Haunted Houses

    

    For many years we have made a countless amount of horror stories about haunted houses. Edgar Allan Poe managed to create many stereotypes that are still used today. For instance, In The Fall Of the House of Usher, Poe uses an old deteriorated house, a dark night, limited amount of people, the return of a dead person and an uncertain ending.

    The use of and old deteriorated house is effective in creeping the audience out from the beginning. The idea of an old house that is barely standing creeps people out. When walking into a house and everything is dusty and creaks, it starts to worry you. As soon as the narrator arrived to the house he noticed it was old. He also mentioned that it was the same house the family had always lived in, which  creates a sense of mystery.

    In every horror story they always use the idea of everything happening in the dead of the night. The day time creates a sense of security that the night doesn't create. The night time is uncertain because you can't see everything clearly. Since you can't see anything every little noise makes you jump. When the narrator arrives to the house of Usher it is not completely bright outside. Which makes the audience unsure of what might happen next.

    Poe manages to keep the character list to a minimum. The narrator, Roderick and Madeline. With keeping the list short the  creepy factor is higher. There is no one to help if something were to go wrong which helps keep the audience on the edge of their seat.

    What is a horror story without someone coming back from the dead? Even though Roderick knew Madeline wasn't dead he decided to bury her anyways. Which just leaves the audience wondering what is actually going on in that house. The idea of the dead coming back to haunt us has always scared us and makes the story stronger.

     The uncertain ending always makes the audience think a little. Did it really happen? Is the narrator the crazy one? With the house falling to pieces leaves no evidence of the event happening. It could have just been the narrators nightmare. Leaving the audience to decipher the ending helps build the suspense and creepiness of the story.

     Although if I were to write a horror story i would decide to help the reader understand more by explaining some background information. Although it takes away some of the mystery it would help the reader understand the story a little better. Also I would explain the deaths better. Did Roderick want to kill Madeline or was it an honest mistake? How did Roderick die? Although mystery is good the audience does enjoy an explanation.