Wash and Barn Burning Jeopardy!

Wash #1

100

What are some descriptions/phrases in the story that indicate Wash’s lower social status and poverty? Provide a page number.

He lived in a shack at the edge of Sutpen’s property (536). The slaves called Wash “white trash” behind his back (536). “Poor whites of Wash’s own kind..” (539).

200

How would you describe Sutpen’s attitude towards Wash’s granddaughter Milly (who has just birthed his child) in comparison with his attitude towards his mare who has also just given birth?

Sutpen has almost no interest in Milly, her wellbeing, or their newborn child. However, he is very excited with the idea of his new mare and cannot wait to take care of it and train it (535).

300

Why did Wash seem to be okay at first with Sutpen, a man of his own age, having a relationship with his granddaughter?

Sutpen seduced Milly, Wash’s granddaughter. Sutpen probably originally treated her alright, so Wash was probably okay with it. Also, Sutpen did favors for Wash and became his friend, so Wash might have felt it was right to let him do what he wanted.

400

How would you describe the viewpoint that Faulkner wrote this in? Why do you think he did this?

Faulkner writes this in a somewhat objective viewpoint, using mostly actions and dialogue to develop the characters and their demeanors. However, this could be considered third person omniscient, because the reader hears all the dialogue and has some insight into the character’s minds. Even though this is true, the reader is not really given much insight into what is actually inside of their minds (exact thoughts) because of the style in which it is written. One example of how it is third-person omniscient is found in the part of the story in which Wash is angry at Sutpen and begins to approach him aggressively. “Very astonishment kept Sutpen still for the moment, watching the man whom in twenty years he had no more known to make any motion save at command than he had the horse which he rode” (544). It shows Sutpen’s emotions and reactions while explaining why Wash’s actions might be surprising to him, but does not directly quote the thoughts in his head.

500

Why did Wash decide to kill Sutpen? Is there significance in the fact that he used the same scathe that he had borrowed three months earlier?

Wash decided to kill Sutpen because of Sutpen’s reaction to the birth of his child with Milly, Wash’s granddaughter. Sutpen did not seem to care about her and the new child, and Wash realizes the reason Sutpen came into the room was to talk about the birth of the new mare, “‘that’s why he was up so early,’ he thought. ‘That was hit. Hit ain’t me and mine. Hit ain’t even hisn that got him outen bed’” (544). He is also very offended by what Sutpen said once he entered the room and confronts him, “‘You said--’...’You said if she was a mare, you could give her a good stall in the stable.’ ‘Well?’ Sutpen said” (544). He was very upset that he didn’t even care about Milly or their newborn child.

Wash #2

100

What is a common theme throughout the story?

The arrogant, cold hearted ways of Sutpen contrasted against the lack of success that Wash faces in his life.

200

In this story did Faulkner portray the present or past time period?

He created a very transitional story that portrayed the past transitioning to the changing of the times. The black's and the low class whites are becoming more and more part of the same circle, their paths are crossing more than in the past.

300

When Sutpen is confronted about his interactions with Milly, what is his reaction?

He shows no attachment or responsibility for what has conspired between himself and Milly, and now their newborn child. He doesn't offer an explanation to the odd dynamic between them and doesn't choose to acknowledge that he has any remorse for his behavior.

400

Why do you think Sutpen relates more to the fact that his mare just gave birth as oppose to the birth of his own child?

The fact that Sutpen mentions that he is excited to "train" the mare shows a lot about him as a person. He knows he will not have as much control over another person as he will the new mare. Sutpen can relate to the mare as being his but the child is also Milly's, he doesn't have the same bond with them that he has with his mare.

500

If Sutpen's child with Milly was a boy, do you think that Sutpen would have had more of an emotional attachment to the child being his?

Considering the time period, it is common for men to struggle to respect and relate to women. Faulkner never makes a clear explanation to whether the gender of the child affected the relationship between Sutpen and the child but it is very possible that the fact that he had a daughter automatically put a strain on the dynamic between the two of them.

Barn Burning #1

100

What is the significance of Mr. Harris’ account that a black man told him “wood and hay kin burn?”

It shows that Snopes was using the lower status of black men to frame an innocent man for his crime. This comes into play later when Colonel Sartoris tells his father that he “at least sent a n--- before,” confirming that this was what happened.

200

Why does Sartoris run away at the end?

“He went on down the hill, toward the dark woods within which the liquid silver voices of the birds called unceasing - the rapid and urgent beating of the urgent and quiring heart of the late spring night. He did not look back.” After essentially selling out his father, Sartoris can no longer receive the support of his family. Additionally, he doesn’t want the support of his family because they had all allowed his father’s violence to continue.

300

How does Snopes’ pride end up destroying his family?

Snopes’ pride ultimately leads to his death and his son running away from his family. This is because he cannot stand being a lowly sharecropper and after he is further penalized for the rug damages, he decides to burn the de Spain’s barn. This event leads to his death and Sartoris leaving the family, which shows that Snopes and his violent pride are destructive.

400

Family plays a major role in Barn Burning. How does Abner Snopes instill this in his son and what affect does that have on Sartoris’ morality?

"You're getting to be a man. You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood to stick to you.” This quote signifies that family is meant to be the most important part of Sartoris’ morality. Sartoris knows that what his father is doing is wrong, but at first chooses to stick with his family. Eventually, his morality wins out over his family.

500

What kind of language is used to describe the sisters in the story and how does this highlight their role in the family?

“His two hulking sisters” “The two sisters got down, big, bovine, in a flutter of cheap ribbons; one of them drew from the jumbled wagon bed a battered lantern, the other a worn broom.” “The two sisters stooped, broad, lethargic; stooping, they presented an incredible expanse of pale cloth and a flutter of tawdry ribbons.” “the two sisters stooping over it with that profound and lethargic reluctance” “But that was too late too, the sister (the sisters were twins, born at the same time, yet either of them now gave the impression of being, encompassing as much living meat and volume and weight as any other two of the family) not yet having begun to rise from the chair, her head, face, alone merely turned, presenting to him in the flying instant an astonishing expanse of young female features untroubled by any surprise even, wearing only an expression of bovine interest.” Bovine - relating to cows Using this descriptor shows that Faulkner does not think highly of the sisters as characters. They simply go along with whatever they are told and are lazy and lethargic, and provide no moral value to the family. In contrast to their mother, who is an active character in the story, the sisters serve to highlight a different form of dysfunction in the Snopes family.

Barn Burning #2

100

What is Snope's father's view on violence?

He views violence as a integral part of manhood.

200

How did Snope's parents play a role in the kind of person he became?

Snope's mother's influence led to his innocence and his moral conscience but his father raised him to be an extremely intelligent, with it individual.

300

What are the sources of tension and conflict in this story?

Sources of tension and conflict: the court case in the beginning where the father knows his son would have testified against him, Snopes’ interactions with his neighbors, Snopes’ relationship with his wife and kids

400

How does the narrator’s point of view create an interesting perspective for the story?

A third person narration allows the reader to see things from Sartoris’ point of view, but from a more mature perspective. While Sartoris is only 10, and therefore his understanding is limited, an older point of view gives more importance to pivotal events and shows a wider understanding.

500

From a Marxist perspective, what role does class play in Barn Burning?

Class plays a major role in Barn Burning. The Snopes family is poor, and at the beginning of the story, Abner Snopes tries to use a black man, one of the few people lower than him in societal standing, as a decoy to get away with burning a barn. The Snopes are sharecroppers for de Spain, and this inequality between them leads to Snopes’ resentment. From a Marxist perspective, the Snopes family’s lower class status and Snopes’ pride lead to his violent nature and the barn burnings that result in his death.