The Sound and the Fury

The Sound and the Fury

• Genre: Fiction; Modernist, Southern Gothic
• Originally Published: 1929
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1300L; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Divided into four sections, each with its own narrator; approx. 326 pages, approx. 8 hours and 51 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The Sound and the Fury is a complex and experimental novel that explores the decline of the Compson family in the American South during the early 20th century. The central conflict revolves around the Compson siblings—Benjy, Quentin, Jason, and Caddy—and the family’s disintegration, marked by themes of decline, loss, and the passage of time. The narrative is known for its stream-of-consciousness style and multiple perspectives, offering insights into the characters’ inner thoughts and the family’s tragic history.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Self-harm; mental illness, ableism, and cruelty to the disabled; substance use disorder; family dysfunction and discussions of incest; gender discrimination and racism, including repeated uses of the “n-word”

William Faulkner, Author

• Bio: Born 1897, deceased 1962; American author known for his contributions to Modernist literature; celebrated for his intricate narratives, complex characters, and exploration of the American South‘s history and culture; often delves into themes of the human condition, family, and the legacy of the past in his works; authored many novels, short stories, poems, and essays throughout his career
• Other Works: As I Lay Dying (1930); Light in August (1932); Absalom, Absalom! (1936)
• Awards: Nobel Prize in Literature (1949); Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1955) for “A Fable”

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Pride Before the Fall
• Women’s Sexuality and Sexual Transgression
• Identity, Legacy, and Destiny

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Explore background information on Faulkner and Modernist literary techniques to increase their engagement with and understanding of The Sound and the Fury.
• Read/study short paired texts and other resources to deepen their understanding of the novel’s thematic concerns: Pride Before the Fall, Women’s Sexuality and Sexual Transgression, and Identity, Legacy, and Destiny.
• Demonstrate their understanding of how multiperspectivity and stream-of-consciousness are used in the novel by creating a new stream-of-consciousness narrative section from another character’s perspective.
• Analyze the significance of various elements of the novel, such as characterization, stream-of-consciousness, narrative structure, perspective, tone, and symbolism, and construct essay responses tying these to the novel’s meaning.