1、 -William Faulkner -William Faulkner . . . Brief IntroductionAttempted to enlist as soon as the United States Attempted to enlist as soon as the United States declared war in 1917.declared war in 1917.Volunteer in the Canadian Air forceVolunteer in the Canadian Air forceStudent of the University of

2、Mississippi on his Student of the University of Mississippi on his return to Oxford after the war return to Oxford after the war Faulkner spent much of his time observing Faulkner spent much of his time observing ordinary townspeople as well, and this is why he ordinary townspeople as well, and this

3、 is why he was able to capture the voice of the common people was able to capture the voice of the common people of Jefferson in the character of the narrator. He of Jefferson in the character of the narrator. He spent spent A rose is a symbol of love and a pledge of A rose is a symbol of love and a

4、 pledge of faithfulness. Literally, from the arrangement of the faithfulness. Literally, from the arrangement of the text, we can hardly see the word “rose” from the text, we can hardly see the word “rose” from the beginning to the end of the text, which can be beginning to the end of the text, whic

5、h can be interpreted as his actual love for Emily hardly interpreted as his actual love for Emily hardly exists in the whole story exists in the whole story Actually, the author plays a trick on Miss EmilyActually, the author plays a trick on Miss Emily . . In fact, she doesnt really get any love fr

6、om any In fact, she doesnt really get any love from any man whether it is from her love or her father. man whether it is from her love or her father. She could have got her deserved love from Homer, She could have got her deserved love from Homer, but on account of her obstinacy and pride, she but o

7、n account of her obstinacy and pride, she receives tiredness and indifference, instead of receives tiredness and indifference, instead of affectionrose, from him. She thinks that she affectionrose, from him. She thinks that she could stay with Homer forever by poisoning him to could stay with Homer

8、forever by poisoning him to death and possessing his body, but it is just Death death and possessing his body, but it is just Death but not love she possesses.but not love she possesses.From the story, we can see Miss Emily was denied From the story, we can see Miss Emily was denied love, so in this

9、 sense, the title has an ironic love, so in this sense, the title has an ironic meaning.meaning.A rose is a funeral flower, and the whole story is A rose is a funeral flower, and the whole story is Faulkners tribute to Emily , and also to the old Faulkners tribute to Emily , and also to the old sout

10、h.south.Failure and decay of the South of AmericaFailure and decay of the South of AmericaInternal conflictsInternal conflictsIssues of class, sex and raceIssues of class, sex and raceHuman nature Human nature Fiv Five parts of the story:e parts of the story:Miss Emilys funeral, with a flashback to

11、the Miss Emilys funeral, with a flashback to the familys former pride and gloryfamilys former pride and gloryEmilys stinking and decaying house, in which she Emilys stinking and decaying house, in which she received her early strict educationreceived her early strict education A day laborer, Homer B

12、arron, who had a good time A day laborer, Homer Barron, who had a good time with Emily until her kin made an with Emily until her kin made an iinterference with nterference with themthem Emily goes to a drugstore to buy arsenic, with Emily goes to a drugstore to buy arsenic, with which she kills Hom

13、er and keeps his corpse in an which she kills Homer and keeps his corpse in an attic roomattic roomThe black servant opens the door to the outsiders The black servant opens the door to the outsiders so that they get a chance to see the room where so that they get a chance to see the room where Homer

14、s body is kept.Homers body is kept. “ “rose” is used here in a rather ironical sense(a rose” is used here in a rather ironical sense(a symbol of decay and death) symbol of decay and death) The pity, sympathy, or the lament chosen by the The pity, sympathy, or the lament chosen by the author to objec

15、tify his complicated and emotional author to objectify his complicated and emotional involvement in the South and in the people who involvement in the South and in the people who grow up and live there ever since.grow up and live there ever since. A Rose for Emily is a classic story which is essentia