Name: __________________________________________________ Class Period: ___________________
American Literature – Guided Reading
The Fall of the House of Usher
By Edgar Allan Poe
After reading the first paragraph, write down one word to describe the mood of the story. Identify at least 8 key
words that support your answer.
Mood:
Key words in text that support mood
1. How does the narrator know Roderick Usher? (lines 33-35)
2. From what condition is Usher suffering? (lines 39-42)
3. What does the author note about the Usher family tree? (lines 55-58)
4. The phrase “House of Usher” has two meanings. What are they? (lines 62-68)
Lines 84 – 98 describe the Usher mansion. Identify five phrases that describe the mansion and also help to set the
mood of the story. Then draw a quick sketch of the mansion based on your examples from the text.
Description Examples Sketch of Usher’s Mansion
5. What does the narrator see as he enters the mansion? Give 3 details of the interior setting.
Lines 130-150 describe the physical characteristics of Roderick Usher. Give 3 examples of Usher’s appearance
from the text. Then draw a quick sketch of him based on your evidence.
Roderick Usher
Description Examples
6. To what has Roderick Usher become sensitive? (lines 170-176)
7. What does Usher believe will eventually kill him? (lines 180-185)
8. Who is Lady Madeline? What will remain of the Usher family if she dies? (lines 196-203)
9. How does the narrator describe the disease of Lady Madeline? Put the following in your own words:
“A gradual wasting away of the person”
“partially cataleptical character “
“succumbed to the prostrating power of her destroyer”
10. What does the narrator realize as he spends time with Usher? (lines 226-231)
11. To what type of music is Usher restricted? Why? (lines 261-275)
12. Poe includes the poem, “The Haunted Palace” in his story. How is the palace in the poem different from the
Usher mansion? How are they the same?
Different Same
13. Usher informs the narrator that Lady Madeline is dead. Where do they “temporarily entomb” her? (lines 375-
383)
14. Describe the atmosphere in the vault. Why do you think that Poe provided so much detail about it? (lines
375-388)
15. As the narrator and Usher take one last look at Lady Madeline, what do they notice about her appearance?
(lines 395-404)
16. Reread lines 404-419. How does each character change?
Changes in Usher after his sister’s death Changes in the narrator as he observes Usher
17. Describe the weather conditions in the middle of the night as Usher knocks on the narrator’s door. (lines 452
– 466)
18. How does the weather contribute to the terrifying atmosphere?
19. The narrator begins to read to Usher in order to relieve his nervousness. What causes him to pause during the
story? (lines 497-510)
20. The third time the noise is heard, it is much louder. What does Usher say is the cause? (lines 502-510)
21. Describe Madeline’s physical appearance. How does this help to create a terrifying atmosphere?
22. What ultimately happens to Roderick Usher and Lady Madeline? (lines 584-587)
23. As the narrator flees the Usher mansion, what happens?
Think-Pair-Write Summary
“The Fall of the House of Usher”
Think
What effect does Poe attempt to create in his story?
How does Poe use plot, characters and setting to create a unity of effect?
Pair
Discuss the possible effect with your partner. Then find an example of how Poe uses each element in his story to
create unity of effect.
Effect: ________________________________
Use of Quote
Plot
Characters
Setting
Write
Write a one paragraph response that describes the effect Poe attempts to create in “The Fall of the House of
Usher.” Explain how he uses plot, characters and setting to achieve a unity of effect. Be sure to provide
examples from the text to support your reasoning.
Include:
- A topic sentence that states the overall effect created
- Three examples of how the effect is achieved through plot, characters and setting
o Include quotes with details.
- A concluding sentence that explains how well or to what extent unify of effect contributed to the
effectiveness of the story
The Fall of the House of Usher - Fearful vocabulary terms
Word Short Definition Image or Graphic Connotation (+ 0 -)
Feeling of sadness, typically
Melancholy
with no obvious cause -
Insoluble
Alleviation
Appellation
Affinity
Pestilent
Inordinate
Insipid
Phantasm
Apathy
Malady
Improvisation
Pertinacity
Fissure
Vagary
Anomaly
The Fall of the House of Usher – extended writing
Graphic organizer
Overall Effect Created in Story
Plot Characters Setting
Describe the overall plot. Describe the characters. Describe the setting.
2 Examples from Text 2 Examples from Text 2 Examples from Text
How All 3 Elements Work Together to Create Unity of Effect
