

What is the single effect in The Fall of the House of Usher and how is this effect evident in the characters, the setting and the symbolism?

Essay Topic 3

The narrator approaches the House of Usher with great trepidation when he sees the disrepair. He is telling the story of visiting a friend.

It might occur to the reader that the main character is the narrator but the story gives very little information about him. Discuss how it affects the story not knowing much about the narrator. Use examples from The Fall of the House of Usher to support your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

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