... . Poe uses the phrase "House of Usher" to refer to both the decaying physical structure and the last of the "all time-honored Usher's." Roderick has developed a theory that the stones of the house have consciousness, and that they embody the fate of the Usher family. It is a small crack in "The House of Usher" which the narrator defines as "both ... the family and the family mansion and the fissure, which divides the house. One could say the stones represent the individual people of the Usher family, and the entire mansion stands for the whole family and the turmoil it concealed. Hunter,...

• Word Count: 391
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... . Roderick and Madeline die, destroying the family. The narrator says there is a "wild inconsistency between [the masonry's] still perfect adaptation..and the crumbling condition of the individual stones." This is also symbolic. The stones represent the individual people of the Usher family, and the entire mansion stands for the whole family. The "wild inconsistency" makes the reader aware that something later in ... ...

• Word Count: 709
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . Roderick and Madeline die, destroying the family. The narrator says there is a "wild inconsistency between [the masonry's] still perfect adaptation. and the crumbling condition of the individual stones." This is also symbolic. The stones represent the individual people of the Usher family, and the entire mansion stands for the whole family. The "wild inconsistency" makes the reader aware that something later in ... ...

• Word Count: 725
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . Roderick and Madeline die, destroying the family. The narrator says there is a "wild inconsistency between the masonry's still perfect adaptation, and the crumbling condition of the individual stones." This is also symbolic. The stones represent the individual people of the Usher family, and the entire mansion stands for the whole family. The "wild inconsistency" makes the reader aware that something later in ... ...

• Word Count: 863
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... the summer, but instead of playing rowdily with excitement which usually accompanies the ending of classes, "Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones and the other boys soon followed." This signifies that the stones are being gathered for the stoning. Equipment for the town's lottery is a black box and a three-legged stool that has been used since the town ... ...

• Word Count: 833
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... down the long, winding staircase through the crypts, the atmosphere agitated Fortunato's health. Soon Fortunato is lead to his very own entombment, and is walled in by Montresor with building stones and mortar. As Montresor laid down each tier of stone he paused out of what seems like guilt, but then continues to build the wall stone by stone, listening to ... ...

• Word Count: 1356
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... has problems staying straight, and the merchant takes advantage of him, binding the hands of Fortunato. Montresor throws the drunk Fortunato into a niche and starts to wall it up with stones and mortar. Around midnight, Montresor is almost done with the wall. Meanwhile, Fortunato is laughing about this situation and says to him that they will have funny memories about it ... ...

• Word Count: 879
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Usher mansion. Although no portion of the masonry had fallen...there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts, and the crumbling condition of the individual stones.... The eye of a scrutinizing observer might have [noticed] a barely perceptible fissure, which, extending from the roof of the building in front, made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction ... ...

• Word Count: 1744
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... growing all over it and the decaying masonry "there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts and the utterly porous and evidently decayed condition of stones" (Poe,125)as if to say something supernatural was holding the house up, otherwise it might have fallen apart a long time before. By giving objects almost lifelike characteristics, Poe gives ... ...

• Word Count: 1091
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... collected an evil and diseased atmosphere from the decaying trees and murky ponds around it. He notes, however, that although the house itself is decaying in pieces (for example, individual stones are disintegrating), the structure itself is fairly solid. There is only a small break in the front of the building from the roof to the ground. The narrator reveals that he ... ...

• Word Count: 1485
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... the tragic ritual in "The Lottery". Shirley Jackson kind of sets up a transparent theme in this story. She shows us that human nature will always prevail. The throwing of the stones seems mandatory to every person in the town. It also seems like this would be looked at as a penalty in the event of a person who refuses to throw a stone. Also ... ...

• Word Count: 1354
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... as well, and when Fortunato asks for proof, he shows him his trowel. The inference is that Montressor is a stonemason, not a "Mason •from a confidential organization. The stonemasons built with stones and mortar, which will eventually become Fortunato's grave. Montressor's use of secrecy in the destruction of his opponent is significant as well, because it relates to Fortunato's status as a Mason ... ...

• Word Count: 1053
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... portion of the masonry had fallen; there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts, and the utterly porous, and evidently decayed condition of the individual stones," (Poe 1536). The house still was stable and had no structural problems, so it seems highly unlikely that the house would crumble due to small remains of old gun powder ... ...

• Word Count: 824
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School