What is the plot of "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner?
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Plot is the term that describes the events that take place in the story as the main character seeks to achieve a goal or resolve a conflict. The plot in a short story is normally defined by a story arc that leads from the exposition, inciting incident, and rising action to the climax, which is followed by the falling action and resolution.
Readers of "A Rose for Emily" will have a hard time discerning the plot and the story arc because of the nonlinear progression of Faulkner's writing. Faulkner divides the story into five sections, some of which contain flashbacks to previous time periods. The sequence of events is confusing, making it hard for the reader to discern how everything unfolds. Only upon reaching the surprise ending of the story is the reader able to put it all together.
If the story were written sequentially, the plot would unfold like this: Miss Emily 's father dies, leaving her without an income and with only the family home for her inheritance. Miss Emily won't admit her...
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