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3/5

In “The Fall of the House of Usher,�� Edgar Allen Poe establishes the atmosphere of the story using vivid descriptions that suggest that the House of Usher is tainted by something sinister, likely desolate and decaying: “It was dark and soundless…with little life or beauty�� (Poe). Through this, Poe contributes to the overall mood and develops a sense of unease and impending doom. Even as the narrator approaches the dreary mansion, he notices how vacant it is and its horrible gloom, feeling a “heavy sadness�� that “filled my [his] spirit�� (Poe). The fact that the narrator feels so strongly about the effect of the house is a testament to the dangers that are to follow. The vagueness of the reason behind the “empty eye-like�� house contributes to the cold sickening the narrator feels and makes the story even more frightening due to its potential for doom (Poe). This eerie atmosphere evokes dread in the reader and sets the tone for the rest of the story to be filled with despair.