The Fall of the House of Usher Literary Analysis

The story also has ambiguous symbolism and psychological element. This paper explores the themes, use of language and symbolism used in the story as part of the literary analysis. The audience for this topic are students in university who seek to understand the ways which these themes contribute to the plot of the story. The use of themes, symbolism, and language help in the establishment of a creative plot which has an effect of a long-lasting memory to an individual. Themes The major themes which contribute and express the actions of the protagonists in the story are those of death, terminal illness, and mental breakdown. This has led them into developing their own supernatural barriers of interaction. There is also the theme of fear which is responsible for deaths in the story.

The story also explores the theme of family, one which is eradicated of normalcy, self-isolating and very bizarre to the extent that its very existence is supernatural and eerie. There is an inexplicable and tense bond between the sister and brother characters. This gives the readers an impression that one cannot survive without the other because of the bond. The atmosphere which Poe portrays about the area is used in instilling the aspect of fear, for instance through the use of words including the “insufferable gloom. ” This emphasizes on the mood created by horror. Also, the house shows suspense given that it strikes the reader with a curious aspect of the reason why this building is shown with an uneasy and dreadful feeling.

Worth noting, Poe describes the house with more details while focusing on the ghostly traits. “Dark draperies hung upon the walls. Poe also adds the hyperbole which a literary device is referring to exaggerations utilized in addition of emphasis to the issue addressed by the narrator. “His long impoverished dirges will ring forever in my ears. ” (Poe, 2004) This is a hyperbole since the narrator exaggerates the impact of the mournful songs of Roderick when he claims that they would stay with him forever. There is also the use of a metaphor in the description of the depression soul which the narrator feels looking at the home and the surrounding. The narrator compare the depression to the dream of a reveler high on opium.