William FaulknerWilliam FaulknerAmerican Modernist American Modernist ““A Rose for Emily” A Rose for Emily”

Oxford, MississippiOxford, Mississippi►Based Yoknapatawpha County (setting Based Yoknapatawpha County (setting

of nearly all of his stories) on this of nearly all of his stories) on this town. town.

►Recall Louise Erdrich—“Little Spirit Recall Louise Erdrich—“Little Spirit Sun”—greatly admired and imitated Sun”—greatly admired and imitated Faulkner’s styleFaulkner’s style

Regional WriterRegional Writer►Like Mark Twain, he wrote about the Like Mark Twain, he wrote about the

SOUTH SOUTH

Fun FactsFun Facts::►Never finished high schoolNever finished high school► In 1918, he enlisted in the British Royal Flying In 1918, he enlisted in the British Royal Flying

Corps and was sent to Canada for training. Corps and was sent to Canada for training. ►Never sent to combat due to the end of the warNever sent to combat due to the end of the war►Wrote during the modernist time periodWrote during the modernist time period►Moved to New Orleans where he published his Moved to New Orleans where he published his

first novel, first novel, Soldier’s PaySoldier’s Pay. . ► Spent the remainder of his writing time in Spent the remainder of his writing time in

Oxford, Mississippi Oxford, Mississippi ► For many years, Faulkner was dismissed as an For many years, Faulkner was dismissed as an

eccentric eccentric Awarded the Nobel Prize following the Awarded the Nobel Prize following the

publication of publication of Intruder in the DustIntruder in the Dust (1948), a (1948), a novel in which he confronted the issue of novel in which he confronted the issue of racism.racism.

Faulkner’s Style:Faulkner’s Style:► Yoknapatawpha novels featured themes including Yoknapatawpha novels featured themes including

the decay of traditional values as small the decay of traditional values as small communities became swept up in the changes of communities became swept up in the changes of the modern age.the modern age.

► Uses jumbled time sequences—doesn’t follow Uses jumbled time sequences—doesn’t follow traditional patterntraditional pattern

► Uses stream-of-consciousness narration (creates the Uses stream-of-consciousness narration (creates the impression that the reader is eavesdropping on the impression that the reader is eavesdropping on the flow of conscious experience in the character’s flow of conscious experience in the character’s mind, gaining intimate access to their private mind, gaining intimate access to their private “thoughts”). “thoughts”).

► Uses southern dialect Uses southern dialect ► Famous for page-long sentences, and other difficult Famous for page-long sentences, and other difficult

techniques to show what he called “the human techniques to show what he called “the human heart in conflict with itself.”heart in conflict with itself.”

Major works:Major works: ► The Sound and the FuryThe Sound and the Fury (1929), a complex book (1929), a complex book

exploring the downfall of an old southern family exploring the downfall of an old southern family as seen through the eyes of three brothers, one as seen through the eyes of three brothers, one of whom suffers from severe mental retardation. of whom suffers from severe mental retardation.

► As I Lay DyingAs I Lay Dying (1930), the story of a poor (1930), the story of a poor family’s six-day journey to bury their mother. family’s six-day journey to bury their mother. Told from fifteen different points of view and Told from fifteen different points of view and exploring people’s varying perspectives of exploring people’s varying perspectives of death, the novel was a masterpiece of narrative death, the novel was a masterpiece of narrative experimentation. experimentation.

► Absalom, Absalom!Absalom, Absalom! (1936), which is told by four (1936), which is told by four speakers offering different interpretations of speakers offering different interpretations of events.events.

► The UnvanquishedThe Unvanquished (1938) (1938)► The HamletThe Hamlet (1940) (1940)► Screenplays: Screenplays: Gunga DinGunga Din (1939), (1939), ToTo Have and Have and

Have NotHave Not (1945), and (1945), and The Big SleepThe Big Sleep (1946) (1946)

““A Rose for Emily” A Rose for Emily” What is the What is the titletitle of the of the

story? Why do you story? Why do you think the author think the author chose this title?chose this title?

► Rose:Rose: How many types of How many types of

roses are there? roses are there? What can each type What can each type

symbolize?symbolize? What connotations do What connotations do

“roses” have? “roses” have? ► Emily: to strive, excel Emily: to strive, excel

or rivalor rival What comes to mind? What comes to mind?

► RedRed lovelove

► YellowYellow friendshipfriendship

► PinkPink Youth, loveYouth, love

►WhiteWhite puritypurity

SettingSetting► Jefferson in Yoknapatawpha CountyJefferson in Yoknapatawpha County►An important city in the countyAn important city in the county►Occurs from 1875-1920 chronicling the Occurs from 1875-1920 chronicling the

life and death of Emily Grierson (the life and death of Emily Grierson (the protagonist)protagonist)

ChronologicallyChronologically► Father has falling out with relativesFather has falling out with relatives► Emily is in denial about her father’s death Emily is in denial about her father’s death

for three daysfor three days► Finally Emily gives in and lets them bury Finally Emily gives in and lets them bury

her fatherher father► Emily was sick after her father’s deathEmily was sick after her father’s death► Goes out little after her fathers deathGoes out little after her fathers death► (1894) Colonel Sartoris remitted Emily’s (1894) Colonel Sartoris remitted Emily’s

taxes b/c she is sicktaxes b/c she is sick► The town let the contracts for paving the The town let the contracts for paving the

sidewalks and began the worksidewalks and began the work► Foreman Homer Barron, a Yankee, comes Foreman Homer Barron, a Yankee, comes

to town.to town.► Homer and Miss Emily drive on Homer and Miss Emily drive on

Sunday (hook?)Sunday (hook?)► Town gossips about Miss Emily and Town gossips about Miss Emily and

suspects marriagesuspects marriage► Homer is found to be a gay drunkardHomer is found to be a gay drunkard► Baptist minister calls on EmilyBaptist minister calls on Emily► Emily’s cousins come in response to a Emily’s cousins come in response to a

letter from minister’s wife; Emily buys rat letter from minister’s wife; Emily buys rat poison, the arsenicpoison, the arsenic

► Emily orders a complete man’s toiletEmily orders a complete man’s toilet► Town believes Homer and Emily will marryTown believes Homer and Emily will marry► Homer Barron leaves townHomer Barron leaves town► Cousins departCousins depart► Homer Barron comes backHomer Barron comes back► Homer Barron disappearsHomer Barron disappears

► (1896) Smell developed (1896) Smell developed ► Complaints are filed and men go Complaints are filed and men go

over, sprinkle lime and are seen by over, sprinkle lime and are seen by Emily and leaveEmily and leave

► Miss Emily grows fat and hair turns Miss Emily grows fat and hair turns gray until it is a vigorous iron-graygray until it is a vigorous iron-gray

► Emily, who is fat, old and gray, gives Emily, who is fat, old and gray, gives china painting lessons at age 40 for china painting lessons at age 40 for 6-7 years6-7 years

► (1906) Colonel Sartoris dies(1906) Colonel Sartoris dies► Negro agesNegro ages► (1926) Next generation mail her a (1926) Next generation mail her a

tax notice w/ no reply tax notice w/ no reply ► Next generation send a formal Next generation send a formal

letter, with reply that she no longer letter, with reply that she no longer leaves the hosueleaves the hosue

► Next generation visits—she kicks Next generation visits—she kicks them out; Emily refuses to pay them out; Emily refuses to pay (Emily is 50 years old)(Emily is 50 years old)

► Tax notices sent each yearTax notices sent each year► Emily gets sick and dies at the Emily gets sick and dies at the

age of 74 (resolution?) age of 74 (resolution?) ► Negro let ladies in and disappearedNegro let ladies in and disappeared► Two cousins comeTwo cousins come► Funeral happensFuneral happens► Open the untouched roomOpen the untouched room► Find rotting corpseFind rotting corpse► Find iron-gray hair on pillow Find iron-gray hair on pillow

next to dead corpse (climax) next to dead corpse (climax)

Conflict: ExternalConflict: External►Protagonist vs. Protagonist vs.

Man?Man? Technology?Technology? Nature?Nature? Society? Society? Supernatural? Supernatural?

Short Story analysisShort Story analysis► MoodMood

The mood is very dark, and kind of mysterious. The The mood is very dark, and kind of mysterious. The reader is left wanting to know what is going on and reader is left wanting to know what is going on and what is in the house and why Emily is such a what is in the house and why Emily is such a curiosity.curiosity.

► ToneTone dramatic and perhaps a little allusive. There is dramatic and perhaps a little allusive. There is

definitely an air of judgment about it and a pride definitely an air of judgment about it and a pride that is unmistakable in a town gossip.that is unmistakable in a town gossip.

► ThemeTheme Prosperity: started out in favor but fell because she Prosperity: started out in favor but fell because she

was too proudwas too proud Beauty is in the eye of the beholderBeauty is in the eye of the beholder Pride is vanityPride is vanity Gossip is damagingGossip is damaging

Figurative LanguageFigurative Language►SymbolismSymbolism

RoseRose Rose vs. roseRose vs. rose

►FlashbackFlashback►ForeshadowForeshadow►CharacterizationCharacterization

ProtagonistProtagonist HouseHouse TownTown