TFOTHOU 8 B

For Poe, the reason is feminine, but it's tottering.

Usher's poem explores the themes of old age, religion and decay. It's reminiscent of other poems by Poe (Annabel Lee, the Raven).

The trees and the fungi near the house are sentient, they seem to be awakening. 

The books in Poe's library are all connected with the plot somehow: they evoke underground passages, physical evil, the impossibility for the Apollonian side to win (The City of the Sun is a utopia), and the inescapability of fate (with Chiromancy). The Latin book highlights a very important element of the story : Madeline dies, and Roderick insists to put her body in a vault, under the house. Her body seems still fresh.

The Dyonisian side of Usher seems to be winning.

In the end, Poe uses pathetic fallacy to insist on the "terror and the beauty," the sublime aspect of the situation. 

SUMMARY

- Roderick improvises and sings a poem.

- the poem itself.

- the Narrator talks about Roderick's beliefs in the sentience of plants.

- the Narrator evokes Roderick's library and his favourite books.

- Madeline dies.

- Roderick and the Narrator puts the body into an underground vault, right under the Narrator's bedroom.

- The Narrator realises that Roderick and Madeline are twins ; they have a sympathetic connection.

- Roderick changes. He's agitated and terrified.

- one week after the funeral, the Narrator is nervous and can't sleep.

- Roderick knock at the door.

- Roderick asks if the Narrator "has seen it." Then he opens the Narrator's window.

- the storm rages on inside the bedroom.

- The Narrator closes the window, and offers Roderick to spend the night together by reading a book.

hysteria / his reason - her throne

WAN

There's an ambiguity here between R. and E.  

 

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