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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 is the narrator's response to the sounds?

2. What does the narrator offer to read to Usher?

3. How does the narrator feel about how he is greeted?

4. What is the source of the lighting in the painting the narrator describes?

5. What about Lady Madeline had baffled her physicians?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does the narrator say about Madeline's appearance when he looked upon her before they sealed the coffin lid?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 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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