Noe’s Comics Nook: The Fall of the House of Usher

Review

One of the classics of gothic literature, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher invites readers to question the lines between life and death, the real and the supernatural, and does so with an undeniable sense of what we today might call “spooky season” energy. This is a story that has, to little surprise, been adapted into many comics over the years, but I believe Raúl García’s is the first to be an adaptation of an adaptation, emerging from his animated short version. If I hadn’t known this going in, I still would have known that this adaptation came from the mind of an animator quite quickly. From the pacing to the style of the characters, this comic reads like the storyboards for the animation.

For a reader like me, who often struggles with poetry and similar writing styles, this kind of adaptation makes the story far more accessible. I would have appreciated the chance to read classics like this in school and, though I probably would have complained as a student, I do think there would be great value in reading the adaptation side-by-side with the original. In a way, this is like encouraging language learners, but instead of a different language, it is about learning to better understand different styles.

Included in this edition are behind the scenes looks at the development of the animated short film, as well as a reproduction of the original text by Poe. These extras turn this book into a valuable teaching tool on its own, giving readers a chance to think about how the process of adaptation works across different mediums (and saving classroom budgets in the process).

Elements of Story

Plot: Frederick arrives at the Usher mansion to visit his old friend. He soon discovers that a mysterious malady has befallen the Ushers and the very estate itself.

Characters: Frederick (or, the Narrator, in the original); Roderick Usher; Madeline Usher

Major Settings: The House of Usher

Themes: Psychology; Real vs Supernatural; Dying and Death

Lesson Plan Idea Using Common Core Standards (CCS) CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-12.7- Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text.

Directions: This graphic novel adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher is ultimately an interpretation of an interpretation, since it is an adaptation of the creator’s animated version. This creates a second

layer of remove from the original story and opens up opportunity to explore how adaptation can be generative of new ways of experiencing a story.

For this lesson, students should read both this graphic novel and the original text (included at the back of the book). If possible, also haver the class watch the animated version of this adaptation during a class session and invite discussion of it immediately after. Then, once students have experienced the story in a variety of mediums, ask them to write a brief report that answers the following:

1. What are the central themes of The Fall of the House of Usher and how were they made explicit in the different mediums used to tell the story?

2. Where there any notable changes to the plot, the characters, or the setting between the various adaptations? Keep color and mood/tone in mind here. Provide specific examples.

3. Was one approach more effective to telling this particular story than another? This is an opinion question, but please cite examples of why you believe one resonated stronger than another (or, if not, why you think that is).