In the story “The Fall of the House Usher” by Edgar Allen Poe, diction is used extensively to create an air of suspense. Poe's use of diction along with symbolism helps create an atmosphere of desperation. By using the symbolic comparison between the Ushers and their home, the suspense of the story increases and the characteristics of the Ushers are portrayed. Poe's cunning tactics are evident in the way he crafts a story of suspense and horror. In "The Fall of the House of Usher", Poe's use of dark and descriptive words allows him to create an eerie atmosphere. Poe's unique writing style along with his foreboding vocabulary are significant in creating a suspenseful gothic story. At the beginning of the story, Poe describes the House of Usher as "dull," "oppressive," and "dreary" (1265). His choice of words strongly emphasizes an atmosphere of darkness and suspense while building on the horrific aspects of this daunting story. At first sight, the house itself is surrounded by a feeling of “unbearable darkness,” (1265) “[t]here was a chill, a sinking, a disgust of the heart, an unredeemed sadness of thought [...]” (1265 ). The atmosphere that Poe describes in the above statement creates a chilling mood. Poe uses words like “unbearable darkness” (1265) along with other disturbing words to emphasize the atmosphere of horror. Furthermore, the house evokes suspense as it strikes the reader with curiosity as to why the building presents such a terrible and eerie feeling. Poe describes the house in further detail, emphasizing its ghostly features: “Dark hangings hung on the walls. The furniture in general was plentiful, uncomfortable, ancient and worn. Many books and musical instruments lay scattered here and there, but they failed to give vitality to the scene” (1267). Poe describes the house using very descriptive and off-putting words which contribute to the depressive atmosphere of the story as well as its suspense. Poe also uses symbolism to represent the connection between the house and the Usher family. The description of the house itself bears a shocking resemblance to that of Roderick and Madelyn Usher. Upon the main character's arrival, Poe offers an interesting description of the physical state of the building. “The discoloration of age had been great. Tiny mushrooms covered the entire exterior, hanging in a thin net tangled by the eves” (1266). Poe manages to create an air of suspense by relating the state of the house to that of Roderick and Madelyn Usher.