Poe successfully developed a mysterious atmosphere by using such literary crafts as diction, foreshadowing and so forth, and evoked readers' terror by providing few details over the narration. ... In classic gothic fiction, another essential characteristic is doppelganger, a ghostly counterpart of a character, and Poe incorporated it massively in "The Fall of the House of Usher." ... However, these terrifying events aren't the only factors giving rise to readers' anxiety; what prickles our nerves is the foreshadowing. ... It is the vagueness, the ambiguity that Poe applied clima...

• Word Count: 1692
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The use of first person narration provides the reader with insight into Montresor's inner struggles. First person narration is Poe's method of insuring the reader understands that Montresor is not successful at this harmony. The thoughts and feelings of Montresor lead the reader to conclude that he is not successful at revenge. ... In this way, Montresor is a classic Poe character. Poe's use of symbolism gives the reader the opportunity to see the conflict between Montresor's inner self and his outer being. ...

• Word Count: 1258
• Approx Pages: 5

Alfred Prufrock- for emphasis of discomfort and to cause the reader to likewise question the worth of his or her own life. Indeed, the importance of the poem seems to lie in forcing the same questions the narrator suffers upon the reader, as well. Although this discomfort originates within only the speaker of his poem, Eliot's intention is clearly to extend these inquiries to the reader. ... These lines impart a clever enigma that cryptically reminds the reader of how easily one's instincts can be questioned, and in turn cause doubt within the decision maker. ... These classic Amer...

• Word Count: 1596
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Montressor tries to justify and rationalize his thoughts and deeds to the readers- he is truly mad. This is a classic case of Poe's unreliable narrator. ... In reading this story, the reader can think correctly that some sort of retribution from Montressor for Fortunato's insults would be acceptable, Montressor leads us to believe that death- suffocation and premature burial, no less- is the correct route. ...

• Word Count: 1279
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Death is a sad thing and the reader is reminded that one day they will be just like the dead animal. ... The reader is then asked if they would question the wind's shaping and to watch mildew grow on a mirror in the spring. ... From Baudelaire's "A Carrion", to Keats" "Ode on a Grecian Urn", and Ghalib's V and XII Ghazals, we have now seen three examples of classic Romanticism works. ... Readers today can relate to the sadness and meanings to these poems, and that is probably why they are considered great works. ...

• Word Count: 1751
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

In this line the reader learns that Montressor is recalling what he did fifty years ago. ... The fact that Poe doesn't tell the reader what Fortunato did to Montressor leaves the reader wondering if whatever he did is worth killing Montressor over. The question of if Montressor is just insane and Fortunato actually did nothing at all also jaunts the reader's mind. ...

• Word Count: 1972
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School