First 3 paragraphs:
--Narrator speaks on behalf of townspeople
--Fact of Miss Emily's death established in first 5 words, not returned to until section V of story.
--Several elements of mystery surrounding Emily's life & house
--diction establishes Emily as a kind of historical relic, object of curiosity, symbol of fallen 19th century grandeur
--Faulkner's use of loose sentences--at least 4 examples in 1st 3 graphs--allows direct statement of main idea in simple clause with ample embellishment in attached phrases and clauses--characteristic of his style--see example in ¶ 55, describing Emily's funeral
--use of formal diction (esp. adj-n): respectful affection, fallen monument, scrolled balconies, lightsome style, coquettish decay, cedar-bemused cemetery, hereditary obligation, etc.
--ends ¶ 3 with balanced sentence to emphasize traditional understanding of gender roles in Emily and Col's generation (now largely gone)
Discussion questions:
--Narrator speaks on behalf of townspeople
--Fact of Miss Emily's death established in first 5 words, not returned to until section V of story.
--Several elements of mystery surrounding Emily's life & house
--diction establishes Emily as a kind of historical relic, object of curiosity, symbol of fallen 19th century grandeur
--Faulkner's use of loose sentences--at least 4 examples in 1st 3 graphs--allows direct statement of main idea in simple clause with ample embellishment in attached phrases and clauses--characteristic of his style--see example in ¶ 55, describing Emily's funeral
--use of formal diction (esp. adj-n): respectful affection, fallen monument, scrolled balconies, lightsome style, coquettish decay, cedar-bemused cemetery, hereditary obligation, etc.
--ends ¶ 3 with balanced sentence to emphasize traditional understanding of gender roles in Emily and Col's generation (now largely gone)
Discussion questions:
- What is the effect of telling the story out of chronological order? Does it make the ending more or less powerful?
- In what ways have the times changed during Miss Emily's life? Why has she been unable to change with the times? Did she try?
- Miss Emily's father never appears directly but is mentioned several times. What influence does he have in the outcome of Miss Emily's life?
- (from textbook): what is the author's attitude toward Emily? Is she simply a crazy murderess? Why is the story called "A Rose"?
