" The Fall of the House of Usher"

      Edgar Allan Poe is known for writing dark, Gothic literature. One of his most famous works was "The Fall of the House of Usher". This story follows the frightening events that happen to the narrator, Roderick Usher, and Madeline Usher in the Usher house. As Roderick Usher is dying, he sends a letter to his friend, the narrator, asking him to keep him company in the final weeks of his life. The narrator accepts this request, not quite fully knowing what he is getting himself into. He finds himself in a dark, dreary, frightening house. The characteristics of the house, as well as the mental instability of Roderick Usher add to the suspense and Gothic elements of the story. Usher is extremely superstitious, and also psychologically tormented. Usher's state of mind, including how he feels about the house and what is happening to himself also add to the Gothic aspect of the literature.
      As the story progresses, the events taking place become more and more mysterious and frightening. Madeline dies with no clear explanation as to what the cause was. Usher mentally and physically continues to degrade. He also becomes more psychologically tortured. Then one night, a terrible storm hits. Usher and the narrator are discomforted by the storm, so the narrator begins reading Usher a novel. In this novel, the main character has to dig himself out of a grave after being buried alive. As this is happening in the story, the narrator begins hearing noises from beneath them where Madeline is buried. The two men soon realize that they had buried Madeline alive. As she finally comes up the stairs and collapses on Usher, the narrator flees from the house just as it crumbles above the Usher siblings.