The Fall of the House of Usher: who's who, timeline and places
Everyone in The Fall of the House of Usher, what happens when, and where, without spoilers: tell us how far you have read and we show only what you already know.
- ThoughtThought rules the kingdom where a radiant palace stands.First seen in part 1
- SpiritsSpirits move around the ruler’s throne in harmony with a lute.First seen in part 3
- EchoesEchoes emerge from the palace entrance and sing praises of their king.First seen in part 4
- UsherUsher believes his house has awareness and shapes his family’s fate.First seen in part 6
- The narratorThe narrator helps Usher and shares his anxiety during a violent storm.First seen in part 6
- MadelineMadeline is Usher’s twin sister, whom the narrator helps place in a vault.First seen in part 6
- Part 1
A radiant palace stands in a green valley inhabited by good angels.
- Part 1
The speaker introduces Thought as ruler of the kingdom containing the palace.
- Part 2
Yellow and gold banners wave above the roof in a scene set far in the past.
- Part 2
Gentle breezes linger beside the ramparts and carry fragrance away.
- Part 3
Wanderers look through two bright windows and see spirits moving to lute music.
- Part 3
The spirits surround a throne where the ruler sits in splendor.
- Part 4
Echoes pour continuously from a palace entrance shining with pearls and rubies.
- Part 4
The Echoes sing beautifully in praise of their king’s intelligence and judgment.
- Part 5
Evil forces clothed in sorrow attack the monarch’s grand estate.
- Part 5
The speaker calls for mourning as the home’s former glory survives only in memory.
- Part 6
Usher explains his belief that the house possesses awareness and shapes his family’s fate.
- Part 6
The narrator helps place Madeline in a vault and learns that she and Usher are twins.
- Part 6
During a storm, disturbing sounds interrupt the narrator’s reading, and Usher admits they buried Madeline alive.
- Part 6
Madeline appears and falls onto her brother, and both die.
- Part 6
The narrator escapes before the house collapses into the tarn.
Hidden until you have read that far.
- palaceThe palace is a radiant building standing in a green valley.First seen in part 1
- valleysThe green valley surrounding the palace is home to good angels.First seen in part 1
- kingdomThe kingdom is ruled by Thought and contains the radiant palace.First seen in part 1
- House of UsherThe House of Usher is the house Usher believes possesses awareness.First seen in part 6
- the vaultThe vault is where the narrator helps Usher place Madeline.First seen in part 6
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