The Fall of the House of Usher

"The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by Edgar Alan Poe. It was first published in September 1839 in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. Poe transformed tales of terror into psychological histories because he dealt with the mysterious recesses of the human mind.

 

I really like this horror story but, in my opinion, it is quite complex to interpret. Therefore, these activities can be used in a B1 level:

 

Students are going to work in groups, between 4 and 5 members each. I like making students working in groups because, in the real world, people work hand in hand with others. Thus, they learn to be collaborative and cooperative, too. They learn that they have a role in the group

 

PRE-TEACHING ACTIVITIES

 

1. It is claimed that "The Fall of the House of Usher" reminds of the gothic novel because of the setting, the landscape and the topic. Do you know what gothic means?

 

 

2. Read the following excerpt of the short story:

[...] I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building. Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity. The discoloration of ages had been great. [...] Perhaps the eye of a scrutinizing observer might have discovered a barely perceptible fissure, which, extending from the roof of the building in front, made its way down the wall in a zig zag direction, until it became lost in the sullen waters of the tarn.

   Can you think of any relation between this passage and the title of the short story?

 

 

3. Now that you already know what gothic is and that you have read the beginning of the story, can you design a new cover for this short story? Feel free to use whatever tool you know, the one I propose is www.kerpoof.com.

ACTUAL TEACHING

 

4. As you have already seen, "The Fall of the House of Usher" has got several characteristics from a Gothic tale. Can you find in the short story some references to...

• a haunted house
• a dreary landscape
• an inclement weather
• a misterious sickness
• a character with double personality

5. Here you have some statements. There is a mistake in each of them, can you correct them?

• The Ushers were a poor family.
• The rooms in the House of Usher were very light.
• When Roderick was a boy he was awful.
• Roderick went out a lot.
• Madeline was dead when they put her in the coffin.

6. Can you anwer the following questions?

• Why did Roderick Usher write to the narrator?
• Where did they put Madeline's coffin?
• Why did the narrator walk around the room during the storm?
• What are the sounds that Usher and the narrator hear?
• Who was the figure standing outside the room?

POST-TEACHING ACTIVITIES:

 

7.Can you spot the differences between the characters of Roderick Usher and his twin sister Madeline Usher? Do you think Madeline is the sick carácter in reality? Discuss with your partners and reach an agreement.

 

 

8. Now that you have already read the short story. Read the excerpt in activity 2 and, then, read the following excerpt:

 While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened - there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind- the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight - my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder - there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters - and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of the "House of Usher".

   Did you do wellin activity 2? If not, can you explain the relationship between both fragments and the title of the short story again?

 

 

9. Everything we know about the story is filtered through the eyes of the narrator. Can you rewrite the story from the point of view of Madeline Usher?

 

 

 

 

This is my interpretation of the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher":

If you read the beginning of the story carefully, I'm sure you'll have realised that the beginning kills the end: Roderick Usher is doomed to destruction because he lives in isolation, surrounded by products of his mind and his imagination and, on the other hand, Madeline represents the reality, the outer world. So, in a way, the crack in the house represents Roderick's madness.