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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 style were Usher's paintings?

2. Where is the narrator first conducted when he enters the house of Usher?

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

4. What does the narrator hear through the noises of the storm?

5. What fell down at the feet of the hero?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Roderick seem to vacillate between?

3. How does the narrator throw off his sense of gloom upon approaching the house?

4. What does the narrator think of Roderick's ostensible reason for delaying Madeline's burial?

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

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

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

8. How does the narrator describe the vault where Madeline's coffin is temporarily laid to rest?

9. How does the narrator help Roderick regarding Roderick's deceased sister?

10. According to Roderick, what impact does the sentience of the plants around the House of Usher have on the Usher family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Fall of the House of Usher belongs to the gothic horror genre.

Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the gothic horror genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to a story? What do you think is the difference between a gothic horror and a historical story or mystery?

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

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