Breanna Stewart
A Rose for Emily
1. Arrange these events in the sequence in which they actually occur: Homer’s arrival in town, the aldermen’s visit, Emily’s purchase of poison, Colonel Sartoris’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes, the development of the odor around Emily’s house, Emily’s father’s death, the arrival of Emily’s relatives, Homer’s disappearance. Then, list the events in the order in which they are introduced in the story. Why do you suppose Faulkner presents these events out of their actual chronological order?
Order of events in chronological order:
1. Emily’s father’s death
2. Homer’s arrival in town
3. Emily’s purchase of poison
4. The arrival of Emily’s relatives
5. The development of the odor around Emily’s house
6. Colonel Sartoris’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes
7. The aldermen’s visit
8. Homer’s disappearance
Order of events in which they are introduced in the text:
1. Colonel Sartrois’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes
2. The alderman’s visit
3. Emily’s father’s death
4. The development of the odor around Emily’s house
5. Homer’s arrival in town
6. Emily’s purchase of poison
7. The arrival of Emily’s relatives
8. Homer’s disappearance
I believe Faulkner is telling a story through a story, and with the use of flashbacks, the reader is able to see the shift of time and experience both the modern day world that Emily did not want to succumb to and the grandeur of the old world in which Emily was used to and not willing to let go of. I also believe that the order of events is not as important as the plot itself and because we are being given the plot out of sequential context, the reader is able to get a better idea of what is going on, until we are able to fit all the pieces together, like a jigsaw puzzle. Also, by putting Emily’s death first, a level of suspense is added to the plot, which engages the reader to want to know more.
1. Despite the story’s confusing sequence, many events are foreshadowed. Give some examples of this technique.
1. Arrange these events in the sequence in which they actually occur: Homer’s arrival in town, the aldermen’s visit, Emily’s purchase of poison, Colonel Sartoris’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes, the development of the odor around Emily’s house, Emily’s father’s death, the arrival of Emily’s relatives, Homer’s disappearance. Then, list the events in the order in which they are introduced in the story. Why do you suppose Faulkner presents these events out of their actual chronological order?
Order of events in chronological order:
1. Emily’s father’s death
2. Homer’s arrival in town
3. Emily’s purchase of poison
4. The arrival of Emily’s relatives
5. The development of the odor around Emily’s house
6. Colonel Sartoris’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes
7. The aldermen’s visit
8. Homer’s disappearance
Order of events in which they are introduced in the text:
1. Colonel Sartrois’ decision to remit Emily’s taxes
2. The alderman’s visit
3. Emily’s father’s death
4. The development of the odor around Emily’s house
5. Homer’s arrival in town
6. Emily’s purchase of poison
7. The arrival of Emily’s relatives
8. Homer’s disappearance
I believe Faulkner is telling a story through a story, and with the use of flashbacks, the reader is able to see the shift of time and experience both the modern day world that Emily did not want to succumb to and the grandeur of the old world in which Emily was used to and not willing to let go of. I also believe that the order of events is not as important as the plot itself and because we are being given the plot out of sequential context, the reader is able to get a better idea of what is going on, until we are able to fit all the pieces together, like a jigsaw puzzle. Also, by putting Emily’s death first, a level of suspense is added to the plot, which engages the reader to want to know more.
1. Despite the story’s confusing sequence, many events are foreshadowed. Give some examples of this technique.