The Fall of the House of Usher
Edgar Allan Poe has been one of my favorite authors since I read some of his work in highschool. I always knew everything he wrote had a darker tone to it but I didn't know it was considered gothic until this class. Poe does a great job painting a vivid picture for the reader with his dark imagery used throughout. Just the description of the House of Usher and Roderick Usher himself is enough to send eerie chills down your spine. Then when the story begins to unravel and you realize that Roderick buried his sister (twin) alive in the house, it really puts the iceing on the cake as far as a creepy feeling for the reader. His sister manages to break out of her tomb and appears covered in blood, this is when Roderick dies and the author hurries out of the House of Usher. All of these elements paint a freaky picture that somehow makes the reader want more.
Behind a Mask (Part 1)
Now when I first began to read this book I was irritated because I thought it was going to be another romance novel like one of our previous readings. This definitely wasn't the case, there are a number of twists throughout and foreshadowing that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. This was one of the easiest books for me to read because the dialect used by the characters is similar to that of our own. There is a lot of irony throughout the book because the reader knows that Jean is a imposter after chapter one but the characters have no idea. This got a little frustrating because I just wanted to tell them but it also helped keep my attention throughout the read. I'm excited to finish the book and see what Jean wants out of the family and what her story is.
Of the short stories, Poe is one of my favorites as well. His stories are easy to follow, and they move from action point to action point with a nice and even flow. The Fall of the House of Usher is no exception to this rule. I also agree that it definitely follows the basic gothic literature plot lines. The old settings, with the curse (although this time its more a family linage type of thing), and elements of terror that make the reader wonder what is stressing the characters out so much. In fact, there is never really a true resolution to this short story, the reader is left to fend for themselves when it comes to making a conclusion on the novel.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the Fall of the House of Usher was descriptive and easy to follow, however, I found this story too disturbing to enjoy.It was really creepy how he buried his sister alive. It did paint a really freaky picture, and I can see how this story would make a great horror film.
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