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The Fall of the House of Usher: A Gothic Tale of Fear and Decay
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"The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1845. Here are 10 quotes from the story:
1. "From childhood’s hour I have not been. As others were, I have not seen. As others saw, I could not awaken. My heart to joy at the same tone. And all I loved, I loved alone."
2. "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, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country."
3. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast. The storm was still abroad in all its wrath as I found myself crossing the old causeway."
4. "The mansion was truly colossal. I could not help feeling the extent of the lethargy which oppression had enkindled within my bosom. It lay in a remote, and seemingly forsaken portion of the valley."
5. "Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building."
6. "From my childhood I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions."
7. "I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees."
8. "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions."
9. "A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of a delicate Hebrew model."
10. "The disease which had thus entombed the lady in the maturity of youth, had left, as usual in all maladies of a strictly cataleptical character, the mockery of a faint blush upon the bosom and the face and that suspiciously lingering smile upon the lip which is so terrible in death."
These quotes capture the eerie and atmospheric tone of Poe's renowned tale.
ere of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
Here are additional quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher":
11. "In this mansion of gloom, I now proposed to myself a sojourn of some weeks."
12. "A settled apathy, a gradual wasting away of the person, and frequent although transient affections of a partially cataleptical character, were the unusual diagnosis."
13. "The whirlwind—the soul is the chasm."
14. "A small tarn—so hidden in the bosom of the wood."
15. "Dark draperies hung upon the walls."
16. "The presence of his face had put a period to the subsultory conversation."
17. "While the objects around me—while the carvings of the ceilings, the somber tapestries of the walls, the ebon blackness of the floors, and the phantasmagoric armorial trophies which rattled as I strode, were but matters to which, or to such as which, I had been accustomed from my infancy—while I hesitated not to acknowledge how familiar was all this—I still wondered to find how unfamiliar were the fancies which ordinary images were stirring up."
18. "A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention."
19. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast."
20. "I felt creeping upon me, by slow yet certain degrees, the wild influences of his own fantastic yet impressive superstitions."
21. "I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity—an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees and the gray wall, and the silent tarn—a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued."
22. "There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart—an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime."
23. "His voice varied rapidly from a tremulous indecision (when the animal spirits seemed utterly in abeyance) to that species of energetic concision—that abrupt, weighty, unhurried, and hollow-sounding enunciation—that leaden, self-balanced and perfectly modulated guttural utterance which may be observed in the lost drunkard."
24. "In the meantime, I strove to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the bewildering influence of the gloomy furniture of the room—of the dark and tattered draperies, which, tortured into motion by the breath of a rising tempest, swayed fitfully to and fro upon the walls, and rustled uneasily about the decorations of the bed."
25. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
26. "Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building."
27. "A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid, and luminous beyond comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid, but of a surpassingly beautiful curve; a nose of a delicate Hebrew model."
28. "I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees."
29. "For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold—then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated."
30. "Upon my touching him, he immediately arose, and, putting on a countenance of more than usual solemnity, motioned me to follow him into the apartment of the brother."
31. "It was then, however, that he uttered, slowly, the words—'Not hear it?—yes, I hear it, and have heard it. Long—long—long—many minutes, many hours, many days, have I heard it—yet I dared not—oh, pity me, miserable wretch that I am!—I dared not—I dared not speak!"
32. "In an assembly of phantasms, such as I have painted, it may well be supposed that no ordinary appearance could have excited such sensation."
33. "He admitted, however, although with hesitation, that much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin—to the severe and long-continued illness—indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution—of a tenderly beloved sister—his sole companion for long years—his last and only relative on earth."
34. "For some minutes I hesitated—I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me."
35. "I remained for some moments irresolute. I trembled—but at length, muttering the words 'This and this only,' I unbarred the creaking door, and, leaving it ajar, pushed through with a gentle force a wooden latch which answered and fell into the staple."
36. "The tarn in which it lay was, to all ordinary observers, empty, save, indeed, for a few writhing and shrieking amphibious creatures."
37. "An irrepressible tremor gradually pervaded my frame; and, at length, there sat upon my very heart an incubus of utterly causeless alarm."
38. "It was, I know not what, in the black fables of the gloomy and the childish in the wild and the dreamlike in the terrible and the unreal."
39. "While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened—there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind—the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight—my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder—there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters—and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of 'The House of Usher.'"
40. "Although, as boys, we had been even intimate associates, yet I really knew little of my friend."
These quotes capture the eerie and gothic atmosphere of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Fear
Here are quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" that emphasize the theme of fear:
1. "I know not how it was—but, with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit."
2. "A species of trepidation—vague, nameless, yet most poignant—stole over my spirit."
3. "There was an iciness, a sinking, a sickening of the heart—an unredeemed dreariness of thought which no goading of the imagination could torture into aught of the sublime."
4. "What was it—I paused to think—what was it that so unnerved me in the contemplation of the House of Usher?"
5. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast."
6. "An irrepressible tremor gradually pervaded my frame; and, at length, there sat upon my very heart an incubus of utterly causeless alarm."
7. "In the meantime, I strove to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the bewildering influence of the gloomy furniture of the room—of the dark and tattered draperies, which, tortured into motion by the breath of a rising tempest, swayed fitfully to and fro upon the walls, and rustled uneasily about the decorations of the bed."
8. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
9. "But evil things, in robes of sorrow, Assailed the monarch’s high estate. (Ah, let us mourn!—for never morrow Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)"
These quotes illustrate the pervasive sense of fear, dread, and apprehension experienced by the narrator and depicted in the story, emphasizing the gothic and eerie elements within "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Setting
The setting in "The Fall of the House of Usher" plays a significant role in establishing the story's eerie and ominous atmosphere. Here are quotes that emphasize the setting in the story:
1. "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, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country."
2. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast. The storm was still abroad in all its wrath as I found myself crossing the old causeway."
3. "I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees."
4. "The mansion was truly colossal. I could not help feeling the extent of the lethargy which oppression had enkindled within my bosom. It lay in a remote, and seemingly forsaken portion of the valley."
5. "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions."
6. "A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention."
7. "I remained for some moments irresolute. I trembled—but at length, muttering the words 'This and this only,' I unbarred the creaking door, and, leaving it ajar, pushed through with a gentle force a wooden latch which answered and fell into the staple."
8. "In the meantime, I strove to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the bewildering influence of the gloomy furniture of the room—of the dark and tattered draperies, which, tortured into motion by the breath of a rising tempest, swayed fitfully to and fro upon the walls, and rustled uneasily about the decorations of the bed."
9. "A small tarn—so hidden in the bosom of the wood."
10. "While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened—there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind—the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight—my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder—there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters—and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of 'The House of Usher.'"
These quotes capture the somber, desolate, and oppressive setting that greatly contributes to the eerie and foreboding atmosphere of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Isolation
Isolation is a significant theme in "The Fall of the House of Usher," contributing to the eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the story. Here are quotes that highlight the theme of isolation:
1. "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, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country."
2. "I had so worked upon my imagination as really to believe that about the whole mansion and domain there hung an atmosphere peculiar to themselves and their immediate vicinity—an atmosphere which had no affinity with the air of heaven, but which had reeked up from the decayed trees and the gray wall, and the silent tarn—a pestilent and mystic vapor, dull, sluggish, faintly discernible, and leaden-hued."
3. "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions."
4. "A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention."
5. "In the meantime, I strove to believe that much, if not all of what I felt, was due to the bewildering influence of the gloomy furniture of the room—of the dark and tattered draperies, which, tortured into motion by the breath of a rising tempest, swayed fitfully to and fro upon the walls, and rustled uneasily about the decorations of the bed."
6. "He admitted, however, although with hesitation, that much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin—to the severe and long-continued illness—indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution—of a tenderly beloved sister—his sole companion for long years—his last and only relative on earth."
7. "For some minutes I hesitated—I trembled. Unsheathing my rapier, I began to grope with it about the recess; but the thought of an instant reassured me."
8. "I remained for some moments irresolute. I trembled—but at length, muttering the words 'This and this only,' I unbarred the creaking door, and, leaving it ajar, pushed through with a gentle force a wooden latch which answered and fell into the staple."
9. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
10. "While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened—there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind—the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight—my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder—there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters—and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of 'The House of Usher.'"
These quotes underscore the theme of isolation and solitude, portraying the sense of confinement and detachment experienced by the characters, which adds to the eerie and unsettling tone of "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Madness
Madness is a prevalent theme in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." Here are quotes that illuminate the theme of madness in the story:
1. "A species of trepidation—vague, nameless, yet most poignant—stole over my spirit."
2. "I felt creeping upon me, by slow yet certain degrees, the wild influences of his own fantastic yet impressive superstitions."
3. "I trembled—but at length, muttering the words 'This and this only,' I unbarred the creaking door, and, leaving it ajar, pushed through with a gentle force a wooden latch which answered and fell into the staple."
4. "There was an impetuosity of vehemence, an utter abandonment of the rivetted powers of his soul, and an apparently famished avidity of soul in all his operations."
5. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
6. "He admitted, however, although with hesitation, that much of the peculiar gloom which thus afflicted him could be traced to a more natural and far more palpable origin—to the severe and long-continued illness—indeed to the evidently approaching dissolution—of a tenderly beloved sister—his sole companion for long years—his last and only relative on earth."
7. "For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold—then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated."
8. "But evil things, in robes of sorrow, Assailed the monarch’s high estate. (Ah, let us mourn!—for never morrow Shall dawn upon him, desolate!)"
These quotes demonstrate the theme of madness and mental distress depicted throughout "The Fall of the House of Usher," conveying the deteriorating mental states of the characters in the story.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Madeline
Madeline is a central character in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher." Here are quotes that reference Madeline in the story:
1. "From childhood’s hour I have not been. As others were, I have not seen. As others saw, I could not awaken. My heart to joy at the same tone. And all I loved, I loved alone."
2. "From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. My tenderness of heart was even so conspicuous as to make me the jest of my companions."
3. "A striking similitude between the brother and sister now first arrested my attention."
4. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
5. "For a moment she remained trembling and reeling to and fro upon the threshold—then, with a low moaning cry, fell heavily inward upon the person of her brother, and in her violent and now final death-agonies, bore him to the floor a corpse, and a victim to the terrors he had anticipated."
These quotes shed light on Madeline's character and her significance in the story, emphasizing her mysterious illness and the dramatic events surrounding her.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Love
"Love" is not a central theme in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher," as the story primarily focuses on themes of madness, isolation, fear, and decay. However, there are some quotes that mention or allude to relationships or emotional connections:
1. "From childhood’s hour I have not been. As others were, I have not seen. As others saw, I could not awaken. My heart to joy at the same tone. And all I loved, I loved alone."
- This quote alludes to a sense of isolation and a lack of shared experiences, perhaps hinting at a lack of conventional love or companionship.
2. "The disease of the Lady Madeline had long baffled the skill of her physicians."
- While not directly about love, this quote implies concern and care for Madeline, indicating a sense of familial connection.
"The Fall of the House of Usher" primarily explores darker themes and emotions, and love is not a prominent aspect of the narrative. The story delves into the eerie and mysterious, focusing on the decay of both the physical house and the individuals within it.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes About Nature
Nature is used in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" to create a somber and eerie atmosphere, often reflecting the characters' emotional states or setting the tone for the story. Here are quotes that mention or describe nature in the story:
1. "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, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country."
2. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast. The storm was still abroad in all its wrath as I found myself crossing the old causeway."
3. "I looked upon the scene before me—upon the mere house, and the simple landscape features of the domain—upon the bleak walls—upon the vacant eye-like windows—upon a few rank sedges—and upon a few white trunks of decayed trees."
4. "A small tarn—so hidden in the bosom of the wood."
5. "It was, I know not what, in the black fables of the gloomy and the childish in the wild and the dreamlike in the terrible and the unreal."
6. "While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened—there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind—the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight—my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder—there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters—and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of 'The House of Usher.'"
These quotes demonstrate how Poe uses nature to set the mood and create a dark and atmospheric backdrop for the events in the story, aligning the natural environment with the eerie and unsettling elements of the narrative in "The Fall of the House of Usher."
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes Analysis
"The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe is a Gothic short story rich with symbolism and literary devices that contribute to its eerie and unsettling atmosphere. Here's an analysis of some key quotes from the story:
1. "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, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country."
- Analysis: This opening line sets the tone for the entire story. The choice of a dull and dark day in autumn creates a gloomy atmosphere, reflecting the impending sense of decay and foreboding that permeates the tale. The desolate landscape mirrors the isolation and eerie mood that the narrator experiences throughout the narrative.
2. "From childhood’s hour I have not been. As others were, I have not seen. As others saw, I could not awaken. My heart to joy at the same tone. And all I loved, I loved alone."
- Analysis: This stanza introduces the theme of isolation and alienation. The narrator expresses a sense of detachment and loneliness from an early age, emphasizing a lack of shared experiences and emotions. This isolation is a fundamental aspect of the story, reflecting the isolation of the characters within the Usher mansion.
3. "It was, I know not what, in the black fables of the gloomy and the childish in the wild and the dreamlike in the terrible and the unreal."
- Analysis: This phrase captures the eerie and mysterious nature of the narrative. The story weaves together elements of the Gothic, dreams, and the supernatural, creating a surreal and disconcerting ambiance. The use of contrasting adjectives like "gloomy" and "dreamlike" underscores the blurred boundaries between reality and the fantastic that characterize the tale.
4. "From that chamber, and from that mansion, I fled aghast."
- Analysis: The sense of terror and dread that drives the narrator to flee the mansion is encapsulated in this line. The word "aghast" conveys an intense feeling of horror and shock, hinting at the disturbing events that transpire within the Usher household.
5. "While I gazed, this fissure rapidly widened—there came a fierce breath of the whirlwind—the entire orb of the satellite burst at once upon my sight—my brain reeled as I saw the mighty walls rushing asunder—there was a long tumultuous shouting sound like the voice of a thousand waters—and the deep and dank tarn at my feet closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of 'The House of Usher.'"
- Analysis: This vivid and climactic description occurs near the end of the story, portraying the dramatic and symbolic collapse of the Usher mansion into the tarn. The imagery of the shattered mansion and the tumultuous whirlwind represent the collapse of the Usher family and the unraveling of their dark secrets. The tarn's sullen closure over the fragments signifies the final descent into madness and decay.
Overall, these quotes highlight the themes of isolation, eerie atmosphere, the surreal and dreamlike, and the inevitable collapse and decay that are central to "The Fall of the House of Usher." Poe masterfully uses language and imagery to create a sense of dread and unease, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
The Fall of the House of Usher Quotes Quizlet
Creating a Quizlet directly here isn't possible, but I can certainly provide you with a set of questions based on "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe. You can use these questions to create a Quizlet on the platform:
1. Question: What is the tone set by the weather in the opening of "The Fall of the House of Usher"?
Answer: The tone is gloomy and foreboding.
2. Question: What is the main theme that revolves around the protagonist's childhood in the story?
Answer: The theme of isolation and loneliness.
3. Question: In what season does the story primarily take place?
Answer: Autumn.
4. Question: What do the fissure and the tempest represent in the story?
Answer: The fissure and tempest represent the impending collapse and turmoil in the House of Usher.
5. Question: How does the setting contribute to the eerie atmosphere of the story?
Answer: The desolate and oppressive setting adds to the sense of isolation and foreboding.
6. Question: Which character is afflicted with a mysterious illness in the story?
Answer: Lady Madeline Usher.
7. Question: What do the Usher twins, Roderick and Madeline, symbolize in the story?
Answer: They symbolize the decay and deterioration of the Usher family and their mansion.
8. Question: How does the protagonist feel upon leaving the Usher mansion?
Answer: The protagonist is filled with terror and flees the mansion in fear.
9. Question: What do the closing events involving the mansion falling into the tarn signify?
Answer: The collapse of the mansion symbolizes the ultimate downfall and madness of the Usher family.
10. Question: Which literary devices does Edgar Allan Poe use to create a surreal atmosphere in the story?
Answer: Poe uses Gothic elements, symbolism, and vivid imagery to create a surreal and eerie atmosphere.
Feel free to use these questions to create a Quizlet set and further explore the details and themes of "The Fall of the House of Usher"!
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