English IV
Short Stories Essay
Comparing “Barn Burning” and “A Rose for Emily”
Introduction: William Faulkner’s fiction has often been referred to as “Southern gothic”
because he frequently features characters that do bizarre and even horrible things in response to
the pressures they feel from the society around them. By using horror and crime as his methods,
Faulkner can analyze and criticize Southern society.
Assignment: Compare and contrast Faulkner’s characterization of Abner Snopes in “Barn
Burning” and Miss Emily Grierson in “A Rose for Emily.” How does the author generate
sympathy for each character even though both are guilty of terrible crimes? Which character do
you find more sympathetic? Explain why.
Format: Around 1000 words (3-4 pages, five or six paragraphs, including quotes from the story).
Please double space and use a heading, a title, and standard margins. Include a word count at the
last line of the heading.
Due date: Monday, Feb. 7
Suggested format:
Paragraph
Introduction
Purpose
Establish the purpose of your paper. Briefly retell the plots
of both stories, and establish that you are examining how
Faulkner creates characters that are both horrifying and
sympathetic.
Paragraph on “Barn Burning”
Look at how Abner Snopes is characterized. What are the
bad things about him? What are the good things? What
conflicts does Abner face in his life? Does his son, Sarty,
have ambiguous feelings about his father? Is Abner noble in
any way?
Paragraph on “A Rose for
Emily”
Look at how Emily Grierson is characterized. What are her
strengths? What conflicts has she felt in her life? Is her
crime understandable, or does it continue to be horrifying and
disgusting?
Both stories are about people caught up in the expectations of
the past and unable to live in the present. How do the two
stories differ?
Which character is most sympathetic? Give clear reasons for
your choice. Decide if Faulkner has been successful in
creating sympathy. Conclude with your evaluation of the
stories.
Compare and contrast the two
stories (1-2 paragraphs)
Conclusion