Fall of the House of Usher Summative (2021) *Open Book/Notes*

Name:_____________Tedi_____________Period_p6___Total Points______=___________%

1. Which image do you think is most important to the story? Clearly EXPLAIN why? [Hint: Consider
connecting your chosen image to the plot, theme, character development etc.]
Example images include but are not limited to: a) the Narrator’s initial encounter with the house b) the
Narrator’s description of the house’s interior c) the Narrator’s initial encounter with Roderick Usher d)
description of the disease plaguing Lady Madeline e) “The Haunted Palace” f) the storm
On his arrival at the estate of Usher, the teller discovers a break in the mansion. Given that the House of Usher
has just been described, referring to both the family and the house, we must take a look at symbolic links between
the two.. But also we see this slight crack, more clearly the breach between Madeline and her brother, in
disturbing the solidarity of the family. This is the disturbance that eventually destroys the family – and the house.
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Criteria 0 2
1 3 4
Far Below Approaching
Below Expectations Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations
Expectations Expectations
Response does not Some attempt to address Response partially Response fully addresses Response addresses the question
address the question. the question. addresses the question. the question. and some of its implications
clearly and convincingly.
Response &
No evidence is given to Includes little evidence Includes some evidence Includes mostly strong
Support
support the response. from the text. from the text often only evidence from the play. Includes well-chosen and
vaguely supports the persuasive evidence.
response.
There is little or no Attempts to explain some Explains the connection Clearly explains the Analyzes the relevance and
development of ideas. connections between the between some evidence and connections between the strength of the evidence that
prompt and the text. the prompt. evidence and the prompt. supports the prompt.
Development &
There is little or no
Analysis
analysis of references to There is some attempt to
the text. analyze references to the
text.

2. In what ways does this story fit into the “Romantic Era” or “Dark Romanticism”? Pick
TWO elements of the era from your notes. For EACH element select one piece of textual
evidence from the short story and explain how it fits the era.

Element from the era Textual Support Explain how it fits the era.

1
judgment 'And you have not seen it?' he said ______________________________________
abruptly, after having stared about him In the story Usher judges him self about the past
for some moments in silence—you and he hates himself because of it.
have not then seen it?—but, stay! you ______________________________________
shall.' Thus speaking, and having ______________________________________
carefully shaded his lamp, he hurried ______________________________________
to one of the casements, and threw it ______________________________________
freely open to the storm.  ______________________________________

punishment Not hear it?—yes, I hear it, and have ______________________________________

heard it. Long—long—long—many He blames himself for basically killing his sister
minutes, many hours, many days, before her time came so he punishes his self for
have I heard it—yet I dared not—oh, it about the past.
pity me, miserable wretch that I am!—I
______________________________________
dared not—I dared not speak! We
have put her living in the tomb! Said I ______________________________________
not that my senses were acute?
Criteria 0 2
1 3 4
Far Below Approaching
Below Expectations Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations
Expectations Expectations
Response does not Some attempt to address Response partially Response fully addresses Response addresses the question
address the question. the question. addresses the question. the question. and some of its implications
clearly and convincingly.
Response &
No evidence is given to Includes little evidence Includes some evidence Includes mostly strong
Support
support the response. from the text. from the text often only evidence from the play. Includes well-chosen and
vaguely supports the persuasive evidence.
response.
There is little or no Attempts to explain some Explains the connection Clearly explains the Analyzes the relevance and
development of ideas. connections between the between some evidence and connections between the strength of the evidence that
prompt and the text. the prompt. evidence and the prompt. supports the prompt.
Development &
There is little or no
Analysis
analysis of references to There is some attempt to
the text. analyze references to the
text.

3. Themes: Choose THREE out of the five listed themes. Find ONE piece of textual support for each of your
chosen themes and EXPLAIN its connection to the story.

Madness Family Isolation Fear Identity

Theme The text says… What it means is… How does this represent
your chosen theme…
1. Fear An air of stern, We can sense that the mansion
deep, and This air of darkness resembles the real is really spooky and scary!
nebula outside the mansion.
irredeemable
gloom hung over
and pervaded all.

2
 2. Madness The way the mansion makes
During the whole you feel as In you are sinking in
of a dull, dark, This is a suitable setting in the darkness
unnecessarily acute senses of Usher;
and soundless he cannot tolerate flashing colors or
day in the autumn noise, and the setting of the story is
of the year stupid and wordless.

3. Family Thuought the story we can see

"House of how the family struggles to stay
Usher"--an in one piece and they crumble.
This line gives us an indication that the
appellation which title refers both to the collapse of the
seemed to real house and to the Usher family's
include, in the figurative "fall" of the family!
minds of the
peasantry who
used it, both the
family and the
family mansion.

Criteria 0 2
1 3 4
Far Below Approaching
Below Expectations Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations
Expectations Expectations
Response does not Some attempt to address Response partially Response fully addresses Response addresses the
address the question. the question. addresses the question. the question. question and some of its
implications clearly and
Response &
No evidence is given to Includes little evidence Includes some evidence Includes mostly strong convincingly.
Support
support the response. from the text. from the text often only evidence from the play.
vaguely supports the Includes well-chosen and
response. persuasive evidence.
There is little or no Attempts to explain some Explains the connection Clearly explains the Analyzes the relevance and
development of ideas. connections between the between some evidence and connections between the strength of the evidence that
prompt and the text. the prompt. evidence and the prompt. supports the prompt.
Developmen
There is little or no
t & Analysis
analysis of references to There is some attempt to
the text. analyze references to the
text.

4. CHARACTER ANALYSIS: Pick ONLY ONE

Option1: Roderick Usher Option 2: The Narrator
Your Pick:___ Roderick Usher
Best Quality: ____intellectual__________Worst Quality: _____madness_____________

Write a quote here that embodies/ represents your chosen character include page number: _____
“Many books and musical instruments lay scattered about, but failed to give any vitality to the scene” page 40
_______________________(Poe _____)
Why did you choose this quote? Explain clearly how this quote characterizes the person in the story.
Roderick Usher is a cultured man, but in no way will he find warmth. His illness is shaky, leaving him weakened. This
quote includes the quality of being intellectual and you can see whe Re he falls in madness.
3
 5. Pick ONE theme from the theme section (see prompt #3 above) and relate either Roderick Usher or the
narrator to the theme in a thorough paragraph.
The subject of The Fall of The Usher House is a plunge into madness, as the original house had previously been
vivid and is in a way now gone. When the character arrives at the house's premises, the horrible state of the house
is taken aback. When Roderick Usher was introduced, the writer was annoyed by what he used to use words such
as "Man never before has so horribly changed, certainly.
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Criteria 0 1 2 3 4
Far Below Expectations Below Expectations Approaching Expectations Meets Expectations Exceeds Expectations
Response does not address Some attempt to address the Response partially addresses Response fully addresses the Response addresses the question and
the question. question. the question. question. some of its implications clearly and
convincingly.
Response & Support
No evidence is given to Includes little evidence from Includes some evidence from Includes mostly strong
support the response. the text. the text often only vaguely evidence from the play. Includes well-chosen and persuasive
supports the response. evidence.
There is little or no Attempts to explain some Explains the connection Clearly explains the Analyzes the relevance and strength
development of ideas. connections between the between some evidence and the connections between the of the evidence that supports the
prompt and the text. prompt. evidence and the prompt. prompt.
Development &
There is little or no
Analysis
analysis of references to There is some attempt to
the text. analyze references to the
text.