Reading Activities compiled by Brenna Smith |During Reading | After Reading | 10 Before Connections 1. “As I Lay Dying.” Jan. 2004. Random House Publishing. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.randomhouse.com/vintage/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780679732259&view=rg. A website providing a brief description of Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, as well as a comparison/contrast with a few of the author’s other novel. Several discussion/ study questions are listed which will help the student think about specific themes, characters, and the different perspectives in interpreting the novel, as well as questions comparing As I Lay Dying with The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom! 2. Argiro, Thomas. “ ‘As though we were kin’: Faulkner’s black-Italian chiasmus.” MELUS Quarterly 43.3, (2003). 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2278/is_3_28/ai_110473964. This article discusses an interesting aspect of William Faulkner’s historical background: his relation to his cousin Faulkner Hughes, a mulatto. Argiro explores the parallels between the problematic racial and social contradictions that were present within Faulkner’s own family and his created fictional characters. 3. “Decade: 1930 – 1939.” eThemes page. eMints National Center. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000267.shtml. Found on this webpage are sites about the history and events of the 1930s, including primary documents, consisting of oral histories, photographs, newspaper articles, audio files, maps and timelines that will help with identifying the historical background that prompted Faulkner to write As I Lay Dying. 4. Farnsworth, Elizabeth, Donald Kartiganer, and Lee Smith. “Remembering Faulkner: Son of the South.” Interview. Online NewsHour. September 26, 1997. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec97/faulkner_9-26.html. The transcript of an interview with two English professionals at the annual Faulkner Conference at Oxford. One hundred years since his birth in Mississippi, these experts discuss Faulkner’s influence as one of the creators of modern imagination as well as his use of modernistic style of writing. 5. “William Faulkner.” The Mississippi Writers Page. U of Mississippi. 28 Jan. 2006. http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/faulkner_william/index.html. A biography of the man, William Faulkner, which documents his influences and motivations that shaped his writings. Also a documentation of his difficult aspiration to become a great American writer from a failed poet to the great statesman he is known as today. 6. “Modernism.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Jan. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 28 Jan. 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism. A definition of Modernism and the goals of Modernist writers. Also includes the historical development of Modernism as well as its reception into the literary world and the impact it has had on American literature. 7. “Some Attributes of Modernist Literature.” Department of English page, Brock University. Sept. 1997. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.brocku.ca/english/courses/2F55/modernism.html. Cites some of the common characteristics of Modernist literature including perspectivism, impressionism, complex language, experimentation in form, and the representation of inner psychological reality. 8. Turner, Richard S. “Teaching William Faulkner in High School Advanced Placement Classrooms.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. SE Missouri State University. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4853.htm. An article by a British Literature professor calling for the increased use of William Faulkner’s works in Advanced Placement classrooms in America. He includes several specific reasons why he believes Faulkner should be included in the high school curriculum. 9. Hickman, Lisa C. “Keeping Faulkner in the Classroom. Center for Faulkner Studies page. SE Missouri State. http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4855.htm. An article written by a high school teacher defending and justifying the use of William Faulkner’s works in the classroom. She argues that Faulkner’s literary pieces, although representative in his own time, are still relevant to Americans today. 10. Padget, William B. “William Faulkner Chronology.” William Faulkner on the Web. Oct. 2000. 28 Jan. 2006 http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/chronology.html. A thorough timeline of Faulkner’s life and works. Quick reference for biographical information on the author and dates relevant to important moments in his life, as well as some historical background of the time period. 10 During Connections 1. “As I Lay Dying Book Notes.” Major Characters. Book Rags.com. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.bookrags.com/notes/aild/CHR.html. A list of all the characters in As I Lay Dying as well as an analysis of the major characters. This assists with the learning of all the characters and personas found in the story and the characters’ place within the intricate and complicated plot and narration of the novel. 2. “ClassicNote on As I Lay Dying.” GradeSaver. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/dying/. From this page access is available to in-depth summaries and analysis of each section of the novel, major themes, motifs, symbols, character lists, historical and biographical contexts, discussion questions, practice quizzes, and more. 3. “People, Places, and Events: A Faulkner Glossary.” Resources. William Faulkner on the Web. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/glossary.html This page includes a compilation of brief definitions, descriptions, and additional information about major characters, places, and other events present in the written works of William Faulkner. 4. Doyle, Don H. “Introduction to Faulkner’s County: The Historical Roots of Yoknapatawpha.” The University of North Carolina Press. 2001. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.ibiblio.org/uncpress/chapters/doyle_faulkners.html. In the introduction to Faulkner’s County: The Historical Roots of Yoknapatawpha, Doyle discusses Faulkner’s use of Lafayette County, Mississippi as the main source of inspiration for Faulkner’s fictional setting, Yoknapatawpha County. Many of the people and events in his fictional works originated from the history of the Lafayette County. 5. “Faulkner Maps.” U of Michigan. William Faulkner Site. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/faulknersite/faulknersite/sroots/maps.html. This site provides two maps of the fictional Yoknapatawpha County sketched by William Faulkner, himself. This will help the students to visualize the imaginary world that is the setting of As I Lay Dying as well as many of Faulkner’s other novels. 6. Hearn, Pamela Hindman. “Teaching Faulkner: Meaning through Metaphor.” Center for Faulkner Studies. U of Southeast Missouri. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4858.htm. Hearn discusses the metaphoric meaning found throughout Faulkner’s works, including As I Lay Dying. She suggests ideas and approaches to teach Faulkner’s sometimes difficult novels in the classrooms. 7. Cavill, Caroline. “Narrative Complexity, Voice, and Paper Assignments.” Center for Faulkner Studies. U of Southeast Missouri. 31 Jan. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4877.htm. This article helps students get to the core of Faulkner’s writings emphasizing how his use of multiple narrators with their different and contrasting points-of-view help the students come away with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of Faulkner’s narration methods. 8. Padgett, John B. “The Bundren Family.” 1995. Faulkner Genealogies. William Faulkner on the Web. U. of Mississippi. Jan. 31 2006 http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/gen-bundren.html. A genealogical chart of the Bundren Family that guides the students through the reading process helping them decipher their complicated family situation. 9. Padgett, John B. “Favorite Faulkner Quotes.” 1995. William Faulkner on the Web. U of Mississippi. Jan 31 2006. http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/quotes.html. This page is home to many memorable quotes from As I Lay Dying as well as from his other widely-read novels, and from interviews with Faulkner. 10. Marling, William H. “Words and Images in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying.” 1988. Modernism: American Salons web site. Jan 31 2006 http://www.cwru.edu/artsci/engl/VSALM/mod/jung/term.htm. This article by the author of The Visual Sources of Modernism discusses the modernist ideas, words, and images found in this novel. The author presents several connections between the written word and the visual art found in As I Lay Dying. 10 After Connections 1. Wannamaker, Annette. “Viewing Addie Bundren Through a Feminist Lens.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4819.htm. This article takes a closer look at one of the central characters in As I Lay Dying, the deceased Addie Bundren. Wannamaker analyzes Annie Bundren through a feministic approach, providing a different perspective on the novel. 2. Holtz, Dan. “Faulkner as a Framework for Studying the Civil War.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4861.htm. This essay discusses the difficulty of reconstructing history, the Civil War in particular. As I Lay Dying is discussed as a spring-board to understand the human motives in a way that historians often cannot. 3. Hamblin, Robert W. “ ‘A Casebook on Mankind’: Faulkner’s Use of Shakespeare.” Center for Faulkner Studies. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4859.htm. Robert Hamblin explores the prominent usage of Shakespeare allusions in William Faulkner’s works and the constant and continuing influence William Shakespeare has had on writers. 4. “Mississippi Churning.” Salon home page. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.salon.com/march97/grisham2970312.html. This article discusses the influence that William Faulkner has had on his fellow inhabitants of Oxford, Mississippi and particularly his impact on the popular contemporary author John Grisham. 5. Peek, Charles A. “ ‘Because if there is a God What the Hell is He for?’: Frenchman’s Bend and Its Piety in Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006. http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4832.htm. Charles Peak discusses the religious sentiments found in William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying and the hypocritical implications. He also discusses Faulkner’s regards on they hypocrisy of his characters’ opinions. 6. Brinkmeyer, Robert. “William Faulkner: Centennial Celebration.” Sept 1997. Random House, Inc. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.randomhouse.com/features/faulkner/essay.html. This is a tribute to the great southern author, William Faulkner, discussing his contributions to the American society and particularly his role in furthering the proficiency of the literary world. 7. Freisen, Faye and Charles Peek. “What’s in a Name? Etymology and As I Lay Dying.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4833.htm. This article discusses Faulkner’s meticulous naming of his characters in As I Lay Dying. It talks about the many connotations and inferences that are associated with the sometimes peculiar names that he chose. 8. Faulkner, William. “Nobel Prize Banquet Speech.” City Hall, Stockholm. December 10, 1950. Feb 8 2006 http://nobelprize.org/literature/laureates/1949/faulkner-speech.html. This is a transcript of Faulkner’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech in 1950. In his speech he discusses the lifetime process and the hard work that it takes to create a significant piece of literature. From this site, a sound clip of the speech is available. 9. Malin, Irving. William Faulkner: An Interpretation. 1957. Questia: The World’s Largest Online Library. 2006. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=61525558. This book takes a close look at the writer William Faulkner, his influences, his struggles, his works, and his contributions to the world of literature. Several issues are addressed that are usually forgotten or neglected, including Faulkner’s characterization of women and his use of the Bible. 10. Seaber, K. Ruth. “The Four Women of the Apocalypse: Addie and Cora, Sula and Nel and the Collapse of the Mythic Female.” Center for Faulkner Studies page. Southeast Missouri U. 8 Feb. 2006 http://www.semo.edu/cfs/teaching/index_4820.htm. This essay discusses the definition of a woman’s role and women seeking identity through the analysis of several of William Faulkner’s major female characters. The author also discusses the “mythic female” and her role in our society.