The Fall of the House of Usher Themes

What does the narrator notice about the House of Usher when he first sees it?

• It is brightly lit and welcoming.

• It is surrounded by a beautiful garden.

• It is cracked and decayed, with a tarn (pond) nearby.

• It is covered in colorful flowers.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What does Roderick Usher fear is happening to his sister Madeline after her supposed death?

• That she is suffering from a fever.

• That she is being attacked by a ghost.

• That she is returning from the dead.

• That she is becoming insane.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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Why does Roderick Usher want to entomb Madeline in the family tomb under the house?

• To prevent her from being buried elsewhere.

• To ensure that she receives a proper funeral.

• To protect her from the narrator.

• To keep her close to him in death.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What does the narrator witness in the story's climactic ending?

• a) The escape of Madeline and Roderick.

• b) The collapse of the House of Usher into the tarn.

• c) The arrival of a group of townspeople.

• d) A peaceful resolution between Roderick and Madeline.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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How does the narrator react to the events and sights in the House of Usher?

• He remains calm and unaffected.

• He becomes increasingly anxious and fearful.

• He decides to join Roderick in his artistic pursuits.

• He feels compelled to leave the house immediately.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What does the narrator find when he reads "Ethelred and the dragon" to Roderick Usher?

• That it has a calming effect on Roderick.

• That it terrifies Roderick even more.

• That Roderick becomes obsessed with the story.

• That Roderick falls asleep while listening.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What effect does the storm have on the house and its inhabitants?

• It has a soothing and comforting effect.

• It intensifies the sense of foreboding and terror.

• It has no impact on the characters.

• It causes them to rejoice and celebrate.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What does the narrator hear when he listens at the door to Roderick's chamber?

• Madeline's cries for help.

• Roderick's confessions of guilt.

• An incoherent, eerie soundscape.

• The sound of the wind outside.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What is the overall mood and atmosphere of the story?

• Joyful and celebratory.

• Romantic and whimsical.

• Eerie and foreboding.

• Lighthearted and carefree.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

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What theme is most prominently explored in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'?

• A) The power of love

• B) The inevitability of death

• C) The joy of family

• D) The triumph of good over evil

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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