The Fall of the House of Usher

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Write a Poem or a Paragraph”

In this activity, students will analyze the features that characterize Poe’s style, including themes, word choice, and sentence structure or poetic rhyme/meter, and they will use those observations to write a few paragraphs or a short poem imitating Poe’s style.

Write a poem in the style of Poe’s “The Haunted Palace” or a paragraph or two in the style of the opening or conclusion of the “The Fall of the House of Usher.”

• Make note of the words Poe uses to convey a mood or emotion. These might include colors, textures, verbs, or adjectives.
• Analyze images Poe uses to create a mood—storms, shadows, and others.
• Analyze sentence structure: Is it long and complex, or short and direct? In “The Haunted Palace,” examine the length of the lines, the meter, and the rhyme scheme.

Once you have a draft of your written piece, work in a small group to peer edit and review. Display or publish your revised and edited work in a collection with your classmates.

Teaching Suggestion: Students might discuss the above elements in class or in small groups.