Analyze Edgar Allan Poe`s strory: `The fall of the House of Usher`

The role of fear in Poe 's the fall of the house usher

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Edgar Allan Poe is a defining author in American Literature . He is the perfect combination of poet and journalist . He understood and promoted the idea that an author should take a critical approach to writing and his own prose . His interests in science and fact combined with his almost obsessive pursuit , of capturing in writing , the human psyche and the nature of loss create literature that is

both pragmatic , idealistic and uniquely American . Through the examination of Poe 's critical theories , poetry , and fiction it is clear that his writings exhibit a well calculated blend of Romanticism and Classicism . He was a pioneer of the modern detective novel , and his short story plots continue to inspire of genres . Peel away Poe 's obsession with the supernatural , the death , and the character distention into depravity What remains is a demonstration of elegant , meticulously detailed , and carefully constructed prose which is undeniable unique . Each of Poe 's short stories exhibit his dedication to structure , brevity , and the perfect execution of the English language . His aptitude and grace as author can easily been seen in the quintessential Gothic horror short story The Fall of the House Usher ' originally published in Burton`s Gentleman`s Magazine ' in 1839 . It is through the use of formal literary devices that Poe creates and manipulates his audience through fear

One of the many narrative techniques that Poe employs is the use of alliteration and word play . The Fall of the House Usher ' begins "During the whole of a dull , dark , and soundless day .within view of the melancholy House of Usher (1 . The multiple d 's ' followed by the Usher , can be rearranged to form the word shudder . The word shudder , or shuddering appear on almost every page of this short story If you removed the d 's from shudder you are left with a word that sounds very much like Usher (Ketterer 192 . Poe 's writing is very lyrical and rhythmic which offers a creepy background music to the entire text . He uses repeated anapests which are a metrical foot consisting of three syllables , the first two short , or unaccented , the last long , or accented ( Lammers 50 . Here is an example of Poe 's use of anapests

It was thus that he spoke of the object of my visit , of his earnest desire to see me , and of the solace he expected me to afford him (2

Many critics believe that most of Poe 's short stories are more like poetry than prose . It is short , and tightly organized leading to a single overwhelming crisis similar to a lyrical poem (Lammers 25 Additionally , Poe uses mysterious and unusual names to create a mood of suspense and supernatural . Roderick Usher and the narrator talk about the following books : Directorium Inquisitorial of Eymeric de Gironne , Belphegor of Machiavelli , Vigiliae Mortuorum secundum , and Chorum Eccleside Maguntine...