SA1.1

Context
In “The Philosophy of Composition” (1846) Edgar Allen Poe argues that brevity, methodical planning, and creating a “unity of effect” determine the strength of a work of fiction—and the same can be said of critical essays as well. This week, we discussed how close reading evidence supports the creation of a complex, independent claim. Examining moments of ambiguity grounds an interpretation in direct textual evidence, supporting minor claims (smaller arguments within body paragraphs) with one goal in mind: to articulate a complex independent claim (thesis).

Assignment
For your first short assignment, use close reading evidence to make a case about the circumstances regarding Madeline’s death, going beyond what is evident in Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (1839). In analyzing the ambiguities and complexities of his account, what role did Roderick and/or the narrator play in Madeline’s death? However, go beyond simply stating how Madeline dies and argue why such a reading contributes to understanding the text.
When writing your thesis, centralize your claim in regard to one specific element of the text that interests you: What does Poe argue about gender equality, fraternal friendship, mental illness, class prejudices, etc. by obscuring a clear, objective account of her death?

Format
2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Proper MLA internal citation.
Research
No outside research is required for this piece. However, you must correctly cite direct quotations using internal citation. Example: (author page #), then with successive quotations (page #).