Literature Network » Edgar Allan Poe

Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' (Edgar Allan Poe)

Content courtesy of

From: The Explicator
Date: 19960622
Author:Frey, Matthew

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' sparked some debate on the cause of the house's fall. G.R. Thompson theorized that the collapse was due to the ignition of the remnants of powder which was hit by lightning. Although Patrick F. Quinn correctly contended that the burial vault was lightning-proof since it was located underground, he failed to present a theory of his own. As stated several times in Poe's story, the house looked sturdy externally but its framework has excessively aged. At the end of the story, a fierce burst of whirlwind knocked down the weak timber.

Precisely ...

Read the rest of this article with a Free Trial at HighBeam Research.

Other Articles on Edgar Allan Poe

About Our Articles: We've partnered with Highbeam Research to provide these article excerpts for your research needs. However, due to copyright laws, we cannot publish the whole article. To view these articles in full length you'll need to use the link above to access the free trial at Highbeam.