TFOTHOU 10 B

Today we finished studying the Fall of the House of Usher. We talked about the imaginary book that the narrator read to Roderick to calm him down, the Mad Trist.  This story within the story (like a Matrioshka) is set in the Middle Ages, reinforcing the Gothic element of the short story. Coincidently, the Mad Trist parallels what happens in the "real plot" : the storm outside is replicated in the adventures of Ethelred, and the noises of the dragon mimics the sound of Madeline getting out of her vault.

Some words hinted at the Gothic nature of the end :

Oppressed
Extreme terror

In the end, Madeline falls on her brother and kills him. Dying this way means they're finally together in death (the double is reunited, Roderick is no longer alone).

Likewise, the end is the triumph of the Dyonisian side, culminating in a storm, by night, in death and fright and destruction and chaos. The two Houses fall.

The narrator escaped the "intricate labyrinth" of the house ; the story itself could be seen as a labyrinth, just like Poe's writing, with its intricate syntax and its dark words. In the end, the maze collapses.

Summary

§ n°1 (The antique volume...) : the narrator takes a book entitled the Mad Trist and reads it to Usher.

§ n°2 : The narrator explains the portion of the story he's currently reading (when Ethelred the hero meets with the hermit).

§ n°3 : The narrator quotes the book, and Ethelred breaks things with his mace.

§ n°4 : the narrator pauses the story because he can hear sounds just like in the book.

§ n°5 : The narrator resumes the reading ; Ethelred kills the dragon as it screams.

§ n°6 : The narrator pauses again because he's sure he heard more noises (similar to the dragon's scream).

§ n°7 : the narrator describes Roderick, who is facing the door, whispering to himself.

§ n°8 : the narrator keeps on reading. Ethelred makes a shield fall on the ground.

§ n°9 : the narrator hears more banging sounds. Roderick smiles.

§ n°10 : Roderick goes crazy and talks.

§ n°11 : Madeline appears with blood on her dress. She falls on her brother, who dies. 

§ n°12 : the narrator escapes. The House of Usher falls in the dark tarn.








 

 

 

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