Direction/s: Read and analyze the adapted sample critique below.

Write the
guiding critical approach questions used by the writer and determine the approach
used. Use the writing space BELOW provided for you.

A Rose for Emily

By William Faulkner

“A Rose for Emily” is a story that sets you to difficulty at first, but to a moment of
wander and excitement as you started to go in depth on the details.

The narration of “A Rose for Emily” is written in the first person, or as if a member
of the community. Using phrases such as, “we did not say she was crazy then” made
the story believable, as if it actually happened, rather than a third person narrative
most fiction stories use.

The imagery Faulkner presented in this story gives off a setting in the old south.
Words such as “tradition,” “generation, and “sort of hereditary obligation” contribute to
an old southern feel. Even though the story is written as if it were told by a member of the
community, the imagery is fitting since Faulkner himself is from Mississippi during the Civil
War.

The old feel of the story is suitable, since “A Rose for Emily” begins and ends with
her death. The old-timey feel aids the reader in realizing that they are reading a story
which switches back and forth over the main characters life.

The plot of “A Rose for Emily” jumps back and forth in non-chronological order.
This method of storytelling delivers an immense element of surprise at the end of the
story. The narration also ties into the element of surprise at the end of the story.

Since the story is read as if a member of society were writing at present, there is
very little way the reader could predict the end of the story until further reading. For
example, in the story Emily purchases poison and the members of the community were
certain “she will kill herself”. Later, Emily’s cousins report to the community “that she
had bought a complete outfit of men’s clothing, including a nightshirt”. However, if the
events of the story were reversed in order, it would be easier for the reader to
conclude what actually happened – that Emily murdered Herbert with rat poison.

I think that “A Rose for Emily” is indeed a piece of art. Faulkner won a Nobel Peace
Prize in
literature, and I can certainly see why.

The story was at first slightly confusing as far as the plot goes, but as the story
developed the plot became more apparent. Even if the plot were understood from the
beginning, Faulkner has a strong command of English, creating wonderful scenes of
imagery and I was able see everything that was being described in the story vividly.
 “MY CRITICAL WRITING QUESTIONS, MY APPROACH”

My answer/s: It’s writing time!

As I analyzed the example above, the critical guiding questions used

by the writer are the following:

1. What is the most important thing about the short story, "A Rose for Emily"?.

2. How does the plot of the story develop?.

3. What is the imagery presented by Wiliam Faulkner in the story ?.

4. How does William Faulkner reveal the character in "A Rose for Emily"?.

5. Why did the narration of the story “A Rose for Emily” be written in the first person?.

With the questions you have written, what approach did the writer use?

With the question that I have written. The approach the writer uses is a formalist
approach.The overall form of the work, the form of each particular component of
the text or specific scenes and chapters, the characters, settings, point of view, and
all other textual aspects.