Analysis: The Fall Of The House Of Usher

One of the most popular poems written by Poe is “The Raven.” The poem opens up with the quote, “Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,” (1845), which tells readers the narrator is lost in his own thoughts and possibly depressed. It is midnight on a cold December, and it is written that the narrator is lost in his books with sorrow of the loss of his loved one, Lenore. The poem continues on to explain that a tapping came at the door of the man’s chamber, and he believes he is receiving a midnight visitor. As the poem progresses, Poe describes the multiple noises approaching the man’s chamber such as, “one gently rapping, rapping,” and, “uncertain rustling of each purple curtain,” and finally, “I heard a tapping something

The plot begins as a childhood friend comes to visit. However, there is now something peculiar about the Ushers; Roderick has an acuteness of the senses and Madeline is in a cataleptic state. The visitor is welcomed in and he observes the Usher’s belongings. However, the moods of suspicion and thrill sink in as the narrator finds a drawing of a burial vault in Roderick’s bedroom. As later written, Madeline’s disease causes her to become deathly ill and she passes away while the narrator is visiting. Following her death comes a disturbing tone in the story as the visitor finds out the Ushers only marry within their own family, and that Roderick and Madeline were not only mentally ill twins, but spouses too. That night, Madeline is buried in the basement with the excuse that doctors wanted to study her, however, it is later explained that Roderick held a secret as he declares, “We have put her living in the tomb!” (1839). In the climax of the story, Madeline breaks out of her casket and busts out of the chamber to find Roderick and the visitor upstairs. The trauma of seeing his sister causes Roderick’s heart attack and he dies there on the floor. The tone becomes fearful in the words of the narrator and the mood is very horrifying and enigmatic. As the plot comes to an end, the visitor rushes out of the

For example, in October 2017, the Nashville Ballet put on a Halloween performance inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” As the Tennessean states, “Company dancer Christopher Stuart’s ‘The Raven,’...inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, follows a mysterious raven that drives a heartbroken lover to madness,” (Tennessean 2017). However, the arts are not the only ones inspired by Poe’s writings, but sports as well. In an online article, it is stated that “The National Football League 2000 Super Bowl champions are named the Baltimore Ravens, after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem,” (MPT: Knowing Poe, 2017). When deciding the name of their team, fans considered everything their city had to offer, and of all historical things they knew Poe’s poem, “The Raven” out stood them all. The same article later explains, “Now Baltimore fans join the three Raven mascots- Edgar, Allan, and Poe- in cheering their players to victory,” (MPT: Knowing Poe, 2017). In addition, Richmond, Virginia is now home to the Poe Museum, created to share the story of the American author and carry on his legacy. In fact, the museum’s website mentions that a statue of Poe was built in his honor and states, “This statue of Poe was placed in the Capitol grounds near one of his boyhood homes and to the house in which he was married,” (The Old Stone House, 2017). Everyday Poe’s works are admired, and his fame has never lost