Littell 1
Name________________
Littell
English____ Block______
Date_________________
Southern Gothic
Part I: Re-read your notes on American Gothic. Then, read the introductory material on Southern
Gothic on page 448 followed by the biography on page 527.. Take about three bullets of notes below
for each.
Part A: American Gothic:
Part B: Southern Gothic:
Part C: William Faulkner
Part II: “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
There are a number of items to note while reading Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily.” These include:
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the role of the narrator and how he/she continues shifting point of view (pay attention to
pronouns),
diction suggesting decay, deterioration, and death,
symbolism of Miss Emily, her home, the portrait of her father, Homer, and the room,
the values that are important to Faulkner, and
the development of the characters (Emily and the town).
Finally, it is important to note that the events are related thematically and not chronologically.
On the back, take notes of where you see examples of the following. You may not catch them all the
first time you read through the story. Go back through the story to discover some of these. Here are
some questions to consider to help you think of those items to note.
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Is the narrator male or female? What makes you think so?
How does the house reflect Emily’s personality and state of mind?
How did Emily’s father affect the way she participated in society?
What does Emily represent for the town?
Do the town and Emily progress in the same way?
What does the rose stand for?
Littell 2
Narrator /
Point of View
Diction
Symbolism
Miss Emily’s home
portrait of her father
Miss Emily
Homer
the room
Value
Character
Development
Miss Emily
the Town
Littell 3
Name_________________________
Sequencing Events
Directions: Place a number in the right hand column for the chronological order of events.
Order in which narrator reveals events
Order in which events occur
1. Miss Emily dies
2. The aldermen visit about taxes.
3. Miss Emily gives painting lessons
4. Her father dies.
5. Homer Barron disappears.
6. The aldermen apply lime around her house.
7. Homer Barron arrives in town.
8. Miss Emily asks the druggist for poison.
9. Townspeople discover the bridal tomb.
Thinking back on the story now, what events did the author use to foreshadow the ending? See the
Literary Analysis box on page 525 to get started. List as many as you can find:
Final Activity: Miss Emily is being put on trial for the murder of Homer Barron. Choose to either be
for the prosecution or the defense. Write a one-paragraph closing argument that you would deliver to
a jury (the town). Staple this paper and your paragraph to the first sheet with your notes on the story.