A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner

Setting Assignment – Due 8/30

“A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

In this intriguing excerpt by William Faulkner, setting plays an important role in contributing to the meaning of the story (as with many other excerpts/passages) by effectively establishing the mood/atmosphere, characters, and plot development. As he [Faulkner] begins to depict the “squarish frame house,” describing it as being one of best houses on the street with its beautiful appearance, he then goes on to set the atmosphere, stating how the house’s status now differs significantly, surrounded by “garages and cotton gins…,” making an “eyesore among eyesores.” Furthermore, this creates a sense of rejection and abandonment as if everyone was pushed away from its presence. Regarding character and plot development, an unfamiliar character known as Miss Emily, whose house still remains, is introduced as a fellow representative of those who lost their lives at the battle of Jefferson. This leads the audience to then believe that as the passage progresses, the “tale” of her “story” among others will continue to be told. As previously stated, setting truly does remain significant in various contributing forms.

“An Abandoned Farmhouse” by Ted Kooser

Throughout this unique, creative, and one-of-a-kind excerpt taken from Ted Kooser’s “An Abandoned Farmhouse,” plot development, mood/atmosphere, emotions, and character all play a major role in the setting as they assist in telling the story from a different perspective. Rather than utilizing a narrator to describe someone, or depicting the things around one’s self, Kooser uses a different approach of emphasizing the several personified and fictional characters of his own. He does so by allowing correlating characters to describe the many features of the man as in their inanimate state, and outside of the passage, they would usually serve the same or similar overall purpose, e.g. “he was a big man, says the size of his shoes…” and “a tall man too, says the length of the bed.” By maintaining this similar style, Kooser additionally develops the plot and foreshadows, providing the reader with a general idea of what may be depicted next, how it will be, and by whom. Moreover, a sense of emotions and mood is established towards the end of the excerpt, with the mood shifting from an objective and inquisitive mood to a mysterious and abandoned mood/atmosphere— appealing to the audience’s sense of pathos, or emotions.