A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner

William Faulkner William Faulkner – one of the 20th Century’s greatest writers – The Sound and the Fury – As I Lay Dying – Absalom, Absalom All of Faulkner’s novels and most of his short stories take place in the fictional Mississippi county of Yoknapatawapha Faulkner won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1949 and the Pulitzer Prize in both 1955 and 1962.

A Rose for Emily Originally published on April 30, 1930 in Forum magazine Most famous, most popular, and most anthologized of Faulkner’s short stories Southern Gothic and grotesque atmosphere Includes elements of the tensions between North and South, complexities of a changing world order, disappearing realms of gentility and aristocracy, and rigid social constraints placed on women, as well as psychology.

Gothic The Gothic horror tale is a literary form dating back to the 18 th Century Gothicism features an atmosphere of terror and dread: gloomy castles or mansions, sinister characters, and unexplained phenomena (supernatural) Gothic novels and stories also often include unnatural combinations of sex and death. Southern Gothic (early 20 th C) combines the traditional elements of gothic with particular Southern archetypes. Southern Gothic writers (Capote, Lee, Williams, Faulkner) – interested in exploring extreme anti-social behaviour which was often a response to confining social codes.

Themes Tradition vs. Modernity (The Decline of the Old South) The Power of Death Gender Restraints Reality vs. Illusion Isolation vs. Inclusion (Community)

Motifs and Symbols Watching (motif) Dust (motif) Emily’s house (symbol) Strand of hair (symbol)

Assignment In groups of 2-4 you will be creating an interpretation of the short story “A Rose for Emily”. You may choose the way you wish to represent your understanding of the short story’s themes, characters and symbolism; however, you must be sure to include each of the following: – 3-4 original lines from the story – Important symbols and motifs from the story – Discussion or representation of theme – Discussion or representation of character types – Discussion or representation of story’s mood and the author’s tone