Rough Draft due December 3; Final Draft due December 8
The Benjamin, Quentin, and Jason
sections of The Sound and the Fury
pose obstacles to understanding for even the careful reader. Each narrator has
special problems which prevent clear communication, and each narrator is “speaking
to us” through the twentieth century stream of consciousness approach.
Despite these obstacles, we become
aware of each narrator’s concerns.
Citing examples from the text not
discussed in class and analyzing the particular diction of each of the
Compson boys, answer the following questions: What problems do the brothers
share, and which ones are unique to each? To what extent are their problems
influenced by their particular cultural heritage and their personal experiences
in the family?
How does the particular diction of each
narrator shed light on his character and his conflicts? Again, choose
illustrations we did not examine in class.
Remember: As always in this class, what
are the words? How are they used? What do they mean literally and metaphorically
and how do they connect with text’s larger commentary about life?
How has Faulkner`s use of stream of
consciousness contributed to our understanding of Benjy, Quentin, Jason, and
their complex family relations?
Finally, as part of your discussion of
stream of consciousness, in your view how effective is Faulkner’s employment of
the stream of consciousness as an artistic technique? Does it enhance the
work’s artistic power? How? (Hint: How does it contribute to our understanding
of Beny, Quentin, and Jason, and their complex family relations?) In your view,
what role did Faulkner’s use of the stream of consciousness technique play in
the novel’s inclusion in the literary canon?
Avoid plot summary.
No comments:
Post a Comment