The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. It provides a thorough exploration of the short story’s plot, characters and main themes, including fear, illness and ghosts. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 40-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Edgar Allan Poe
• Presentation of The Fall of the House of Usher
• Summary of The Fall of the House of Usher
• Character study
  • The narrator
  • Roderick Usher
  • Madeline Usher
  • The House of Usher
• Analysis of The Fall of the House of Usher
  • The actantial model
  • The narrative structure
  • The story’s genre: between Gothic and fantastical

About The Fall of the House of Usher 

The Fall of the House of Usher is a short story written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe which was first published in 1839. It tells the story of the Usher family, who are suffering from a strange, unknown illness which appears to be somehow related to their house. What is more, the symptoms, which include hypersensitivity and extreme anxiety, gradually begin to spread to the unfortunate narrator. The Fall of the House of Usher is one of Poe’s most famous works in that it best sums up his technique as a writer.

About Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, editor and critic who was best known for his poetry and short stories. He was born in 1809, and his parents died when he was young. Unable to support himself as an adult, he enlisted in the army, during which time he released his first work as a writer. He decided to make literature his career after the death of his brother and, although he suffered numerous setbacks and humiliations, he eventually found relative success. After his wife died, Poe became somewhat unhinged and was eventually found delirious on the streets of Baltimore. He died soon after.