A Rose for Emily is a short story by American author William Faulkner first published in the April 30, 1930 issue of The Forum It tells the story of Emily Grierson, an elderly recluse living in a fictional town of Jefferson in the state of Mississippi. Emily is a very strange woman, who has been living a sheltered life due to her father's prohibiting behavior. Even after his death, Emily still refuses to accept any suitors, and she is eventually visited by a town representative who gives her an ultimatum to pay her late taxes. Emily then goes on to commit a heartbreaking crime that further isolates her from the rest of the town.
Essay Topic Ideas
1. How does the theme of isolation in “A Rose for Emily” contribute to the development and resolution of the plot?
2. Trace the evolution of Emily Grierson as a character throughout the story.
3. Discuss the symbolism of the rose in “A Rose for Emily”.
4. Analyze the personal implications of the rituals and traditions of the old South as they are represented in “A Rose for Emily”.
5. Examine the ways in which Faulkner constructs his characters in a way that emphasizes their humanness and serves as a foil to Emily’s increasingly eccentric behavior.