1. A Rose for Emily by
William Faulkner

2. 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

3. 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 s
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

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

9. …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