"The Fall of the House of Usher"

  The story, "The Fall of the House of Usher", written by Edgar Allan Poe, is an example of gothic literature. The story begins with a vivid description of the Usher home. Poe describes the house as being decayed, dull, and isolated. Throughout the story we learn that the house is a clear reflection of its two owners, Roderick and Madeline Usher, who are siblings that come from a long line of incestuous marriages. Roderick Usher writes the narrator a letter asking him to visit because he is ill and knows he does not have much time left to live. When the narrator arrives at the house, he feels the dark and gloomy environment that the Ushers live in which gives the hint that something is not right.

  Just like their house, Roderick and Madeline are close to collapsing. Both suffer from illnesses due to their families long line of intermarriages. Thinking she was dead, Roderick and the narrator buried Madeline alive. While the narrator was reading Roderick a story, he begins to hear suspicious noises and wonders where they're coming from. He hears Roderick mumbling that he has been hearing those sounds for days and thinks they have buried Madeline alive. A door opens and Madeline attacks Roderick, and Roderick dies in fear. The narrator then escapes the house as it collapses to the ground completely.