英语 1041
施申虹 1020908113
Questions on “A Rose for Emily”
1.
What details foreshadow the conclusion of the story? Could the ending be anticipated?
A： There was a bad smell in Emily’s house and insanity in her family. Besides, she bought
arsenic without telling the reason. Yes, because of Emily’s strange behaviour and her family
medical history.
2.
Develop a list of the descriptive details associated with Emily: her appearance, surroundings, the
way in which she appears to the townspeople, etc.
A： Appearance: a small, fat woman in black, with a thin gold chain descending to her waist and
vanishing into her belt, leaning on an ebony cane with a tarnished gold head. Her skeleton was
small and spare; perhaps that was why what would have been merely plumpness in another was
obesity in her. She looked bloated, like a body long submerged in motionless water, and of that
pallid hue. Her eyes, lost in the fatty ridges of her face, looked like two small pieces of coal
pressed into a lump of dough as they moved from one face to another while the visitors stated their
errand.
Surroundings : It was a big, squarish frame. house that had once been white, decorated with
cupolas and spires and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style. of the seventies, set on
what had once been our most select street. But garages and cotton gins had encroached and
obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily's house was left, lifting
its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps-an eyesore
among eyesores. And now Miss Emily had gone to join the representatives of those august names
where they lay in the cedar-bemused cemetery among the ranked and anonymous graves of Union
and Confederate soldiers who fell at the battle of Jefferson.
The way in which she appears to the townspeople: She did not ask them to sit. She just stood in
the door and listened quietly until the spokesman came to a stumbling halt.
3.
At first glance, “A Rose for Emily” seems to be quite a peculiar title for this story.
you think the story bears that title?
Why do
What does the title mean, in your opinion?
A： Because the story is a love tragedy and a rose symbolizes love, the story bears that title.
Besides, a rose for Emily is to show not only sympathy for her love , but also respect for her spirit.
Emily was dead, but her love story moved everyone, so a rose is also for memorializing her.
4.
Miss Emily is described as a monument at the first of the story? What is she a monument to?
Why does she deserve a rose?
英语 1041
施申虹 1020908113
A： Miss Emily is a monument to traditional rules and system. Because her crazy behaviour and
character are distorted by the environment and society. Her love tragedy could be understood and
the rose is like a kind of compensate .
5.
Describe and discuss the symbolism of Miss Emily’s house.
“It was a
big, squarish frame house that had once been white, decorated with cupolas and spires and
scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies, set on what had once been our
most select street. “ In this description, “once”,”heavily lightsome style of the seventies”, “most
select” indicate that Emily’s family has once been very rich and noble, but now the situation
changes. Her family isn’t rich and respected, so her social status isn’t so high as her ancestors’.
A： Miss Emily’s house symbolizes her social status and her family’s ancient history.
6.
How do the towns people know what they know about Miss Emily’s life? What is the source
of their information?
A: They saw Miss Emily or her servant, the Nergo, several times in the public and imagine her
life. Sometimes they got information from the Nergo.
7.
A：
Consider the mixed quality of the townspeople’s reactions to Miss Emily’s “failures.”
The townspeople regarded Miss Emily as the monument of southern tradition, so when the
monument was fallen, they were disappointed and thought it as a shame.
8.
What is the significance of Miss Emily’s actions after the death of her father?
A: It shows how she relied on her father and the strike brought by his death, which also is a
reason that she would become so crazy.
9.
What role does Homer Barron play in the story?
Is there anything ironic about a match
between him and Miss Emily?
A： Homer Barron was the symbol of northern civilization. Homer Barron was a Northerner, a
day laborer, so he had a low social status. Besides, he admitted he liked men . While Miss Emily
was an offspring of a decent family, their match was very ironic.
10.
Look closely at the second paragraph in section five.
What does this paragraph suggest about
the nature of people’s memories of the past?
A:
They wanted the old tradition could be everlasting and it should be. They believed the past
was the best and it was invaded by the modern civilization.
Writing topic
Write a story accounting what happened between Emily and Baron and how Baron died.
Baron knew Miss Emily when he first entered the town. She seemed like a twinkle star which
would never fade and of cause unreachable. So, when Miss Emily sent her servant to invite him to
her house, he was surprised. However, as a bold man, he didn’t afraid anything.
英语 1041
施申虹 1020908113
Baron had a loud voice and behaved totally without restraint, which aroused Miss Emily’s
attention. She never met a man like that and she was attracted by him. Their background was
obviously different, but love was blind. As we know, Emily’s father rejected every man for her,
therefore, Emily placed great expectation on her first love.
They began to drive in the buggy and spent much time together. They really had a great time
until it last about one year. Old people kept saying “poor Emily” and everyone thought it was a
unhappy match. Miss Emily didn’t care about the gossip, but she cannot ignore the word Baron
said.
Freedom, the worst word in the world. Miss Emily was heartbroken and always recalled
Baron’s charm and cruelty.
That day, as usual, they went out in the buggy. Miss Emily was absent-minded, because she
just won a pyrrhic victory. Her family abandoned her because she insisted marrying Baron. She
could predicted the result at the beginning, but it was really a heavy price to pay. Miss Emily told
herself that it was worthy, and then looked at her lover. Baron with his hat cocked and a cigar in
his teeth, reined and whipped in a yellow glove. It was worthy, Miss Emily said again without
hesitation.
They arrived at her house, when the sun was going down. The big house looked like old silver
which was tarnishing.
Everything was quiet as usual.
The Nergo prepared everything for dinner, while they had to have a talk first.
“Will you marry me ?” Miss Emily asked directly, although she was a traditional and graceful
woman.
“Don’t be silly,” Baron laughed,”you never asked me that.”
“I’ll buy everything we need——”
“Come on, I love freedom. We have to admit marriage is the biggest enemy of freedom,
right?” Baron smiled and wanted to end this conversation.
Miss Emily knew what she would do.
“Marriage was not the only way to make us together forever.“
“Exactly!” Baron agreed.
We all knew how Miss Emily bought arsenic and she really kept her lover accompany until
she died.