William Faulkner Research Paper

William Cuthbert Faulkner: A Southern American Writer “If a story is in you, it has to come out,” these are the words of one of America’s greatest writers, William Faulkner. Faulkner’s story not only “came out”, it had a huge impact on the twentieth century, and it also helped shape the future of modern literature. Born to Southern Society in 1897, William Faulkner would become one of America’s greatest authors before his death in 1962. His work was original, and dealt with modernism themes, which was a popular movement in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s; modernists, like Faulkner, saw the value in experimentation and individualism. Decades after his death, William Faulkner’s work is still considered some of America’s greatest literature,

He spent the next thirteen years as a screenwriter, often traveling to Hollywood to work on screenplays. Though he was only screenwriting for the money, his screenplays had an inspirational value that changed people's’ lives. Taking a risk, Faulkner boldly illuminated social issues that many American writers left in the dark. His work put the spotlight on socially unjust traditions of slavery, southern aristocracy, and “the good old boys” system. Faulkner boldly sought to expose these issues when other writers preferred to overlooked them.

For his efforts in bringing social reform, William Faulkner was awarded two Pulitzer prizes. His work created an impressive legacy over his life, and he remains a well-respected writer of the American south, who masterfully captured both the beauty and the shame of relevant subjects like religion. Upon his death and hoping that his life’s work would continue to inspire and shape the minds of young writers, and remain available to the world, rather than on the shelf of some aristocrat, William Faulkner willed all of his manuscripts and other major works to the University Of

This sentence is a perfect example, “attacked, insulted, frightened: none of them knew exactly what had happened.” In A Rose for Emily, Faulkner writes, “It was a big squarish frame house, that had once been white decorated with cupolas and spiers and scrolled balconies in the heavily lightsome style of the seventies set on once or most selected street.” While it appears that Faulkner is attempting to simply describe the house, it is evident that he is also characterizing Mrs. Emily as “lightsome”, she is “small and to spare”. Lightsome characterizes her slight figure. In “Barn Burning” Faulkner states, “so he ran down the drive, blood and breath roaring; presently he was in the road again though he could not see.” Faulkner showing his adrenalin in this sentence “blood and breath roaring”, and the emotion by keeping it on going and