Edgar Allen Poe is certainly one of the most famous writers of Gothic fiction of the nineteenth century. His tales are known for dark settings and characters with diseased or deluded minds . Moreover, in Poe’s fiction it is often the case that “the boundaries between reality, illusion and madness remain unresolved” . These are undoubtedly factors that contribute to the terror created in his works. However, are those to be considered the prime reasons for the terror in Poe’s fiction? There are other factors which are not as easily detected but which might still be the chief reasons and can be related to the above mentioned ones, such as the unreliability of the narrator. In order to further examine this thesis “The Fall of the House of Usher” , one of his most widely known short stories, will be looked at in the following with regard to the question whether the terror is caused by the unreliability of the narrator or whether there are other reasons mainly responsible for it. However, prior to dealing with this question a definition of unreliable narration will be given and the narrator of “The Fall of the House of Usher” will be examined concerning his reliability.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. What is unreliable narration?
2. The unreliability of the narrator in “The Fall of the House of Usher”
3. Is the terror caused by the unreliability of the narrator?
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to investigate whether the atmosphere of terror in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" is fundamentally caused by the unreliability of the narrator or by external gothic elements. By applying Ansgar Nünning’s cognitive approach to narratology, the study examines how the narrator’s mental state, potential substance abuse, and subjective perception create a narrative structure that leaves the reader in a state of uncertainty and fear.
- The theoretical definition of unreliable narration within the framework of cognitive linguistics.
- Evidence of the narrator's emotional instability and potential opium addiction.
- Textual inconsistencies and parallels between the narrator and Roderick Usher.
- The relationship between the reader's world-model and the perception of narrative truth.
- The correlation between the narrator's psychological decline and the evocation of terror.
Excerpt from the Book
1. What is unreliable narration?
At first glance, the phenomenon of unreliable narration appears relatively easy to define. This, however, has proven to be a wrong assumption. Many narratologists have tried to find a valid definition and have often been contradicted by their colleagues. On account of that, I will confine myself to Ansgar Nünning’s approach. Taking works of other narratologists into account, he has developed a more recent concept of the unreliable narrator relating it to cognitive linguistics and the frame theory. Nünning claims that the unreliable narrator cannot be defined by means of the textbase only, but that extratextual information has to be taken into account as well, meaning that the conceptual premises or the world-model that a reader applies to a text have to be included. Whether a narrator is unreliable or not then depends on whether there is a discrepancy between the reader’s world-model, also including norms and values, and the narrator’s world view. If there is a discrepancy, the reader relates the text to his world-knowledge and textual inconsistencies can be connected to various frames of references so that the inconsistencies fulfil a certain function.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This section introduces the thesis and context, establishing the goal of exploring the relationship between narrator unreliability and the creation of terror in Poe’s work.
1. What is unreliable narration?: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of unreliability, focusing on Ansgar Nünning's cognitive approach and the role of the reader's world-model.
2. The unreliability of the narrator in “The Fall of the House of Usher”: This chapter analyzes specific evidence for the narrator's instability, including his nervous temperament, potential drug use, and contradictions in his account.
3. Is the terror caused by the unreliability of the narrator?: This section discusses whether the fear is a product of external gothic tropes or the narrator's subjective, distorted perception of events.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the findings, concluding that while gothic elements exist, the narrator's unreliability is essential in intensifying the terror felt by the reader.
Keywords
Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher, Unreliable Narration, Gothic Fiction, Terror, Ansgar Nünning, Cognitive Linguistics, Frame Theory, Narrative Inconsistency, Opium, Subjectivity, Psychological Horror, Literature of Terror, Reader Response, Literary Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines whether the terror experienced in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" is primarily generated by the narrator's subjective unreliability rather than the story's external gothic setting.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine if the terror is caused by the unreliability of the narrator or by other narrative factors, such as the atmosphere and setting.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The author utilizes Ansgar Nünning’s cognitive theory of unreliable narration, which emphasizes the discrepancy between the reader's world-model and the narrator's account.
How is the narrator’s unreliability demonstrated?
The analysis points to the narrator's admitted emotional agitation, potential drug use (opium), and constant hesitation in his own perception of events.
What role does the setting play in this analysis?
While the gothic setting provides a baseline for terror, the paper argues that the narrator's inability to accurately observe and report this setting makes it significantly more horrifying.
How is the reader involved in the creation of terror?
The reader’s engagement is tethered to the narrator's viewpoint; as the narrator descends into uncertainty and fear, the reader is drawn into that same subjective state of distress.
Does the narrator ever fully realize his unreliability?
The narrator often articulates his confusion and struggles with "shadowy fancies," but remains unable to fully grasp the objective truth, which aligns with the text's inherent ambiguity.
How do the narrator and Roderick Usher mirror each other?
The paper highlights a "parallelism" where the narrator's psychological state reflects or is infected by Usher's, leading to inconsistencies that suggest the narrator might be projecting his own fears.
Is it possible to prove the narrator is unreliable?
The author notes that while there is strong evidence to support this reading, the authorial intent remains covert, meaning the unreliability cannot be definitively proven as an absolute fact.
Why is the "to and fro" motif important?
The frequent repetition of "to and fro" serves as a textual clue that connects the narrator's pacing, the furniture, and Madeleine's movements, hinting that the narrator may be hallucinating or constructing the events.
- Quote paper
- Kirsten Hinzpeter (Author), 2009, Unreliable Narration in Poe’s 'The Fall of the House of Usher' - The Narrative Creation of Horror, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/187482
