Asynchronous Learning

Literary analysis of a rose for Emily by William faulkner 

Refer to the literary chapters already read: “Plot”, “Character”, “Setting”, “Point of View”, and “Symbolism”,

Choose one (1) literary device to analyze the story, “A Rose for Emily” in 300 words. Support your analysis with references from the chapter and the story in the anthology.

This essay must be typed in MLA format; thus, you will need to include in-text citations and a works cited page.

Samples of MLA in-text and work cited citations and format are available in your textbook, specifically in ‘A Sample Student Response’, p. 50, in ‘A Sample Close Reading’, pp. 20-22, and in Chapter 44 “The Literary Research Paper”, pp. 1553-1557. In addition, there is a current student sample attached for your review. Remember to view my feedback in the sample as well. 

Vargas 1

Maria Vargas

Prof. Fernandez

ENC 1102 (Term B)

9 November 2020

‘‘A Rose for Emily’’ Character Analysis

In the story ‘‘A Rose for Emily’’, written by William Faulkner, the background information that

is given about the different characters that are in the story is essential for the plot, and helps the

reader to have a better understanding of the decisions that are made along the story. ‘‘If stories

were depopulated, the plots would disappear because characters and plots are interrelated’’

(Meyer 66).

Many pieces of information about Emily’s personal life and personality are given as the

story is developed. For instance, ‘‘People in our town, remembering how old lady Wyatt, her

great-aunt, had gone completely crazy at last, believed that the Griersons held themselves a little

too high for what they really where’’ (Faulkner 42). This sentence gives the reader information

about Emily’s family, and eventually the reader can find a relation between this information and

Emily’s actions at the end of the story by concluding that Emily could have fallen into a state of

craziness since her great-aunt also did. Another example is the character of Homer Barron. He is

a man from the north that is courting Emily. People in Jefferson, the town where Emily is from,

know that Homer likes to gather with men in a more romantic way; however, he keeps courting

Emily. In the story, Emily was from a wealthy and a very respected family until her father died.

She only inherited the house she lived in but kept her status anyway. Along the story, people

from the town begin to believe that Homer and Emily are going to get married, but at the end it is

made clear that they were not. Thanks to the information that is provided about both characters,

Rita Fernandez-Sterling
The townspeople now that homer

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no comma

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within or in

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elaborate or include a reference from the story to support your statement

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omit

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Indent

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insanity like her great-aunt.

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omit

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wealthy, respected family

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,eventually,

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You mention both characters but ended with only Homer. How does this revelation affect Emily?

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no comma needed

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North

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Soon the townspeople begin…

Rita Fernandez-Sterling
(Meyer and Miller 66) There are two editors, so both need to be included in the citation.

Vargas 2

the reader can assume that since Homer is openly homosexual, there cannot be a romantic

interest on his part, but perhaps an economic or social one.

Rita Fernandez-Sterling
good response
use references from the text to support your statements

Vargas 3

Works Cited

Faulkner, William. ‘‘A Rose for Emily.’’ Meyer and Miller, pp. 40-46.

Meyer, Michael and D. Quentin Miller, editors. ‘‘Character.’’ The Compact Bedford

Introduction to Literature. 12th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020.

Rita Fernandez-Sterling
Excellent format and use of correct citations!