“The Fall of the House of Usher” Published in 1839. Inspired by Horace Walpole’s gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. Contains many themes found in Poe’s literature: death, decay, and human nature. The story is narrated by an unnamed narrator. Other characters: Roderick Usher, Madeline Usher The story is set in the Usher’s castle, which was once a beautiful palace, but is now crumbling and cracked.

“The Raven” Poem published in 1845. The poem is about a narrator that is lamenting over the loss of his lover, Lenore. The narrator hears knocking on his door and he opens his door to find nobody there. The narrator then hears tapping on his window and when he opens it, a raven flies in and perches on a bust above his chamber door. The raven speaks to the narrator by saying the words, “Nevermore.” The man, in his grief and irritation, goes insane by the end of the poem because the raven is continually reminding him of his dead lover and he realizes that he will never see Lenore again. LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLiXjaPqSyY

“The Tell-Tale Heart” Published in 1843. The story involves a murderous narrator who tries to convince the reader of his sanity. Other characters: Old man with a “vulture eye” It is unclear what the relationship between the narrator and the old man are, but the narrator seems to be his caretaker. First published in an anthology by James Russell Lowell (Fireside Poet) Considered a classic of gothic literature