William Faulkner The Birth of Southern Gothic Literature

William Faulkner Born William Cuthbert Falkner Born September 25, 1897; Died July 6, 1962 Born September 25, 1897; Died July 6, 1962 He is regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. He is regarded as one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. awarded the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature awarded the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature

Faulkner’s Early Life His family had lived in Mississippi since before the Civil War, and he spent most of his life in Oxford, Mississippi, a few miles from his birthplace. His family had lived in Mississippi since before the Civil War, and he spent most of his life in Oxford, Mississippi, a few miles from his birthplace. His education was irregular after the fifth grade. His education was irregular after the fifth grade. –Although he attended high school for a period and later took courses at the University of Mississippi, he never earned a degree.

Faulkner’s Early Life Toward the end of World War I ( ), Falkner wanted to join the military in the tradition of his great- grandfather, a colonel in the Confederate Army, but was rejected by the United States Army because he was too short. Toward the end of World War I ( ), Falkner wanted to join the military in the tradition of his great- grandfather, a colonel in the Confederate Army, but was rejected by the United States Army because he was too short. Undeterred, he added a “u” to the spelling of his last name and passed himself off as English in order to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto. Undeterred, he added a “u” to the spelling of his last name and passed himself off as English in order to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in Toronto. The war soon ended, however, and he returned to Oxford. The war soon ended, however, and he returned to Oxford.

A Literary Career is Born In 1924, a friend helped him publish his first book, a volume of poetry called The Marbled Faun. In 1924, a friend helped him publish his first book, a volume of poetry called The Marbled Faun. During 1925 he lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he published his first novel, Soldiers' Pay (1926), about a wounded soldier’s homecoming in a small Southern town. During 1925 he lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he published his first novel, Soldiers' Pay (1926), about a wounded soldier’s homecoming in a small Southern town.

A Literary Career is Born Mississippi marked Faulkner’s sense of humor, his sense of the tragic position of blacks and whites, his characterization of Southern characters and timeless themes, including fiercely intelligent people dwelling behind the façades of good old boys and simpletons. Mississippi marked Faulkner’s sense of humor, his sense of the tragic position of blacks and whites, his characterization of Southern characters and timeless themes, including fiercely intelligent people dwelling behind the façades of good old boys and simpletons. Faulkner set many of his short stories and novels in Yoknapatawpha County – based on, and nearly geographically identical to, Lafayette County, of which his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi is the county seat. Faulkner set many of his short stories and novels in Yoknapatawpha County – based on, and nearly geographically identical to, Lafayette County, of which his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi is the county seat.

A Literary Career is Born The word Yoknapatawpha is pronounced "Yok'na pa TAW pha. The word Yoknapatawpha is pronounced "Yok'na pa TAW pha. It is derived from two Chickasaw words— Yocona and petopha, meaning "split land.“ It is derived from two Chickasaw words— Yocona and petopha, meaning "split land.“ Faulkner claims the compound means "water flowing slow through the flatland," though this is unverified. Faulkner claims the compound means "water flowing slow through the flatland," though this is unverified.

A Literary Career is Born Faulkner's works demanded much of his readers. Faulkner's works demanded much of his readers. – To create a mood, he might let one of his complex sentences run on for more than a page. –He juggled time, spliced narratives, experimented with multiple narrators, and interrupted simple stories with rambling, stream- of-consciousness soliloquies. Although hailed as a genius, Faulkner acquired a reputation as a difficult author to read. Although hailed as a genius, Faulkner acquired a reputation as a difficult author to read. –American critic Malcolm Cowley, concerned that the writer was insufficiently known and appreciated, put together The Portable Faulkner (1946). –This book arranged excerpts from Faulkner’s novels into a chronological sequence that gave the entire Yoknapatawpha saga a new clarity. The collection made Faulkner's work accessible to a new generation of readers.

His Most Famous Works Faulkner's most celebrated novels include The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), Light in August (1932), Absalom, Absalom! (1936), and The Unvanquished (1938). Faulkner's most celebrated novels include The Sound and the Fury (1929), As I Lay Dying (1930), Light in August (1932), Absalom, Absalom! (1936), and The Unvanquished (1938).

His Later Life Much has been made of the fact that Faulkner had a serious drinking problem throughout his life. Much has been made of the fact that Faulkner had a serious drinking problem throughout his life. As Faulkner himself stated on several occasions, and as was witnessed by members of his family, the press, and friends at various periods over the course of his career, he did not drink while writing, nor did he believe that alcohol helped to fuel the creative process. As Faulkner himself stated on several occasions, and as was witnessed by members of his family, the press, and friends at various periods over the course of his career, he did not drink while writing, nor did he believe that alcohol helped to fuel the creative process. It is now widely believed that Faulkner used alcohol as an "escape valve" from the day-to-day pressures of his regular life, including his never-ending and maddening financial straits, rather than the more romantic vision of a brilliant writer who needed alcohol to pursue his craft. It is now widely believed that Faulkner used alcohol as an "escape valve" from the day-to-day pressures of his regular life, including his never-ending and maddening financial straits, rather than the more romantic vision of a brilliant writer who needed alcohol to pursue his craft.

His Later Life In the 1930s Faulkner moved to Hollywood to be a screenwriter (producing scripts for Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep and Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not, both directed by Howard Hawks). In the 1930s Faulkner moved to Hollywood to be a screenwriter (producing scripts for Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep and Ernest Hemingway's To Have and Have Not, both directed by Howard Hawks). Faulkner became good friends with actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Faulkner became good friends with actors Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

His Later Life In 1962 he was awarded the gold medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1962 he was awarded the gold medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Faulkner served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Virginia from 1957 until his death at Wright's Sanitorium in Byhalia, Mississippi of a heart attack at the age of 64. Faulkner served as Writer-in-Residence at the University of Virginia from 1957 until his death at Wright's Sanitorium in Byhalia, Mississippi of a heart attack at the age of 64.

Gothic Literature Gothic literature combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothic literature combines elements of both horror and romance. –As a genre, it is generally believed to have been invented by the English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto. The effect of Gothic fiction depends on a pleasing sort of terror, an extension of essentially Romantic literary pleasures that were relatively new at the time of Walpole's novel. The effect of Gothic fiction depends on a pleasing sort of terror, an extension of essentially Romantic literary pleasures that were relatively new at the time of Walpole's novel. Prominent features of Gothic fiction include terror (both psychological and physical), mystery, the supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, decay, madness, secrets and hereditary curses. Prominent features of Gothic fiction include terror (both psychological and physical), mystery, the supernatural, ghosts, haunted houses and Gothic architecture, castles, darkness, death, decay, madness, secrets and hereditary curses. The stock characters of Gothic fiction include tyrants, villains, bandits, maniacs, persecuted maidens, femmes fatales, madwomen, magicians, vampires, werewolves, monsters, demons, ghosts, and the Devil himself. The stock characters of Gothic fiction include tyrants, villains, bandits, maniacs, persecuted maidens, femmes fatales, madwomen, magicians, vampires, werewolves, monsters, demons, ghosts, and the Devil himself.

Southern Gothic Literature Faulkner is considered the inventor of Southern Gothic Literature. Faulkner is considered the inventor of Southern Gothic Literature. It relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot It relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot It explores social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South. It explores social issues and reveals the cultural character of the American South. It takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the damsel in distress or the heroic knight, and portrays them in a more modern and realistic manner. It takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the damsel in distress or the heroic knight, and portrays them in a more modern and realistic manner.

Southern Gothic Literature One of the most notable features of the Southern Gothic is "the grotesque“ One of the most notable features of the Southern Gothic is "the grotesque“ This includes situations, places, or stock characters that often possess some cringe- inducing qualities, typically racial bigotry and egotistical self- righteousness This includes situations, places, or stock characters that often possess some cringe- inducing qualities, typically racial bigotry and egotistical self- righteousness Usually have enough good traits to make them interesting Usually have enough good traits to make them interesting

Southern Gothic Literature While often disturbing, Southern Gothic authors commonly use deeply flawed, grotesque characters for greater narrative range and more opportunities to highlight unpleasant aspects of Southern culture, without being too literal or appearing to be overly moralistic. While often disturbing, Southern Gothic authors commonly use deeply flawed, grotesque characters for greater narrative range and more opportunities to highlight unpleasant aspects of Southern culture, without being too literal or appearing to be overly moralistic.