"In the greenest of our valleys by good angels tenanted, once a fair and stately palace-radiant palace-reared its head. In the monarch Thought's dominion-it stood there! Never seraph spread a pinion over fabric half so fair!" Here Poe could be describing the mind of Roderick Usher. It was once a "green", "fair", "stately", happy place filled with "radiant", positive thoughts. God and "good angels" took care of his mind and kept him sane. Usher was confident in his goodness and stood proud.
"Banners yellow, glorious, golden on its roof did float and flow, (this-all this- was in the olden time long ago,) And every gentle air that dallied, in that sweet day, along the ramparts plumed and pallid, a winged odor went away." The banners decorating the roof of the mansion could be considered Roderick Ushers hair when he was younger. It was blonde and beautiful and flowed from his head. Poe describes how his fair hair, that fanned out like feathers, was so light and warm that it kept "winged odors" away.
"Wanderers in that happy valley, through two luminous windows saw spirits moving musically, to a lute's well-tuned law, round about a throne where, sitting (Porphyrogene!) in state his glory well befitting, the ruler of the realm was seen." In this verse, Poe explains how others saw Usher through his eyes (being the windows). Anyone who talked with Usher saw with their own eyes how hopeful and happy the spirits were that moved about in his head. He had positive, nice thoughts that practically sang of their goodness to others.
"And all the pearl and ruby glowing was the fair palace-door, through which came flowing, flowing, flowing, and sparkling evermore, a troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty was but to sing, in voices of surpassing beauty, the wit and wisdom of their king." Here, Poe is representing the mouth of Roderick Usher. With his pearly white teeth and his ruby red lips, it was the door to his thoughts. Feelings and "Echoes" came "flowing" through and it was their job to express the mind of the their king, this being Usher.
"But evil things, in robes of sorrow, assailed the monarch's high estate.) Ah, let us mourn!-for never morrow shall dawn upon him desolate!) And round about his home, the glory that blushed and bloomed is but a dim-remembered story of the old time entombed." Here one can see the illness taking over the mind of Roderick. It is an "evil thing" attacking the kings mind (monarch's high estate). Everyone around Usher is affected by this illness because he will never be himself again. He will never be anything more than depressed and "desolate". The past is now only a memory, a "story", a happiness that will never return.
"And travellers now, within that valley, through red-litten windows see vast forms, that move fantastically to a discordant melody, while, like a ghastly rapid river, through the pale door, a hideous throng rush out forever and laugh-but smile no more." Finally, Poe explains how others view Usher now. They see, through his bloodshot eyes the terrors that are overtaking his mind. They can see the madness, the "vast forms", the demons haunting him day and night. Through the pale door being his old, ugly mouth, there is no longer the wonderful thoughts of the king but an evil laugh. The king, overcome with his illness, smiles no longer, sings no more, but just laughs like a madman. In this poem, one can see the comparison of a person in his natural state of mind and then the progression into the madness of a disease of the mind.
Ideas used from grade seven English class oral discussion
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