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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. What does Usher say about the similarity between he and his sister's appearance?

2. What does the narrator say is the cause of his initial impression and feelings as he approaches the House of Usher?

3. What about the facade of the mansion seems contradictory?

4. What type of energy does the narrator believe Usher's chin shows?

5. From where does Usher think he got his malady?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator say about African Satyrs and Aepipans?

2. How does the narrator find Roderick's mental state?

3. What had Roderick's sister, up to the narrator's arrive, resisted, but how does that change after the narrator arrives at the house of Usher?

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

5. What does Roderick say in reply to the narrator's comment about how Roderick and Madeline resemble each other?

6. Why is the narrator on his way to the House of Usher?

7. Why does the narrator think the house and the family are both called "The House of Usher"?

8. What does the narrator attempt to do for several days, and then what does he conclude about his attempts?

9. What does the narrator say about Roderick's face?

10. For what purpose and when was the vault used in previous times?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes The Fall of the House of Usher interesting.

Thoroughly discuss and analyze Roderick. What are his strengths and weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he usually likable? Seldom likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas. Use the same criteria to thoroughly discuss and analyze The narrator and Lady Madeline.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all stories.

Compare/contrast the characters of Roderick and Lady Madeline. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples. Compare/contrast the characters of Roderick and the narrator. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Fall of the House of Usher. Are these universal symbols that would have the same meaning in any culture? What other symbols could portray the same idea? Why do you think Poe chooses the symbols he does? Consider symbols such as the physical house itself, the mausoleum, the vegetation and even the décor of the house.

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