Name: __________________________________________________
American Literature – Guided Reading
Class Period: ___________________
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?
2.
From what condition is Usher suffering?
3.
What does the author note about the Usher family tree?
4.
The phrase “House of Usher” has two meanings. What are they?
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.
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?
7.
What does Usher believe will eventually kill him?
8.
Who is Lady Madeline? What will remain of the Usher family if she dies?
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?
11. To what type of music is Usher restricted? Why?
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?
14. Describe the atmosphere in the vault. Why do you think that Poe provided so much detail about it?
15. As the narrator and Usher take one last look at Lady Madeline, what do they notice about her appearance?
16. How does each character change after the sister's death?
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.
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?
20. The third time the noise is heard, it is much louder. What does Usher say is the cause?
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?
23. As the narrator flees the Usher mansion, what happens?