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Test your knowledge of The Fall of the House of Usher. Submit your answers to see your results and get feedback.
While looking at the bleak walls of the House of Usher, what does the narrator compare the experience to?
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Riding a wild horse through a black forest
Accidentally biting his tongue in the middle of the night
Waking up to a horrible reality from an opium dream
Traveling in a foreign land without knowing the language
What does the narrator's failure to explain the horror of the house through reason and science suggest to the reader?
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That there might be a paranormal element involved
That the house is actually quite ordinary
That the narrator lacks imagination
That the house is a figment of the narrator’s imagination
Why does the narrator plan to stay at the House of Usher despite his initial dread?
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He is intrigued by the architecture of the house
He received an urgent letter from Roderick Usher
He wants to investigate the paranormal activities in the house
He finds the house to be a good inspiration for writing
What is unique about the Usher family?
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It has connections to royal families
It is seemingly incestuous
It has a long political history
It is very violent
As he looks at a reflection of the House of Usher in a small pool of water, the narrator tries to rationalize his feelings of terror and unease. What does his process of rationalization suggest?
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That he is good at soothing himself when he feels uncomfortable
That he can confidently trust his mind to accurately perceive reality
That the mind cannot always be trusted to accurately perceive reality
That his willpower and determination are stronger than his fears
What specific structural feature does the narrator notice about the House of Usher?
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A crack running from top to bottom of the façade
The roof of the house is sagging and collapsed
The house has a large tower containing a single light
There are two small twins standing in an upstairs window
As the narrator walks through the House of Usher, how do the images and objects he encounters contribute to the atmosphere of the story?
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They add a sense of opulence and grandeur
They create present the house as distorted and menacing world
They make the narrator feel a strange sense of familiarity
They suggest that the house has been abandoned for many years
How does the narrator respond to seeing his friend after so long?
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He is relieved to see that Usher isn't as ill as he thought
He is perplexed because Usher hasn't aged a single day
He is worried because Usher is ill and anxious
None of the above
What does Usher fear most of all?
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The sun
Eating meat
Fear itself
All of the above
What is Usher's suspicion regarding the house?
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He believes the house brings good luck
He thinks the house increases his artistic abilities
He believes the house is haunted by malicious spirits
He believes the house has affected his health
What is at the root of Usher's condition?
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Anxiety over the Usher family's political decline
A feud between him and his sister about the family estate
Fear of becoming trapped inside the house
A strange connection to his sister's illness
What does Poe use to magnify the horror of Madeleine's sickness?
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The element of the unknown
A graphic depiction of her physical symptoms
The involvement of supernatural forces and witchcraft
None of the above
To what does the narrator attribute Usher's strange musical proficiency?
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He attributes it to Usher's inherent artistic talent
He attributes it to the quality of the air in the house
He attributes it to Usher's love of his sister
He attributes it to Usher's intense concentration
How does the song "The Haunted Palace" relate to Usher’s life?
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The song's haunted and tortured king resembles Usher
The song reflects Usher's aspiration to become a king
The song demonstrates Usher's desire to explore the world
The song was passed down through the Usher family for generations
What does Usher believe about the objects in the house and the house itself?
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He believes they have historical significance
He believes they are sentient
He believes the objects are cursed by a witch
He believes they should belong solely to him
How does Usher's plan to temporarily preserve Madeleine's corpse in one of the house's vaults align with the story's previous presentation of the house?
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His plan aligns with the fact that the house is already full of corpses
His plan aligns with the fact that the house is dilapidated and frightening
His plan aligns with the fact that Usher thinks the house is his sister's soul
His plan aligns with the fact that Usher thinks the house contains his ancestors' remains
What was the vault—where Lady Madeleine’s coffin is placed—historically used for?
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It was used as a library
It was used for secret rituals
It was used to store explosive powder
It was used as a hiding place during wars
What does Usher reveal to the narrator when they remove the lid of Madeleine's coffin?
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That Madeleine was a necromancer
That he and Madeleine were twins
That he killed Madeleine out of jealousy
That Madeleine was planning to kill him
What is implied about the connection between Usher and Madeleine after Madeleine's death?
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That Usher is relieved to be free from his sister
That Usher secretly hated Madeleine with a burning passion
That Usher was actually Madeleine's father
That their bond continues even after Madeleine's death
What does the narrator’s change in mood suggest about the influence of the House of Usher?
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It implies that the house might have a contagious effect on its inhabitants
It suggests that only the Usher family can survive in the house
It indicates that the house is trying to communicate with the narrator
It reveals that the narrator is becoming immune to the house's atmosphere
Upon entering his room in the middle of the night, what does Usher ask the narrator if he has seen?
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Madeleine's body
Madeleine's family locket
An electrical storm outside
A blizzard outside
What is the significance of the narrator reading to Usher?
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It represents a scholarly discussion between the two men
It reflects Usher's childlike nature and his love of stories
It is a way for the narrator to teach Usher new things
It is a tactic for the narrator to assert control over Usher
While he's reading to Usher, what happens to disconcert the narrator?
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He hears footsteps and a low whisper
He hears wind howling and glass shattering
He hears a high and uncontrolled laugh
He hears sounds that match what he's reading
What does Usher believe has happened to Madeleine?
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He believes she has been buried alive and is trying to escape
He believes she has transformed into a malicious ghost
He believes she has returned to haunt them in the form of a storm
He believes she has ascended to heaven and is watching over him
What can be inferred about the connection between Madeleine and Usher based on what ultimately happens to Usher?
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It can be inferred that their connection was too weak for Madeleine to save Usher
It can be inferred that their connection led to a mutual understanding and acceptance
It can be inferred that their connection allowed them to communicate telepathically
It can be inferred that their connection was fatal and led to their mutual downfall
What does the collapse of the House of Usher signify?
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The end of a curse that plagued the town
The release of ancient spirits
The end of the Usher lineage
The narrator's new outlook on life
