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Point Of View In William Faulkner's Barn Burning

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“Barn Burning” is a very interesting short story that’s I have read many times throughout my high school and college time. This story was something that really interested me when I read it for the first time as I think it does most people. William Faulkner was as ruthless as a writer, as anyone tried to be. Most of where he grew up was Oxford, Mississippi. The man had grown up and never really had a care in the world and that’s why his writing is worth the read and time. This is a very popular short story to this day that deals with class conflicts. One would-be elements like structure and style. Second would be the point of view and why he chose the view he did to make this short story as interesting as it could be. Lastly would be the theme, …show more content…

“Barn Burning” is written in limited omniscient point of view from the son Sarty, and that really plays a big part. It really makes people think when they read this story of what would it be like if maybe it was in someone else’s point of view? What made Faulkner do Sartys point of view, what made him so special? This story could be different if it was told from Lennie the mothers point of view. The mother in this is caring and always looks out for her son Sarty, like when he got hurt she would keep asking him “Does it hurt?” (Faulkner 263), so this story would have a whole different feel if she told it. The father Abner is always mad and lashes out for anything at any time, he would never think about his actions he would just do things. Lennie says “Abner. Abner. Please don’t. Please, Abner.” (Faulkner 267), she is trying to stop him from doing soothing he may regret later. There are so many characters in this short story, so to this day it confuses me to why he just stuck to one person to tell this when we most likely could have gotten so much more out if other characters told this. So, point of view is very important and makes us the readers not get the whole picture, but that’s what Faulkner intended to

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