Rose for Emily
Why did the women of the town attend the funeral of Miss Emily?
They were nosey and wanted to see the inside of Miss Emily's house.
The elderly, "broken" laborer whose greatest pride was his skill in building a load of hay.
Silas
Describe two specific physical traits of Miss Emily's appearance.
small, fat woman (obese and bloated)
dress in black with gold chain from her waist
ebony cane with gold head
eyes like pieces of coal pressed in lump of dough
Why did Warren hold a grudge and not show compassion to Silas when he returned to the farm?
Silas left the farm during haying season without finishing the work.
Describe the relationship between Miss Emily and her father based on this line--
" None of the young men were quite good enough for Miss Emily."
Why did the men of the town attend the funeral of Miss Emily?
Out of respect for Miss Emily and her family's legacy.
A woman who argues for compassion and famously defines "home" as the place that must take you in.
Mary
A farmer who views his relationship with workers through reliability and labor, initially refusing to allow a former hand to return.
Warren
When a powerful odor began emanating from the house, what did the townspeople believe was the cause?
They assumed it was decaying rats or the general deterioration of the old mansion.
The Death of the Hired Man contains a strong biblical allusion to which parable regarding the return of a traveler.
Parable of the Lost Son or Prodigal Son
How did Miss Emily initially respond to her father’s passing?
She refused to acknowledge he was dead for a period of three days.
Who is the wealthy bank director who lives nearby but is not the person Silas turns to in his final hours?
Silas's brother
A foreman from the North described as a "Yankee" and someone who was "not a marrying man".
Homer Barron
Does Silas feel superior or inferior when compared to the other hired man?
Silas experiences internal conflict of inferiority regarding his past relationship with Harold Wilson because Harold is educated and has made something of himself.
Explain the situational irony found in the locked upstairs room. How does finding the "iron-gray" hair on the pillow change the reader's understanding of the story’s resolution?
Miss Emily had been sleeping by her dead husband's body.
Identify the two specific items Miss Emily purchased to prepare for or cover up the events involving her "husband".
1. silver toilet set with initials H.B.
2. men's clothing including nightshirt
What specific metaphor does Warren use to describe Silas’s return?
Warren compares him to a "worn-out hound coming out of the woods."
A former hay-hand and college student who studied Latin and often clashed with Silas.
Harold Wilson
Describe the conflict between Miss Emily and the city of Jefferson.
She claimed there were not taxes to collect on her property because her father loaned the town money in the past.
Explain whether Warren or Mary symbolizes the importance of duty.
Warren symbolizes a focus on duty over compassion.
The townspeople noticed signs of Emily’s mental decline early on. What two assumptions did the neighbors make about her grief that led them to dismiss her behavior at the time?
2. no money left to her--only the house
Did Silas return to the farm to restart his old arguments with Harold, or was his return motivated by something else?
The silent, long-term servant who was the sole individual seen entering the Grierson home for decades.
Tobe
Why did the druggist not come back to give Miss Emily the arsenic she ordered?
The druggist was suspicious about Miss Emily's motives and felt guilty for filling the drug order.
Consider whether Silas's choice to return to Mary and Warren to die was an act of selfishness or sincerity.
Answers vary based on opinion.