The fallen narrator in 'The Fall of the House of Usher'

Term Paper , 2009 , 9 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

With close reference to Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, the interpretation will be put forward that the tale’s key issue is not, as the title suggests, the collapse of the family mansion, but the ‘fall,’ with its connotation of ‘failure,’ of the narrator’s rational ability to account for his experiences at the Ushers’. In order to justify this reading of the story, the narrator’s identity and the purpose of his stay at the House of Usher will be clarified first. It will be illustrated that rationality is the narrator’s key method of analysis used to analyze the observations he makes at the protagonist’s home. Additionally, instances of the narrator’s frustration to rely upon scientific knowledge will be demonstrated. After having paid attention to the growing psychological impact of the proceeding events on the narrator, the question of which message Poe wants to portray to the reader will be addressed.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Narrator's Identity and Purpose of His Voyage to the House of Usher
• Rationality under Pressure
• The Role of the Narrator
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher," argues that the story's central focus is not the collapse of the family mansion, but the "fall," or "failure," of the narrator's rational ability to comprehend his experiences at the Usher residence. This analysis explores the narrator's identity, his reasons for visiting the Ushers, and the impact of the unfolding events on his mental state. It also examines the extent to which Poe uses the narrator's perspective to convey a message to the reader.

• The narrator's struggle to maintain rationality in a supernatural atmosphere.
• The role of the narrator's emotional responses in shaping his perception of the Ushers and their dwelling.
• The interplay between rationality and imagination, as evidenced by the narrator's attempts to explain his experiences.
• The influence of the Usher family's "psychological landscape" on the narrator's mental state.
• The ambiguity of the narrator's reliability and the question of whether his account is entirely trustworthy.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

The introduction establishes the central thesis of the analysis, asserting that the primary focus of "The Fall of the House of Usher" is the narrator's diminishing rational capacity rather than the physical collapse of the mansion. The analysis intends to justify this reading by exploring the narrator's identity, his reasons for being at the Usher house, and the impact of the surrounding atmosphere on his mental state.

The Narrator's Identity and Purpose of His Voyage to the House of Usher

This section examines the narrator's character, highlighting his role as a rational observer who seeks to understand the unusual circumstances at the Usher residence. The narrator's relationship to Roderick Usher, his friend's request for assistance, and the narrator's initial perception of the situation are explored.

Rationality under Pressure

This chapter delves into the narrator's attempts to maintain his rational perspective amidst the unsettling atmosphere surrounding the Usher house. The analysis examines the narrator's efforts to explain the uncanny events through scientific observation and the growing impact of these events on his mental state. The narrator's struggle to reconcile his rational understanding with the increasingly irrational experiences he encounters is explored.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This analysis focuses on the themes of rationality, imagination, and the interplay between these forces in shaping perception. The study explores the impact of a supernatural atmosphere on the narrator's mental state, his struggle to maintain his rationality, and the role of his emotions in shaping his observations. Key concepts include the narrator's reliability, the Usher family's "psychological landscape," and the use of the first-person perspective to enhance the sense of the uncanny.

• College: University of Wuppertal
• Course: Grundlagenseminar B: Amerikanische Literaturwissenschaft
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Bianca Müller (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V139808
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640484089
• ISBN (Book): 9783640484201
• Language: English
• Tags: Fall, House, Usher