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