A Rose For Emily Literary Analysis - 875 Words

Adopting new ideas allows for both the individual and society to progress. William Faulkner packs the short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† with different types of literary devices that describes the fight against change in the post-U.S. Civil War South. Faulkner’s story takes place in the Southern town of Jefferson Mississippi in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s. The symbolism of the primary characters (Emily Grierson, her father and the Grierson estate) chronicles how difficult change is in Jefferson. Assuming a dark tone, an unidentified narrator guides the reader through a jumbled chronological narrative that begins with Miss Emily’s death and progresses back in time. The key literary devices Faulkner uses in â€Å"A Rose for Emily† to convey his†¦show more content†¦Emily Grierson herself symbolizes the traditions related to the Old South. During her funeral, townsfolk thought of Emily as some â€Å"fallen monument† (Faulkner ) alluding to the fall of the Old South. Additionally, Emily’s house symbolizes a dying world of Southern aristocracy. Expressing the decay of the Old South’s values, â€Å"the ladies said; so they were not surprised when the smell developed† (Faulkner), which links the Griersons estate to a world of waning ideas. Homer Barron represents the North and serves as a symbol of change and progress in Jefferson. Homer brings innovation to the growing town of Jefferson, with the â€Å"contract for paving the sidewalks† (Faulkner). Faulkner uses many symbols and images in â€Å"A Rose for Emily.† However, using the primary character Emily and the Grierson estate as symbols allows for a clearer understanding the resistance to change in the South. Lastly, Faulkner uses many types of figurative language like mortar to bind his use of themes and symbolism to describe the opposition to change in â€Å"A Rose for Emily.† Personification is noticeable when Faulkner describes Emily’s house, â€Å"lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay† (Faulkner). This quote illustrates the slow decline of the Old South. An alliteration Faulkner used concerning the Grierson’s house was, â€Å"it smelled of dust and disuse—a close, dank smell.† The use ofShow MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis of â€Å"a Rose for Emily†1277 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of â€Å"A Rose For Emily† The short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, by William Faulkner, is told by an unnamed narrator and broken into five sections. The story is not chronological, but completely out of order, adding mystery and climax. The first section begins with the death of the main character, Emily Grierson, and relates the thoughts and actions of the small Southern U.S. town. A flawed relationship between the town and Miss Emily is seen throughout the story. The tension betweenRead MoreEssay on â€Å"a Rose for Emily† Literary Analysis743 Words   |  3 PagesCameron Barba Ms. Carunchio English 11B 12 February 2009 â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Literary Analysis In â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, William Faulkner uses setting, character development, and stylistic devices to express the mystery of Emily and the somewhat gossip-obsessed attitude the townspeople have towards Emily. Faulkner uses the setting to convey the mystery surrounding Emily and her actions. For example, Faulkner writes â€Å" knocked at the door through which no visitor had passed since she ceased givingRead MoreA Rose for Emily: Literary Analysis Essay1023 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Literary Analysis In William Faulkner’s story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† his main character Miss Emily Grierson’s deranged behavior leaves the reader questioning her mental status. 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In William Faulkner’s short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily†, the author uses the townspeople as a representationRead MoreA Rose For Emily Literary Analysis975 Words   |  4 Pages In the short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† William Faulkner uses a modernistic style of writing combined with Southern Gothic themes to show how strange or â€Å"perverse† of a character Emily Grierson is. The story is split into five parts which all take place throughout Emily’s life. These five parts are not in chronological order. Not until the story is looked at in chronological order will the reader understand the full personality and life of Emily Grierson. The first and last thing the reader seesRead MoreEssay A Rose for Emily: Literary Analysis 2990 Words   |  4 PagesENG 102 Analysis Research Paper 09-25-10 Literary Analysis William Faulkner’s short story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† carries a theme represented by a dying breed of that era, while using symbolism to represent tragedy, loneliness and some form of pride, the story also shows how far one will go to have the approval of others and the pursuit of happiness. In today’s times, a person’s image could mean everything in life and almost everyone tries to fit into the main stream in some form at some pointRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour And A Rose For Emily Literary Analysis1297 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopins The Story of an Hour and William Faulkners â€Å"A Rose for Emily tells the story of women who face isolation and struggle with their own terms of freedom upon the death of a male figure in their life. 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While written in five sections, the first and last section is written in present time, and the three middle sectionsRead MoreA Tale of Terror 1087 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† a short story about the odd Emily Grierson, a once well-respected woman in a small southern town, takes readers into a whirlwind of a story leading up to a horrifying discovery about Miss Emily’s secretive demeanor. Through his characterization of Miss Emily, his descriptions of the setting, and his use of foreshadowing, Faulkner effectively develops â€Å"A Rose for Emily† into a horrific tale. The first way that Faulkner organizes â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is in his characterizationRead MoreThe Mystery of the Rose and the Narrator in A Rose for Emily by Faulkner1182 Words   |  5 PagesWhile one of the most traditional interpretations of â€Å"A Rose for Emily† is the variety of meanings for the â€Å"rose† presented in the title and how the â€Å"rose† fits in with the story. Laura Getty states in her article many varied perspectives that many could ponder when identifying what the â€Å"rose† stands for. She states many possible theories that depict what the â€Å"rose† means, including theories of other writers that help support her own theory and also that adds another way that most might not consider