William Faulkner’s William Faulkner’s As I Lay DyingAs I Lay Dying

William Faulkner (1897-1962)William Faulkner (1897-1962)““My requirements for writing: paper, My requirements for writing: paper,

tobacco, food, and a little whisky”tobacco, food, and a little whisky”

Grew up in Oxford Mississippi in a long-Grew up in Oxford Mississippi in a long-established Mississippi familyestablished Mississippi family

Uncle a colonel in the Confederate armyUncle a colonel in the Confederate army Family’s roots in the Old South furnish Family’s roots in the Old South furnish

him with settings, themes, and cultural him with settings, themes, and cultural identity for sixteen novels and many identity for sixteen novels and many short storiesshort stories

His work is decidedly southernHis work is decidedly southern

Faulkner’s WritingFaulkner’s Writing

Began writing after he Began writing after he was in WWIwas in WWI

Won both Nobel Prize Won both Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prizeand Pulitzer Prize

Created Created Yoknapatawpha Yoknapatawpha County: a fictional County: a fictional place in MIplace in MI

A microcosm of the A microcosm of the American South both American South both Ante-bellum and Post-Ante-bellum and Post-bellumbellum

Fictional Yoknapatawpha Fictional Yoknapatawpha CountyCounty

Although Fictional, Although Fictional, Faulkner gave it Faulkner gave it credibility, supplying credibility, supplying a physical place and a physical place and a census counta census count

Location used in Location used in several of his novelsseveral of his novels

Near the real Yocona Near the real Yocona River in MississippiRiver in Mississippi

Crossing the Yocona River in Crossing the Yocona River in 19001900

The American South and The American South and As I As I Lay DyingLay Dying

The loss of the Civil War shaped the mentality and The loss of the Civil War shaped the mentality and outlook of all southernersoutlook of all southerners

In Faulkner’s writing, the history of the south is a In Faulkner’s writing, the history of the south is a tragedy which must be addressedtragedy which must be addressed

The novel asks: How do people deal with The novel asks: How do people deal with devastation and degeneration in their lives?devastation and degeneration in their lives?

Like the death of a loved one, a mother or wife, Like the death of a loved one, a mother or wife, war also causes immense upheavalwar also causes immense upheaval

The novel is not about the Civil War; rather it is The novel is not about the Civil War; rather it is about the manner in which people deal with about the manner in which people deal with adversity in their lives: it is about the Human adversity in their lives: it is about the Human ExperienceExperience

Faulkner’s Style in Faulkner’s Style in As I Lay As I Lay DyingDying

Written in stream of consciousness form Written in stream of consciousness form Reader “hears” a character’s thoughtsReader “hears” a character’s thoughts Faulkner never directly comments, describes, or Faulkner never directly comments, describes, or

explainsexplains Novel comprised of 59 monologues by 15 different Novel comprised of 59 monologues by 15 different

characterscharacters Dream-like writing: often disjointed, distorted, and Dream-like writing: often disjointed, distorted, and

seemingly illogicalseemingly illogical Readers must piece the story together in a puzzle-Readers must piece the story together in a puzzle-

like fashionlike fashion Tale of a journey: nothing impedes the Tale of a journey: nothing impedes the

straightforward movement of plot to its straightforward movement of plot to its destination-Jefferson and the burial of Addiedestination-Jefferson and the burial of Addie