Problem
A ROSE FOR EMILY William Faulkner evidence from story needed
A. Where and when does the story take place? What relevance does this play in the conflicts of the story?
B. How is Miss Emily's house described in the beginning of the story? What details do we know about the Grierson family? Why are these important?
C. What kind of person was Miss Emily's father? Use evidence from the text to support.
D. What is the point of view of the story? Who is the narrator? From whose point of view is he speaking? How would the story be different if it were told from Emily's point of view?
E. "Alive, Miss Emily had been a tradition, a duty, and a care; a sort of hereditary obligation upon the town..." -characterize Miss Emily from the townspeople's perspective. Is this how she really was? Use support from the text to characterize her.
F. Why doesn't anyone from town go to Miss Emily's house and ask her to take care of the smell? Does anyone feel sympathy for Miss Emily?
G. What type of person was Homer Baron? Would her father approve of their relationship?
H. Look back in the story and find examples of foreshadowing. Did these give away the ending for you or heighten your interest? Explain.
I. Reread the last scene of the story. What words jump out at you? Why? What exactly do we learn in that last scene?
J. Why did Miss Emily kill Homer Baron?
K. Why do you think Faulkner composes the plot out of chronological order?
L. What is the theme of the story? What is the author's purpose for writing it? What do you think the title means?