Hello kids! Due to the situation we are facing at CECIE, which DO NOT DEPEND on us, we have decided no to be sitting, wasting so much time and classes -which, on the other hand, we won't be able to make up later! And instead....we have decided to keep on moving and doing!!! So......... this is the plan:
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER by EDGAR ALLAN POE
* You can read it ONLINE: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/932/932-h/932-h.htm
* Or you can get it in LOSBELGRAF (Guaminí 4918. Teléfono: 4601-9120)
b) Complete Edgar Allan Poe's biography:
*You can check these two different links:
Edgar Allan Poe
American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor. Edgar Allan Poe's tales of mystery and horror initiated the modern detective story, and the atmosphere in his tales of horror is unrivalled in American fiction. His 'The Raven'(______) numbers among the best-known poems in national literature.
Early life
Edgar Allan Poe was born in ____________, Massachusetts, United States, in January 19th in 18___ to actor parents who very soon died. They were David and Elizabeth Poe. They had three children, ________, Edgar, and _________.
Elizabeth Poe separated from her husband and took her three kids with her, so when she died Edgar's brother went to live with his grandparents while his sister was taken in by another family. Edgar was adopted by Mr_________ __________ , who was a successful merchant, so he grew up in good surroundings and went to good schools. He was just 2 or 3 years old.
Career beginnings
When Poe was 6, he went to school in ___________ for 5 years. He learned Latin and French, as well as Maths and History. He later returned to school in America and continued his studies. Edgar Allan went to the University of ___________ in 1826. He was 17. Even though John Allan had plenty of money, he only gave Edgar about a third of what he needed. Although Edgar had done well in Latin and French, he started to drink heavily and turned to gambling and became in debt. He had to quit school less than a year later.
Edgar went to Boston and joined the ___________ in 1827. He was 18. He did reasonably well in there and attained the rank of sergeant major. In 1829, Mrs. Allan died and John Allan tried to be friendly towards Edgar and signed Edgar's application to West Point.
While waiting to enter West Point, Edgar lived with his grandmother and his aunt, Mrs. ________ and her daughter, ____________ -his cousin. She would be his literary inspiration as well as his love interest. In 1830, Edgar Allan entered West Point as a cadet. He didn't stay long because John Allan refused to send him any money. It is thought that Edgar purposely broke the rules and ignored his duties so he would be dismissed.
Major Works
In 1831, Edgar Allan Poe went to New York City where he had some of his poetry published. He submitted stories to a number of magazines and they were all rejected. Poe had no friends, no job, and was in financial trouble. He sent a letter to John Allan begging for help but none came. John Allan died in 1834 and did not mention Edgar in his _________.
In 1835, Edgar finally got a job as an editor of a newspaper because of a contest he won with his story, "The Manuscript Found in a ______". Edgar missed Mrs. _________ and _________ and brought them to Richmond to live with him. In 1836, Edgar married his cousin, ____________. He was 27 and she was only _____ years old.
In 1837, Edgar went to New York. He wrote "The Narrative of ______________" but he could not find any financial success. He moved to Philadelphia in 1838 where he wrote "Ligeia" and "The __________ Palace". His first volume of short stories, "Tales of the ______________ and _____________" was published in 1839.It contained several of his most spine-tingling tales, including "The Fall ____________________" "Ligeia" and "William _________”. Poe received the copyright and 20 copies of the book, but no money.
In 1840, Edgar Poe joined George R. Graham as an editor for Graham's Magazine. Poe launched the new genre of detective fiction with first detective story, "___________________ ___________" and challenged readers to send in cryptograms, which he always solved. Poe left Graham's in 1842 because he wanted to start his own magazine.
He tried to start a magazine called The Stylus and failed. In 1843, he published some booklets containing a few of his short stories but they didn't sell well enough. He won a hundred dollars and a literary prize for his story, "________________Bug" -a suspenseful tale of secret codes and hunting treasure. He also sold a few other stories to magazines but he barely had enough money to support his family. Often, Mrs. Clemm had to contribute financially.
In 1845, Edgar Poe became an editor at The _____________Journal. He also became a literary sensation this year with the publication of the poem "_____________" -which is considered a great American literary work and one of the best of Poe's career. In the work, he explored some of his common themes—death and loss.
A year later, the Journal ran out of money and Poe was out of a job again. He and his family moved to a small cottage near what is now East 192nd Street.
Virginia's health was fading away and finally died in ________, 10 days after Edgar's birthday. After losing his wife, Poe collapsed from stress but gradually returned to health later that year.
Continuing work in different forms, Poe also wrote several essays, including "The Philosophy of Composition," "The Poetic Principle" and "The Rationale of Verse." He also produced another thrilling tale, "The Cask of Amontillado," and poems such as "Ulalume" and "The Bells."
Final Days - Mysterious Death
In June of 1849, Poe left New York and went to Philadelphia, where he visited his friend John Sartain. Poe left Philadelphia in July and came to Richmond. He stayed at the Swan Tavern Hotel but joined "The Sons of Temperance" in an effort to stop drinking. He renewed a boyhood romance with Sarah Royster Shelton and planned to marry her in October.
On September 27, Poe left Richmond for New York. He went to Philadelphia and stayed with a friend named James P. Moss. On September 30, he meant to go to New York but supposedly took the wrong train to Baltimore. On October 3, Poe was found at Gunner's Hall, a public house at 44 East Lombard Street, and was taken to the hospital. He lapsed in and out of consciousness but was never able to explain exactly what happened to him. Edgar Allan Poe died in the hospital on Sunday, ________ __th , 18___.His last words were "Lord, help my poor soul."
At the time, it was said that Poe died of "congestion of the brain." But his actual cause of death has been the subject of endless speculation. Some experts believe that alcoholism led to his demise while others offer up alternative theories. Rabies, epilepsy, carbon monoxide poisoning are just some of the conditions thought to have led to the great writer's death.
After his death
Shortly after his passing, Poe's reputation was badly damaged by his literary adversary Rufus ____________. This writer, who had been sharply criticized by Poe, took his revenge in his obituary of Poe, portraying the gifted yet troubled writer as a mentally deranged drunkard and womanizer. He also penned the first biography of Poe, which helped cement some of these misconceptions in the public's minds.
While he never had financial success in his lifetime, Poe has become one of America's most enduring writers. His works are as compelling today as there were more than a century ago. A bright, imaginative thinker, Poe crafted stories and poems that still shock, surprise and move modern readers.
b) On your own: Read Edgar Allan Poe's short story
c) Do the following activities:
While reading activities:
1 Underline the wrong word and put the right one.
a The Ushers were a poor family. ……………
b The rooms in the House of Usher were very light. …............
c When Roderick was a boy he was very ugly.……………
d Roderick believed that the school was the reason for his illness. …
e They put Madeline’s body in a tomb behind the house. ……………
f Ethelred tries to get into the house of a crazy young man. ……………
g Ethelred saw a pile of silver next to the strange animal. ……………
h Madeline was dead when they put her in the tomb. ……………
2 Are these sentences right (a) or wrong ()?
a Roderick’s friend was very sad when he first saw the House of Usher. _____
b Roderick went out a lot. ____
c Roderick and Madeline were alone in the house when Roderick’s friend arrived. ____
d Roderick and his friend painted, read and listened to music together. ____
e Madeline’s face had more color when they put her in the tomb. _____
f The story of Ethelred was Roderick’s favorite book. _____
g Ethelred killed the strange animal in the story. _____
h There was blood on Madeline’s clothes when she appeared in the door. ______
After reading activities
Complete the sentences with the right name.
A fisherman Madeline Usher Roderick Usher
a ………………................................... was afraid he was going to die from an illness.
B ……………….......................... came back from the tomb with blood on her clothes.
C ………………................................................ lost two of his brothers during a storm.
1 Tick (a) the right ending to finish the sentences.
a Roderick’s friend visited him because …..
1) he heard he was sick. c
2) he got a letter from him. c
3) the doctor asked him to visit. c
b Madeline …..
1) became ill when she was young. c
2) made Roderick’s friend afraid. c
3) loved painting like her brother. c
c Roderick …..
1) didn’t want to talk about his sister. c
2) thought his sister was strange. c
3) painted strange pictures. c
d When the two men put Madeline in the tomb …..
1) her face had more colour. c
2) there was blood on her face. c
3) her face was very pale. c
e Ethelred …..
1) was a very old story. c
2) was the story of a brave man. c
3) was the only story in the room. c
f The strange noises the two men heard were …..
1) the wind and rain on the windows. c
2) not real, just in their minds. c
3) Madeline coming out of the tomb. c
g When Madeline entered the room …..
1) she looked better than before. c
2) she was terribly thin. c
3) she killed her brother. c
