Question

[MC]

The Fall of the House of Usher

By Edgar Allan Poe



Shaking off what must have been a dream, I scanned more narrowly the real aspect of the building. Its principal feature seemed to be that of an excessive antiquity. The discoloration of ages had been great. Minute fungi overspread the whole exterior, hanging in a fine tangled web-work from the eaves. Yet all this was apart from any extraordinary dilapidation. No portion of the masonry had fallen; and there appeared to be a wild inconsistency between its still perfect adaptation of parts, and the crumbling condition of the individual stones. In this there was much that reminded me of the specious totality of old wood-work which has rotted for long years in some neglected vault, with no disturbance from the breath of the external air. Beyond this indication of extensive decay, however, the fabric gave little token of instability. Perhaps the eye of a scrutinizing observer might have discovered a barely perceptible fissure, which, extending from the roof of the building in front, made its way down the wall in a zigzag direction, until it became lost in the sullen waters of the tarn.



Which words best characterize the building as described in The Fall of the House of Usher?
A) Real aspect
B) Extensive decay
C) Specious totality
D) Barely perceptible

Answer 1

I believe it either B or D.

Answer 2

B) Extensive decay

Step-by-step explanation:

The building in this story is described as superficially damaged, but structurally sound. The first impression that the speaker has is one of "extensive decay." This is the opinion that most people would have when looking at the building. We learn this when the speaker talks to us about the excessive antiquity of the building, the fungi that covered its walls and the discoloration of the ages.