Question

in rodericks song \the haunted palace\ the narrator says he first perceived rodericks awareness of \the tottering of his lofty reason upon her throne.\ what does the narrator mean? what story does the song tell? what is the meaning of this story and what does it suggest about rodericks mental state?

1. what opinion does roderick express about the \sentience\ of his family mansion? what is the evidence of this sentience and what is its possible cause?
2. after madelines death, why does roderick decide to keep her body temporarily in one of the walls of the house?
3. what fact is revealed about the relationship between madeline and roderick, when the narrator and roderick place madeline in this temporary tomb?
4. what behavior does roderick exhibit in the days following this temporary burial? what effect does his behavior have on the narrator?
5. on the stormy night about a week later, what does roderick see out the window that terrifies him? how does the narrator explain this phenomenon rationally?
6. why does the narrator read a book to roderick? what book does he choose and why? what kind of story does it tell?

Explanation:

1. "The Haunted Palace" in Roderick's song symbolizes his deteriorating mental state. The tottering of lofty reason implies his reason is failing. The song tells a story of a once - grand place (mind) now haunted by decay. It suggests Roderick is on the verge of madness.
2. Roderick believes his family mansion has sentience. Evidence includes strange noises and a sense of foreboding. The possible cause could be his own deteriorating mental state projecting onto the house, or perhaps the long - standing family history and isolation associated with the mansion.
3. Roderick keeps Madeline's body in the wall because he fears the doctors will dissect her due to her rare disease, and he also has a superstitious or psychological attachment to her presence in the house.
4. When placing Madeline in the temporary tomb, it is revealed that Roderick and Madeline have a close, perhaps even incestuous or overly dependent relationship, as Roderick shows extreme distress and a strange sense of protectiveness.
5. In the days following the temporary burial, Roderick becomes more agitated, pale, and his behavior is erratic. This has a disturbing effect on the narrator, increasing his own sense of unease and foreboding.
6. On the stormy night, Roderick sees a figure that he believes is Madeline outside the window. The narrator tries to explain it as a trick of the light or a hallucination caused by Roderick's fragile mental state.
7. The narrator reads a book to Roderick to distract him from his growing madness and anxiety. The book choice may be a Gothic or supernatural story, which could either soothe or further agitate Roderick depending on his state, and it likely tells a story of mystery, horror, or the supernatural.

Answer:

1. The narrator means Roderick's reason is failing. The song tells a story of a once - grand place now in decay. It suggests Roderick is close to madness.
2. Roderick believes the mansion is sentient. Evidence: strange noises. Possible cause: his mental state or family history.
3. He fears dissection and has a psychological attachment.
4. They have a close, possibly incestuous or overly dependent relationship.
5. Roderick is agitated and erratic. It disturbs the narrator.
6. He sees a figure he thinks is Madeline. The narrator says it's a hallucination.
7. To distract Roderick. A Gothic/supernatural book. Tells a mystery/horror/supernatural story.