A Rose for Emily 09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

A Rose for Emily

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Chronology and “A Rose for Emily”

09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

Events as they unfold within story in non-linear fashion:

• 01. 1930

Emily dies (at 74, so she was born in 1856) She is about 5 years old when the Civil War starts.

• 02. 1894

Colonel Sartoris remits her taxes as Mayor; he will die later this same year (she is 38). Homer has been dead for about a year.

• 03. 1923

The new politicians try to claim her taxes. This is the last contact with anyone in the town.

• 04. 1893

Smell from Emily’s house causes issue with neighbors.

• 05. 1891

Father’s death. (Emily is approximately mid-thirties.) 06. When father was alive he kept suitor’s away.

• 07. 1891

Cuts her hair short after father’s death

• 08. 1892

Summer after father’s death Homer enters town to build

• sidewalks. He courts her in public.

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Chronology and “A Rose for Emily”

09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

• 09. 1893

Emily buys rat poison, over a year after father’s death, she is in her middle to late thirties.

• Prior to this scene she was still seeing Homer;

marriage expected by townspeople even though Homer likes going to the Elks Club with young men.

• Townspeople force a Baptist minister to get her to discuss

marriage with Homer; letter sent to cousins, in Alabama.

• Cousins in town; Emily purchases men’s silver toilet set,

engraved; men’s clothing.

• Homer disappears; cousins leave. Three days later, Homer is

back in town; enters from kitchen door, not front door. Homer not seen again; presumably to avoid Emily’s intentions. Emily disappears from society for six months.

• 10. 1893-1900

Lets herself deteriorate: gray hair, fatter. Stops opening door.

• 11. 1930

It is revealed she was 74 at death.

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Chronology and “A Rose for Emily”

09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

• 12. 1895-1900

China painting lessons given during her forties. Next generation does not send their children for lessons; Emily refuses to attach numbers to her door. 13. It is revealed that tax notices are sent to her every December; it is known she closed off the upstairs rooms.

• 14. 1930

She dies downstairs where apparently she spends most of her time. More details of the funeral. For approximately forty years the upstairs bedroom has been closed to anyone, except for herself.

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Chronology and “A Rose for Emily”

09.28.11 || English 1302: Composition II || D. Glen Smith, instructor

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