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By William Faulkner A Rose for Emily

Southern Gothic: A DefinitionSouthern Gothic Literature is a sub-genre of gothic literature (think Poe!) focusing on character, social and moral shortcomings in the American south; it reached its height between 1940-1960s.

Southern Gothic CharacteristicsOften comments on societys negatives or weaknesses to point out truths of Americas southern cultureOften disturbing but realistic

Characteristics ContinuedPlot relies on unusual, disturbing, supernatural, or ironic eventsA Rose for Emily provides a good example of Southern Gothic Literature using unusual events to guide the plot

Southern GrotesqueGrotesque Characters or Situations deeply flawed - characters, decayed (often rural) settings, evil or disturbing events (often linked to racism, poverty, violence, moral corruption) Examples: 1. A characters negatives/undesirable characteristics allow the author to show/comment on unpleasant aspects of southern culture. - racial bigotry, crushing poverty, violence, moral corruption or ambiguity 2. Something physical in the setting is unusual and often broken

ThemesOld South versus New SouthEmily represents the Old SouthOld traditions Example: Miss Emily is told by Colonel Sartoris that she is excused from paying taxesA mans word is his bond ChivalryHospitalitySense of community/familyHonorLoyalty

Themes ContinuedDecorum and propriety: what is proper at a given time and place. * Appearances are very important.

Themes The problems of the human heart in conflict with itself

Literary Terms to Focus OnSetting: time and location in which a story takes placeCustoms and social conditions of the timeEx: Racial stereotyping in the SouthIrony: Unexpected twist in a storyVerbalSituationalDramaticTone: The attitude the writer takes toward the subject of a work, the characters in it, or the audience. Mood: Feeling WE get when we read a storyLiterary Terms ContinuedFirst Person: One of the characters tells the story; talks directly to the reader Uses the pronoun I, me, we, or usThird Person Limited: The narrator will focus on the thoughts & feelings of just one character- Reader experiences the events of the story through the memory and senses of only one characterThird-Person Omniscient- All-knowing- An all-knowing narrator who refers to all the characters as he and she. Knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL of the characters.

*The narrator is not necessarily the storys author*

Big Words I Dont Knowvirulentpowerful, deadlyimperviousimmunetranquilquiet, peacefulperverseodd, not normalsibilanthissingmacabrehorrible, grotesqueacrida bitter, irritating odorpalla deathly quietcuckoldedbetrayed (a man by his wife)inextricableimpossible to be separated from

remittedpaidedictan official orderarchaicout-of-datevindicatedproven to be rightpauperpoor, destitutenoblesse obligenobility obliges (and obligates) circumventto go aroundcabalsmall group of conspirators