Plot Points
What happens to the house at the end of The Fall of the House of Usher?
The house collapses into the tarn (lake), sinking into the water, symbolizing the end of the Usher family.
What is the relationship between the narrator and Roderick Usher?
The narrator is a childhood friend of Roderick Usher, who visits him at his decaying family mansion
What is a key characteristic of Gothic literature seen in The Fall of the House of Usher?
A dark and eerie atmosphere, often highlighted by the decaying mansion and the supernatural elements.
In House Taken Over, what is the significance of the house becoming overtaken?
The house symbolizes the psychological state of the characters, their fear, and the loss of control. It also represents the unknown force that dominates them.
Who wrote The Fall of the House of Usher?
Edgar Allan Poe
How is the narrator involved in the events of House Taken Over?
The narrator is the sibling of the woman in the story, and they both retreat to an increasingly smaller part of their home as it is overtaken by an unknown force.
Describe the character of Madeline Usher.
Madeline is Roderick's twin sister, who suffers from a mysterious illness and is seemingly entombed alive before returning to haunt the house.
How does the setting of House Taken Over contribute to the atmosphere of fear?
The mansion is isolated, quiet, and gradually overtaken by an unknown force, creating a sense of claustrophobia and fear.
What does the gradual takeover of the house symbolize in House Taken Over?
The takeover of the house symbolizes the characters’ fear of the unknown, isolation, and the loss of autonomy.
What country is Julio Cortázar, the author of House Taken Over, from?
Argentina
How does the setting in House Taken Over compare to The Fall of the House of Usher?
Both settings feature large, decaying houses, but House Taken Over has a more vague, ominous presence while The Fall of the House of Usher emphasizes the Gothic elements of isolation and decay.
What is the significance of the unnamed narrator in House Taken Over?
The unnamed narrator serves as a neutral observer, emphasizing the uncertainty and anonymity of the threat in the story, adding to its eerie atmosphere.
What role does decay play in the setting of The Fall of the House of Usher?
The decaying mansion mirrors the mental and physical decline of the Usher family, particularly Roderick and Madeline.
How is isolation presented in The Fall of the House of Usher?
Isolation is a central theme, with Roderick and Madeline cut off from the outside world, and the house itself representing their seclusion and decline.
What is the genre of The Fall of the House of Usher?
Gothic fiction.
How does Madeline's return affect the outcome of The Fall of the House of Usher?
Madeline's return, as a seemingly dead figure, causes the final destruction of the house and the death of both siblings.
How does Roderick Usher react to the news of Madeline's death?
Roderick is disturbed but not entirely surprised, and he seems to expect her return. He reacts with both emotional intensity and resignation.
What role does the supernatural play in The Fall of the House of Usher?
The supernatural is a major element, with Madeline's apparent resurrection and the collapse of the house being tied to dark, otherworldly forces.
What does the image of "the house" symbolize in The Fall of the House of Usher?
The house symbolizes the fragility of the Usher family, their mental decline, and the physical manifestation of the family's tragic fate.
What year was The Fall of the House of Usher published?
1839
What is the climax of House Taken Over?
The climax occurs when the narrator and his sister are forced to retreat to a small room as the unknown presence fully overtakes the house, and the narrator is left alone.
What role does the narrator play in House Taken Over?
The narrator is the protagonist who, along with his sister, experiences the slow encroachment of an unknown force within their family home.
How does the house in The Fall of the House of Usher reflect the inner turmoil of Roderick Usher?
The house is described as decaying and deteriorating, mirroring Roderick’s mental state and foreshadowing the tragic collapse of both the man and the family home.
What could the "locked" rooms in House Taken Over represent?
The locked rooms could symbolize the hidden, unspoken fears and secrets of the characters, representing their inability to confront the unknown.
How did Edgar Allan Poe's personal life influence The Fall of the House of Usher?
Poe’s struggles with loss, mental illness, and the deaths of loved ones influenced the themes of death, madness, and decay in the story.