ipl-logo

Comparing House Of Usher, Masque Of The Red Death, And The Raven

1065 Words5 Pages

Richard Wilbur has said that Edgar Allen Poe’s stories are “an allegory of dream experience: it occurs within the mind of a poet; the characters are not distinct personalities, but principles or faculties of the poet’s divided nature; the steps of the action correspond to the successive states of a mind moving into sleep; and the end of the action is the end of a dream.” Three of Poe’s stories, Fall of the House of Usher, Masque of the Red Death, and The Raven prove that Wilbur’s statement is true. These three stories relate because they all share an aspect of death, which is what the states of mind moving into sleep and the end of the action being the end of a dream that Richard Wilbur describes is. Fall of the House of Usher relates to death …show more content…

The word death is in the title of the story. There is still a similar situation to the one in Fall of the House of Usher here. By the end of the Masque of the Red Death, the narrator says that “Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all”(180) The Red Death has taken the final steps needed to destroy all of the Prince’s kingdom. The final step here is the Red Death himself entering the party and killing everyone with the disease. The first step is starting to destroy the kingdom outside the castle. Each of the successive steps are the spreading of the raging pestilence. The minds that are moving into sleep is a bit different than Fall of the House of Usher. In Usher, the sleeping minds are the siblings and their house. The steps there are made by nature. In Red Death, it is presumably everyone in the entire kingdom, but not any structures. The steps here are made by a disease that has taken a visible physical form. Nonetheless, they both connect in the same idea. The Masque of the Red Death also shows how Wilbur’s comment is true about Poe’s …show more content…

The mentioned early relation to death is one the first page of the story when narrator states “And the only word there spoken was the whispered word. ‘Lenore!’ This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word ‘Lenore!’ Merely this and nothing more.”(Lines 28-30). It is implied here that the main character knew someone by the name of Lenore. The narrator’s relation with this Lenore isn’t stated, but Lenore might be a beloved family member or close friend. No matter what their relation is, it is clear that the narrator misses Lenore. This fact sets the stage for the rest of the plot where the story’s relation to Wilbur’s comment is shown. This relation, however, has an extra part thrown into the mix. The end of the story doesn’t signify the reaching of the final step, but rather the end of the plot is more like maybe the second to last step, which is the narrator’s insanity. While it can’t be directly proven, it is possible that the narrator’s insanity would eventually lead to his/her death. Anyways, the first step is Lenore’s death, because that is what sets up the incoming insanity. The succeeding steps are the narrator’s chat with the raven sitting in his window sill. When the narrator’s“soul from out that window that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted-Nevermore!”(Lines 107-108), the character is successfully reached

Show More
Related

Compare And Contrast A Rose For Emily And The Masque Of The Red Death

1105 Words | 5 Pages

In stories both fiction and nonfiction, the author’s choice in the structure of the said story can greatly affect the meaning given to it, as well as the reader’s response to the story. In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death, Poe uses chronological order as well as metaphors and allegory to create a particular feel. Similarly, in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner, the author uses different structure - beginning with the end, then going more chronologically - to create a different feeling. Both stories would be completely different if it were not for the methods the authors chose to use for their stories’ structure.

Read More

How Does Edgar Allan Poe Use Syntax

621 Words | 3 Pages

The imagery Poe crafts into the story sets a mysterious,and almost melancholy mood complemented by the tone. In The Fall of the House of Usher, the story is started by the quote “During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens.” immediately creating a creepy, melancholy tone to make the reader get a feel of the solemn sadness of the story as soon as the story starts. Annabel Lee, a sad story where the narrator loses the love of his life, is turned creepy when the narrator sleeps with a dead Annabel Lee in her tomb. The quote “And so, all the night-tide, “I lie down by the side Of my darling—my darling—my life and my bride,” makes the reader shift from feeling sad for a man that just lost his young wife, to creeped by a man who takes death cannot end our love

Read More

Similarities Between The Cask Of Amontillado And The Masque Of The Red Death

735 Words | 3 Pages

“And the revel went whirlingly on, until at length there commenced the sounding of midnight upon the clock. And the music ceased, as I have told; and the evolutions of the waltzers were quieted; and there was an uneasy cessation of all things before. When people are dancing and having fun they don’t stop because a clock rang; this shows that there is something dark like death on the guests mind. In “The Fall of the House of Usher,” the narrator’s thoughts set a dark mood. “...I feel that the period will sooner or later arrive when I must abandon life and reason together, in some struggle with a grim phantasm, FEAR.”

Read More

Foreshadowing In The Fall Of The House Of Usher Essay

886 Words | 4 Pages

The crack in the house and the dead trees imply that the house and its surroundings are not sturdy or promising. These elements indicate that a positive outcome is not expected. The thunder,strange light, and mist create a spooky feeling for the reader. In "The Fall of the house of Usher," Edgar Allan Poe creates suspense and fear in the reader. He also tries to convince the reader not to let fear overcome him.

Read More

Figurative Language In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

406 Words | 2 Pages

How does Poe use diction, imagery details, and figurative language to set a vivid setting in The Fall of the House of Usher? The first impressions given by the narrator give the story a bleak outlook for the ending of the story by the way Poe describes his surroundings and the house of Usher. As the narrator rides up to his old friend Usher’s house, he uses dark detailing on the surrounding area with darker words that help provide a sense of insecurity within the narrator as he wonders why he is so afraid of the house of Usher.

Read More

Symbols In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

673 Words | 3 Pages

Deep within every person there is a sense of fear that terrifies them for life. In Edgar Allen Poe’s story “The Fall of the house of Usher”, the narrator enters the home of a lifelong friend, Usher, who has fallen to the fear he has held within him. Usher’s twin sister, Madeline, has Usher on edge thinking that she is dead. When they bury her, she comes back to life and takes him away to die with him. They are the last two of the family of Ushers.

Read More

What Is The Tone In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

732 Words | 3 Pages

“There was a coldness, a sickening of the heart, in which I could discover nothing to lighten the weight I felt” This line perfectly sums up the overall tone of The Fall of the House of Usher. The story at its most basic level is about a man who visits his old friend in a house which is seemingly under some sort of supernatural hex. The way Poe goes into such detail describing the characters and their personal reactions to the events that take place during the story help the reader to stay close to the actions of the story. Additionally Poe describes the house so well that the reader can easily picture the dilapidated mess as if standing in front of it.

Read More

Examples Of Gothic Elements In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

1669 Words | 7 Pages

“ The Fall of the House of Usher “ by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story about a man named Roderick Usher who initiates some events such as evoking his friend The Narrator as a protagonist to the dreadful mansion. The images such as the house and gothic ambience are used to reinforce the idea of giving the mystery to the reader. Edgar Allan Poe uses gothic elements to show how they affect the atmosphere and the characters. In the beginning , the gothic atmosphere of the house is indicated with terrifying images such as “ dull, dark and soundless ” that the feeling of horror vaccinated into reader by the thoughts of the narrator.

Read More

Symbolism In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

1500 Words | 6 Pages

Throughout “The Fall of the House of Usher,” metaphor and symbolism are heavily relied upon to express the extent of the madness that resides within the Usher House. In the short story, Poe creates a symbolic parallel between the art and stories that are seen and told. It can be implied, from a painting, in the Usher house, that Lady Madeline Usher is still alive. The reader can also imply that there is a hidden tunnel or room under the entirety of the house. “The Mad Trist” indirectly tells the reader of Lady Madeline’s escape from the tomb she had been placed in.

Read More

Analysis Of The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

735 Words | 3 Pages

Although all he saw was the darkness with a whispered word, Lenore. The tapping occurred once more, as he opens the door, a savage raven enters the room flying to the top of his chamber door. The sorrow narrator asks the raven many hopeful questions but the only reply the raven says is “Nevermore.” The man doesn’t understand the meaning of the word and hopes the bird will leave him soon. The raven represents a constant reminder of his lost Lenore.

Read More

Figurative Language In The Masque Of The Red Death

731 Words | 3 Pages

Death can never be escaped no matter what. In “The Masque of the Red Death” Edgar Allan Poe shows the theme of death, a suspenseful mood, and an ominous tone. Through Poe’s use of literary devices, the reader can discover tone, theme, and mood. Throughout Poe’s life he experienced death with two of his mother’s and his young wife. Death is shown how inevitable it is with Poe’s writing and experiences combined together.

Read More

The Masque Of The Red Death Allegory Analysis

810 Words | 4 Pages

Despite the belief that one can live forever, death is certain. Edgar Allen Poe wrote his short story, “The Masque of the Red Death” with a greater meaning than simply the Red Death, or plague. He wrote this story, symbolizing the stages of life. In “The Masque of the Red Death”, Poe uses the symbols of the hallway, the rooms, and the braziers, to enhance the allegory, and to show how death is inevitable and one can not spend their life worrying about it.

Read More

Compare And Contrast The Black Cat And The Fall Of The House Of Usher

910 Words | 4 Pages

In “The Fall of the House of Usher” the tone gives off an eerie and bizarre feeling. This is similar to many of Poe’s other short stories but this piece the most. The tone is gloomy compared to “The Black Cat” that Poe has also written. The author starts off the story with immense details of the setting. The readers get a dark vibe from these details.

Read More

Allegory In The Masque Of The Red Death

918 Words | 4 Pages

Demi Pyle February 20, 2018 English 1302 Looking Closer at “The Masque of The Red Death” In the grim short story written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1842, “The Masque of the Red Death” tells the tale of a kingdom ravaged with disease and a prince’s journey to escape death. Poe hides underlying messages throughout the story, leaving the reader to interpret the true meaning of prosperity and death. Edgar Allan Poe uses symbolism and imagery in the form of an allegory to reveal to the reader that death is inescapable, no matter how wealthy you are.

Read More

Gothic Elements In The Fall Of The House Of Usher

942 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout American literature and cinema history, the premature burial of someone has been displayed. In the American gothic short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” by Edgar Allan Poe, this is portrayed as well. Roderick Usher buries his twin sister, Madeline Usher, alive because he believes that she has died. In Poe’s, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” it showcases Poe’s troubled past with the death of loved ones due to disease. Thus, it contributes to the theme one can never trust anyone, even one’s own family.

Read More

More about Comparing House Of Usher, Masque Of The Red Death, And The Raven

Related Topics

Open Document