View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. From what does the narrator say his feelings about Usher must arise?

2. About what does the narrator say Usher had always been excessive and habitual?

3. How does the narrator describe the small pond near the house?

4. Of what does the narrator suggest the MS. he receives gives evidence?

5. What is the "grim phantasm"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does the narrator say about his friendship with Roderick Usher?

4. How does the narrator feel as he approaches the House of Usher?

5. What does the narrator do before actually going inside the House of Usher?

6. How does the narrator react to Roderick's mood after Madeline's death?

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

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

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

10. What is Roderick's response to Madeline falling upon him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator gives a detailed description of the House of Usher as he first encounters it. The house appears to also symbolize Roderick and Lady Madeline.

What physical descriptions of the house seem to relate to Roderick? What ones seem to relate to Lady Madeline? Use examples from The Fall of the House of Usher to support your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Foreshadowing is used in almost all works of fiction.

What is foreshadowing? Identify three instances of foreshadowing in The Fall of the House of Usher and what they foreshadow? How does foreshadowing contribute to a story’s suspense? Are there any incidences that you thought foreshadows a future event, but it does not do so?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 600 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample