A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner

William Faulkner Both a high school and college dropout Born to a wealthy family in Mississippi “A Rose for Emily” is set in the fictional town of Jefferson, Mississippi, located in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, where many of Faulkner’s works are set 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature

Southern Gothic Sub-genre of gothic literature (think Poe!) focusing on character, social, and moral shortcomings in the American south, using the crumbling landscape of the antebellum (post Civil War) era as the backdrop reached its height between 1940-1960s Plot relies on unusual, disturbing, supernatural, or ironic events; disturbing yet realistic tales Often comments on society’s negatives or weaknesses to point out truths of America’s southern culture, while emphasizing history of the South mysterious characters, macabre stories, tinged with insanity

Southern Gothic Characters… grotesque characters or situations– deeply flawed characters, decayed (often rural) settings, evil or disturbing events (often linked to racism, poverty, violence, moral corruption) a character’s negatives/undesirable characteristics allow the author to show/comment on unpleasant aspects of southern culture. - racial bigotry, crushing poverty, violence, moral corruption or ambiguity

More on Themes… tensions between North and South complexities of a changing world order disappearing realms of gentility and aristocracy rigid social constraints placed on women antisocial behaviors that were often a reaction against a confining code of social conduct Unusual psychology

Vocabulary Encroach- to take over the possessions or rights of another Temerity- foolish boldness Tableau- dramatic scene or picture Imperviousness- an inability to be affected or disturbed Cabal- a group united in a secret plot Circumvent- to avoid or get around by clever maneuvering Virulent- extremely poisonous or harmful Inextricable- incapable of being disentangled or untied

Read the first 2 paragraphs… What mood does Faulkner establish with his initial description of the Grierson house?

Additional Vocabulary remit – pardon mote – speck gilt – gold-edged pallid – pale hue – color/shade teeming – swarming diffident – shy

…Continued deprecation – derogatory (belittle) acrid – bitter thwart – to keep from happening; to stand in the way august – magnificent; inspiring awe cuckold – husband of an adulterous wife