Dark Hauntings: "The Fall of the House of Usher" Answers

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."Its evidence -- the evidence of the sentience -- was to be seen, he said, (and here I started as he spoke,) in the gradual yet certain condensation of an atmosphere of their own about the waters and the walls. The result was discoverable, he added, in that silent, yet importunate and terrible influence which for centuries had moulded the destinies of his family, and which made him what I now saw him -- what he was. Such opinions need no comment, and I will make none.Based on this excerpt, the narrator seems

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."I say that even their exceeding density did not prevent our perceiving this -- yet we had no glimpse of the moon or stars -- nor was there any flashing forth of the lightning. But the under surfaces of the huge masses of agitated vapour, as well as all terrestrial objects immediately around us, were glowing in the unnatural light of a faintly luminous and distinctly visible gaseous exhalation which hung about and enshrouded the mansion.Which statement best describes the effect of the narration on the story?

Read the excerpt from "The Fall of the House of Usher."Will she not be here anon? Is she not hurrying to upbraid me for my haste? Have I not heard her footstep on the stair? Do I not distinguish that heavy and horrible beating of her heart? What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from “The Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allan Poe.I talked more quickly—more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men?—but the noise steadily increased.What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."I looked upon the scene before me -- upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain -- upon the blank walls -- upon the vacant eye-like windows -- upon a few rank sedges -- and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees -- with an utter depression of soul.What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."[S]he succumbed (as her brother told me at night with inexpressible agitation) to the prostrating power of the destroyer; and I learned that the glimpse I had obtained of her person would thus probably be the last I should obtain -- that the lady, at least while living, would be seen by me no more. How does this excerpt provide information about the narrator of the story?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."For several days ensuing, her name was unmentioned by either Usher or myself: and during this period I was busied in earnest endeavours to alleviate the melancholy of my friend.What does this excerpt reveal about the narrator of the story?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."His eyes were bent fixedly before him, and throughout his whole countenance there reigned a stony rigidity. But, as I placed my hand upon his shoulder, there came a strong shudder over his whole person; a sickly smile quivered about his lips; and I saw that he spoke in a low, hurried, and gibbering murmur, as if unconscious of my presence.Which statement best describes the effect of narration on the story?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s "The Fall of the House of Usher."No sooner had these syllable passed my lips, than -- as if a shield of brass had indeed, at the moment, fallen heavily upon a floor of silver -- I became aware of a distinct, hollow, metallic, and clangorous, yet apparently muffled reverberation. Completely unnerved, I leaped to my feet; but the measured rocking movement of Usher was undisturbed. How might the word "unnerved" indicate that the narrator is unreliable?

Read the excerpt from Poe’s “The Tale-Tell Heart”.Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. What is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt?