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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 had Usher done as the narrator is reading to him?

2. How does the narrator feel when Usher's sister comes through the apartment where Usher and the narrator are?

3. What is the narrator's response to the sounds?

4. What emotion does the narrator say is rapidly increasing as he sits aside his horse and surveys the surroundings?

5. What does the narrator say is "cadaverously wan"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator attempt to calm Roderick?

2. What is one picture Roderick painted that the narrator describes and says it is not as abstract as the others?

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. To what does Roderick say part of his mental state can be traced?

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

6. What is the significance of the small volume titled “Directorium Inquisitorium,” by the Dominican Eymeric de Gironne?

7. How does the narrator describe the door into the vault where they lay Madeline's coffin?

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

9. Who is at the door when it flies open and what does the person do?

10. What is the only instrument Roderick can tolerate hearing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all stories have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of The Fall of the House of Usher, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Identify the protagonists of the story and why you believe they are such? Identify the antagonists of the story and why you believe they are such? Which three secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot? Which, if any, characters are not essential to the story? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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