“The Fall of the House of Usher” ….A Gothic Evaluation
Directions: Read each of the Gothic elements and their descriptions. If you believe the element is present in Poe’s story check the box
and then cite an example directly from the text. Please be sure to include page numbers for easy reference.
Gothic Characteristic
Setting in a Castle
Atmosphere of Mystery &
Suspense
Ancient Prophecy
Omens, Portents, Visions
Supernatural or otherwise
inexplicable events
High, overwrought emotion
Description
Often abandoned, secret
passages, trap doors, secret
rooms, hidden staircases,
ruined sections, old house
or mansion, sense of
claustrophobia or
entrapment
Plot built around a mystery,
unknown parentage,
disappearance
Legend based around
setting, characters, story
Character has disturbing
dream, vision, or
phenomenon, shadowy
figure
Dramatic, amazing events
occur, ghosts, giants,
inanimate objects come to
life.
Narration highly
Check if
element is
present
Evidence in “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Women in distress
Women threatened by a
powerful, impulsive,
tyrannical male
Metaphors of gloom or
horror
Vocabulary of the gothic
sentimental, characters
overcome by anger, sorrow,
surprise, terror, screaming
Appeals to readers
sympathy, lonely, pensive
female character,
abandoned
One or more male
characters has all of the
power, king, lord, father,
guardian
Rain stands for sorrow,
doors creaking means
crying or moaning
Words are used to create
vivid pictures for the reader,
sets mood/tone of the story.