The Fall of the House of Usher

With the exception of “The Gold Bug” and “Murders in the Rue Morgue,” Poe’s settings are usually remote in time and space, enhancing the story’s […]

Except for a servant, a valet, and a family physician, who appear in the opening scenes and are never mentioned again, the characters of the […]

Poe’s literary skill is readily apparent in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” and one of his most vivid techniques is the story’s tone. […]

Poe’s literary theory repeatedly stressed art for art’s sake, an idea somewhat removed from the era’s general literary belief that literature should teach or preach […]

1. Poe precedes his stories with prefatory quotations that relate to theme and plot. Explain how de Beranger’s quotation applies to “The Fall of the […]

1. After explaining Poe’s “single effect” theory, apply it to one or two of Poe’s other stories by narrowing the focus and concentrating on one […]

For a more comprehensive understanding of Poe’s literary philosophy, one should read his “Philosophy of Composition,” in which he discusses how he composed “The Raven” […]