William Faulkner is the author of such famous novels as The Sound and The Fury and As I Lay Dying.  One of his most interesting short stories, "A Rose for Emily" is published in your textbook.  In high school, I was forced to read all of the Faulkner that I didn't like (Absalom, Absalom, A Light in August, and The Unvanquished.)  However, I did somehow get to know the Snopes and their spotted horses.  That is an interesting tale.  Somehow, my tastes have matured, and I really like Faulkner now.

Essential Questions for As I Lay Dying: 

1.  How is the structure of this novel significant?

2.  In what ways is characterization important to this novel?  (i.e. In what ways is this a psychological novel rather than a plot-based novel?) 

3.  How and why is the theme of talk vs. action incorporated?

4.  In what ways is Morrison's Beloved similar to this novel?

5.  Discuss literary devices such as theme, motif, & symbol and the effect of each on the novel as a whole. 

Essential Questions for "A Rose for Emily":

1.  How can "A Rose for Emily" be viewed as an allegory? 

2.  What is the significance of "a rose" to the story?

3.  What are examples of bias in this story? 

Links:

The definitive website on William Faulkner is hosted at Ole Miss in his (adopted) hometown. They have really written or linked to every possible facet or Faulkner's life, writings, hometown, awards, and even allusions to his works. 

Contemplate the questions asked in this reading group guide about As I Lay Dying. 

A brief biography of William Faulkner, including information on his various book awards. 

Visit the Mississippi Writers Page to see why Faulkner was not the original spelling of this writer's name.