Barn Burning | Study Guide

William Faulkner

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Course Hero. "Barn Burning Study Guide." February 7, 2017. Accessed May 19, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Barn-Burning/.

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Course Hero, "Barn Burning Study Guide," February 7, 2017, accessed May 19, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Barn-Burning/.

Barn Burning | Infographic

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Check out this Infographic to learn more about William Faulkner's Barn Burning. Study visually with character maps, plot summaries, helpful context, and more.

barn-burning-william-faulknerFireRepresents the destruction and sustenance of life RugSymbolizes Abner’s anger toward more prosperous, “privileged” people Stands for the permanent damage done to his soul Abner’s Foot InjurySymbolsNarratorhe element of fire spoke to some deep mainspring of his father’s being...as the one weapon for the preservation of integrity.Abner Snopes goes on trial when he is accused of barn burning. 1Abner ruins the rug of their new landlord, Major de Spain. 3Abner sues de Spain forcharging him 20 bushels of cornto replace the rug.4Abner, feeling justice has not been done, burns down de Spain’s barn. 5Sarty runs to warn de Spain and then strikes off on his own, leaving his family for good. 6The Snopes family is run out of town and must start life anew. Set in the South 30 years after the Civil War, “Barn Burning” follows the harrowing story of Sarty Snopes, a young boy from an extremely poor farming family. Sarty must choose between loyalty to his blood ties—especially his violent, terrifying father, Abner—and standing up for his own values and hopes for a better future.OVERVIEWWhere Loyalties LieFamilyEnemyMain CharactersSartyLoyal but conflicted 10-year-old boy Major de SpainRich, haughty landowner LennieSarty’s hardworking, fearful motherThe AuntOpinionated, strong relative; helps on the farm Mr. HarrisCompassionate landowner seeking justice AbnerSarty’s bitter, violent father Barn Burningby the NumbersDiplomas or degrees earned by Faulkner Time on the broken clock that was Lennie’s dowry02:14Times the Snopes family has moved12+Year a short-film adaptation starring Tommy Lee Jones as Abner was released1980An American author and Nobel Prize winner, Faulkner wrote poetry, short stories, screenplays, and novels, often about life in the South. Stories such as “Barn Burning” tackled dark topics that many other writers avoided: prejudice, poverty, violence,and the struggle between the social classes.WILLIAM FAULKNER1897–1962AuthorChoicesCharacters’ actions correspond totheir own moral code—Abner acts outof desire for revenge, while Sarty chooses what he thinks is right. LoyaltySarty is torn between loyaltyto his family and loyalty to hisown ethics and desires. ThemesJusticeAbner resents the injustices hefeels life has brought on him and takes matters into his own hands—but faces consequences when others seek justice. Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, IMDb, Kansas State University, New York Times, Southeast Missouri State University Copyright © 2017 Course Hero, Inc.William Faulkner1939EnglishShort StoryAuthorYear PublishedOriginal LanguageBarn BurningDrama
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