A Rose for Emily

Explain the significance of isolation and loneliness in “A Rose for Emily.” How does the Grierson family’s isolation contribute to the decisions Emily makes throughout the story?

Discuss the theme of gender roles. How does the story challenge or reinforce traditional gender expectations? What does this suggest about the relationship between gender and power in the Reconstruction era or Faulkner’s own time?

The story takes place in the imaginary town of Jefferson, Mississippi, in the years following the Civil War. Explore the impact of this Southern Reconstruction setting on the story’s major themes. Why might Faulkner, writing in 1930, have chosen to write about this historical moment in time?