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The Fall of the House of Usher on page 44 explains the "haunted house" effect so well. "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 the 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." So much detail in such a little paragraph, to me this is one of the best descriptions of a haunted house you can find. I mean there is more in the story but this leads you into the story and to how "haunted" the house looks. Love it!








Traditional ghost story with a twist, usually its a family that gets a home thats haunted and the family moves out because they do NOT want the ghost to be there. This couple actually is looking for a house WITH a ghost! Wicked sweet! This is a psychological ghost story, its made to give you things to think about, where as the ones now are not.


update: was not in class for discussion for this blog set, was in Texas.

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To me there are numerous emotions in this poem, it starts out somber, with just a tapping and it works up to curiosity of who could be knocking, then it goes to into marvelling at the creature that came in through the window and who sits there, to accusations, saying the bird is the devil, such an array of emotions and so wonderfully put. Only Poe can do that.







Annabel Lee is a true love story, from start to finish, from life to death. It goes to show that no matter what others may say, the love of ones heart is what will direct and keep them. There was no going astray from Annabel Lee, she was in his heart forever. Such smooth lines and graceful words, just like that of a beautiful lady whom he had fell in love with.




UPDATE:

Got to meet the author of "The Culling" and pick his brain, I think it was way cool to meet an author, as this was my first, felt like a little kid getting that special christmas gift! After the question answer session, there was a better understanding on how he came up with the idea for the book and the characters of the book. I am a picky reader and not much grabs my attention, but his book did, and I can't wait to get the second and third book!

viewing blog 3

"Ever After" was a great redo of Cinderella, with a slight twist on it. The Brothers Grimm, have a wonderful way of making a childs fairy tale one to remember. They were the inspiration for the book "Cloaked", which was very well written!! Cinderella is a fairy tale written about a childs fear of losing a parent and having to live without them, and the challenges that they will have to face alone in the world. As in "Hansel and Gretel" where their parents abandon them in the forest, it is a childs worst nightmare to have no parent to turn to for guidance.






"Lord of the Rings" series is off the chain! Had to get that off my chest....The three functions of a fairy tale...recovery- the shire is a small town full of giving people, well Hobbits, but it shows what we once knew back in the renaissance era, everyone knew they had to have each others help, there was no gang wars, there was no senseless killings, just harmony and cooperation from one another...escapism- the film gives everyone a brief view of what one persons fantasy world is, knights, dragons, mammoths, elves, dwarves and the like, its nice to have a fantasy world that you can go to, it helps keep the imagination alive, and the possiblity of dreams, so that you are not constantly facing the fears of the real world....consolation- elements of the film that made me feel joy, to see all the races getting along, to know that once upon a time out there people did get along no matter what the color of their skin or the race of their origin, and to wipe out the evil in the world, to bring world peace so to say, makes one think it may be possible....