““A Rose for A Rose for Emily”Emily”

By William FaulknerBy William Faulkner

About the AuthorAbout the Author

William Faulkner was born in 1897 William Faulkner was born in 1897 from an old southern family and grew from an old southern family and grew in Oxford, Mississippi.in Oxford, Mississippi.

He joined the Air Force during the First He joined the Air Force during the First World War. He then studied for a while World War. He then studied for a while at the University of Mississippi.at the University of Mississippi.

In 1940, Faulkner published the first In 1940, Faulkner published the first volume of the Snopes trilogy.volume of the Snopes trilogy.

The ReiversThe Reivers, his last piece of literature, , his last piece of literature, with many similarities to Mark Twain's with many similarities to Mark Twain's Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn, appeared in 1962, , appeared in 1962, the year of Faulkner's deaththe year of Faulkner's death

Enjoy Faulkner by Enjoy Faulkner by observing the following:observing the following:

Faulkner’s stories often leave out key Faulkner’s stories often leave out key pieces of information.pieces of information.

Approach his work as a detective story Approach his work as a detective story (many of them are!).(many of them are!).

Look for clues along the way.Look for clues along the way. Ask yourself questions.Ask yourself questions. Consider the motives of the characters.Consider the motives of the characters. Look at the social framework of the Look at the social framework of the

story.story.

The Root of Southern The Root of Southern Gothic LiteratureGothic Literature

Came about after the Civil War – Came about after the Civil War – (Many of Faulkner’s stories require (Many of Faulkner’s stories require knowledge of the American history knowledge of the American history of the South.)of the South.)

Southern gothic atmosphere: Southern gothic atmosphere: industry (modernization) and industry (modernization) and tradition are attempting to coexisttradition are attempting to coexist

Characteristics of Southern Characteristics of Southern GothicGothic

The “fallen” southThe “fallen” south GhostsGhosts Spirits of a time pastSpirits of a time past Haunting events, tragedy, and dark Haunting events, tragedy, and dark

timestimes Mansions or large dreary homes Mansions or large dreary homes

haunted by ugliness and decayhaunted by ugliness and decay Dark, decayed settingsDark, decayed settings

Characteristics of Southern Characteristics of Southern Gothic LiteratureGothic Literature

The South became a breeding The South became a breeding ground for provocative tales and ground for provocative tales and stories of macabre (death, ghosts, stories of macabre (death, ghosts, chilling and gruesome events)chilling and gruesome events)

Characteristic of the Characteristic of the Southern Gothic WomenSouthern Gothic Women

A typical gothic maiden is…A typical gothic maiden is… young young distressed distressed physically imprisonedphysically imprisoned in need of rescuein need of rescue

““A Rose for Emily”A Rose for Emily” ““A Rose for Emily” is told from the perspective of A Rose for Emily” is told from the perspective of

Emily’s neighbors who always seem to be Emily’s neighbors who always seem to be observing and commenting on her behavior observing and commenting on her behavior (POV).(POV).

Faulkner uses the story as a social commentary Faulkner uses the story as a social commentary about southern culture, although the story can about southern culture, although the story can draw connections between fiction and our own draw connections between fiction and our own lives (author’s purpose).lives (author’s purpose).

““A Rose for Emily” contains some racially A Rose for Emily” contains some racially charged language that is unacceptable for us to charged language that is unacceptable for us to use today. The language and characters are used use today. The language and characters are used to portray the true historic nature of the South of to portray the true historic nature of the South of the time period.the time period.

Major Issues to Look for in Major Issues to Look for in “A Rose for Emily”“A Rose for Emily”

Major issues in “A Rose for Emily” deal Major issues in “A Rose for Emily” deal with the gender, class, and race of the with the gender, class, and race of the characters.characters.

During the time period, those who were During the time period, those who were considered upper-class were expected to considered upper-class were expected to uphold a certain image and had a rigid uphold a certain image and had a rigid class system to fit into.class system to fit into.

Daughters in such families were expected Daughters in such families were expected to behave as “proper Christian young to behave as “proper Christian young ladies”.ladies”.

SettingSetting

The story takes place just after the The story takes place just after the Civil War and the abolition of slavery Civil War and the abolition of slavery in a crumbling town in Mississippi in a crumbling town in Mississippi (antebellum South).(antebellum South).

Old Southern traditions and customs Old Southern traditions and customs are hard to abolish in the story, as is are hard to abolish in the story, as is shown through the stereotypical way shown through the stereotypical way women and African American women and African American characters are treated and portrayed.characters are treated and portrayed.