Description
This resource focuses on Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” and provides structured reading comprehension questions along with a Gothic literature analysis graphic organizer to guide students through close reading and interpretation.
(1) To activate prior knowledge of Gothic literature, students begin with a carousel brainstorming activity that introduces common Gothic motifs and creates anticipation before reading.
(2) Students then define academic vocabulary connected to the short story, building the background knowledge needed to confidently approach Poe’s complex language and imagery.
(3) Students read the full text of “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe and complete reading comprehension questions that support understanding of plot, character, and setting.
(4) After reading, students engage in deeper literary analysis using textual evidence. They complete a graphic organizer that identifies and explains key Gothic elements and motifs present in the story, such as atmosphere, symbolism, decay, and psychological tension.
(5) Answer keys are provided for all activities to support instruction and assessment.
(6) The full text of the short story is included, making this resource ready to use without additional materials.
Perfect for middle school and high school ELA, this lesson supports comprehension, genre study, and analytical writing while helping students understand why “The Fall of the House of Usher” remains one of Poe’s most enduring Gothic works.