hall dawn upon him, desolate!) And, round bout his home, the glory That blushed and bloomed Is but a dim-remembered story Of the old time entombed. Apparently, the house has been overcome by evil and the happiness the once lived is now just a memory. The current state of the house is a dim and depressing one, as described in the poem: "A hideous throng rush out forever, / And laugh -- but smile no more." Thus, Poe makes use of this story within a story to create a further description how the house and family relate to each other (1467 - 1468). The technique Poe uses to develop a landscape is similar to the methods of Washington Irving. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", Irving uses the landscape to help enhance the story. Irving describes the atmosphere in "Rip Van Winkle" to help portray the lives of Americans compared to the British. The entire environment, such as the woods and mountains, was used. Irving also uses the same means in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". This story is similar to "The Fall of the House of Usher" since it depicts the atmosphere to create an eerie feeling. The landscape is set to heighten the idea of a headless horseman roaming the woods. Both Poe and Irving have used the landscapes to create a vivid and extraordinary effect. In conclusion, Poe’s use of the landscape in "The Fall of the House of Usher" helps create a supernatural and frightening atmosphere as well as embellish the plot of the story and characters. The portrayal of the house as one with life-like characteristics produces the supernatural atmosphere. The house is almost unreal which makes the setting more terrifying. The idea of a dreadful house and the reaction of the narrator gives a ghostly impression to the reader. Poe also uses the house to magnify the plot and the characters. The house was in deterioration as was the Usher family. The poem, "The Haunted Place," summarizes the life of the house. The house also affec...
