William Faulkner some would say was one of the great writers of American literature during the twentieth century. His stories many times had a gothic plot and contained odd or supernatural ideas and characters. He had many notable works, two of which were “A Rose for Emily” and “Barn Burning”. “A Rose for Emily” and “Barn Burning” are similar in the way that William Faulkner portrays the characters and the tone he uses in both.
Emily the main character in “A Rose for Emily” and Sartoris the main character in “Barn Burning” are similar in many aspects. In “A Rose for Emily” the narrarator states, “Just as they were about to resort to law and force she broke down, and they buried her father quickly.”(Faulkner 4) This quote suggests that Emily was very close to her father, and she did not want to lose him. Similarly in “Barn Burning” Sartoris thinks the following, after his father is asked to leave the town because he burned a barn, “Maybe it will all add up and balance and vanquish—corn, rug, fire: the terror and grief, the pulled two ways like between two teams of heroes…” (3). This quote suggests that like Emily, Sartoris too loves his father and doesn’t want him to go through anymore trouble. In a critical essay on “Barn Burning” Zender an English professor at the University of California states the following, “Faulkner’s failure; or inability; to
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accommodate the demands of psychic growth to the realities of social existence is by no means limited to “Barn Burning” it characterizes relations between parents and children in much of his fiction” (Zender,1). This quote from his essay proves that many of Faulkner’s works are similar; therefore the characters are also similar. Emily and Sartoris in this case bot...
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...milarities between them.
Works Cited
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William Faulkner takes us back in time with his Gothic short story known as, “A Rose for Emily.” Almost every sentence gives a new piece of evidence to lead the reader to the overall theme of death, isolation, and trying to maintain traditions. The reader can conclude the theme through William Faulkner’s use of literary devices such as his choice of characters, the setting, the diction, the tone, and the plot line.
In "A Rose for Emily" and "Barn Burning," William Faulkner creates two characters worthy of comparison. Emily Grierson, a recluse from Jefferson, Mississippi, is an important figure in the town, despite spending most of her life in seclusion. On the contrary, Abner Snopes is a loud, fiery-tempered man that most people tend to avoid. If these characters are judged by reputation and outward appearance only, the conclusion would be that Emily Grierson and Abner Snopes are complete opposites. However, despite the external differences, these two characters have surprisingly similar personalities.
William Faulkner has written some of the most unique novels and short stories of any author, and, to this day, his stories continue to be enjoyed by many. Both “Barn Burning” and “A Rose for Emily” tell about the life of southern people and their struggles with society, but Faulkner used the dramatic settings of these two stories to create a mood unlike any other and make the audience feel like they too were a part of these southern towns. These two stories have many similarities in there setting, but they also have many differences to that make them unique and interesting.
In “A Rose For Emily”, by William Faulkner, plot plays an important role in how
Faulkner, William. "A Rose For Emily." The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Ed. Michael Meyer. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. 91-99. Print.
Faulkner, William. "A Rose for Emily." Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Compact 4th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers, 2000. 81 - 88.
In "A Rose for Emily," William Faulkner's use of setting and characterization foreshadows and builds up to the climax of the story. His use of metaphors prepares the reader for the bittersweet ending. A theme of respectability and the loss of, is threaded throughout the story. Appropriately, the story begins with death, flashes back to the past and hints towards the demise of a woman and the traditions of the past she personifies. Faulkner has carefully crafted a multi-layered masterpiece, and he uses setting, characterization, and theme to move it along.
Burduck, Michael L. "Another View of Faulkner's Narrator in 'A Rose for Emily'." The University of Mississippi Studies in English 8 (1990): 209-211. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Detroit: Gale, 2016. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 June 2016.