A majority of the short stories read throughout English 101 were thought provoking even in the most obscure readings. Such stories include: Birdsong by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner. Both of these short stories provide rich text, set-up for interpretation, debate, and concrete critical analysis. They helped move the class along in terms of fulfilling not only the desired writing outcomes but also the reading outcomes as well. Although most of the stories contributed to said outcomes, a couple stories, including: The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, failed to add more substance to the already diverse reading list. …show more content…
This short story on face value seems like a tried retelling of a woman who realizes that she will not be the one mistress that ends up with the married man. However, when looked deeper it carries various metaphors consistently throughout the whole novel: traffic representing the narrator 's complacency in her social situations, while also inserting smaller metaphors like the married man enjoying caged birds, just like he enjoys his women. It makes the readers think of their own complacency, what roles they are filling in their own society -- abstract thought and inferences. The narrator’s whole being and constant contrast shines light on the manipulation and acts of distrust, found in everyday interaction. Having this story not only allows students to seek deeper meaning in tired stories but also allows them to make their own interpretations of the narrator’s actions and reflect upon …show more content…
Faulkner utilizes many elements of short fiction in his use of flashbacks, metaphors, setting, and characterization, while under the gothic genre of literature. There is much depth to this narration even at face value. The use of flashback requires a reader to pay close attention to minute details, mood, and setting to completely understand the plot progression. While reading one must also take into consideration the historical context of the Post-Civil War South and how the decline of the southern aristocracy led to Emily’s decay. This physical and mental deterioration of the southern aristocracy metaphorized through Emily is put up against the modernizing world demonstrating great contrast. Lastly, the best part of this novel was using context clues to figure out what year Emily died. The short story only gives a couple clues, one being that the colonel passed an edict in the year 1894, it is all context clues and inferences from