Tuesday October 27

In class: Overture to von Weber's opera Der Freischutz. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Umd7w5cECE

Imagine this as the background to The Fall of the House of Usher.

The following is a copy of the class handout relating to Usher. You will be presenting your response tomorrow before the rest of the class. Please note, each student will fill in a participation rubric for the other group members, which will count as a separate grade.


The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

With your assigned group, prepare the assigned question to share with the class. Use specific details from the text to support your response. Have someone scribe your answers, so as to be turned in for grading. Make sure you proof read.

1. How is the physical appearance of the interior of the House of Usher related to the condition of Usher’s mind? How is it related to his physical appearance?


2. What details early in the story foreshadow the ending?



3. Critics have argued that Madeline and Roderick are not only twins but are physical and metal components of the same being. What evidence is there in the story to support this claim?


4. In what way is the ending of the story ambiguous? What do you think has happened?


How does the following contribute to the growing sense of terror in “The Fall of the House of Usher”?

5. The description of the House of Usher. The description of Usher’s painting.


6. The entombment of Madeleine. Storms and other natural phenomena.


Find evidence in the story to support the following:

7. .In the absence of contact with the real world, the human imagination an produce distorted perception of reality.

8. When isolated from the real world, a person an be infected by another person’s fears and false perceptions of reality.

9. If artists (many believe that Roderick Usher represents a typical creative artist) completely turn away from the external world and become drawn into the internal world of their imaginations, they ultimately destroy their capacity to create and may ultimately destroy themselves.

PAPER ASSIGNMENT DUE MONDAY NOVEMBER 2

Comparing and Contrasting The Oval Portrait and The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe Due Monday November 2

Write an essay of approximately 500 words – two typed double spaced pages, size 12, Times New Roman font- comparing and contrasting the above Edgar Allan Poe short stories. First review both stories and take note of the characters, setting, mood and theme of each. Use specific words or phrases from the text. List the similarities and differences between the two stories in each of these areas. Organize your information into an outline and write a thesis statement. This information should be stapled to the back of your completed essay. It will be a separate test grade. (Easy A)

Then write your essay in which you support your thesis statement with the information from your lists. Use appropriate transitions.


Fall of the House of Usher
The Oval Portrait
character
















mood / tone














































theme
House of Usher











Oval Portrait





















Thesis statement:

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