Topics for Discussion
1. Do you believe Faulkner had a favorable opinion of women? Why or why not?
2. To what degree do you think Faulkner used this novel to express his own political views?
3. Examine the biases of the narrators and how these prejudices affect their ability to provide reliable accounts of Sutpen's story. Do you think any narrator is more trustworthy than the others? Why or why not?
4. Describe the significance of the phrase "A house divided against itself cannot stand" in relation to Sutpen's story.
5. What is the fundamental irony in Sutpen's plan?
6. What elements shape Miss Rosa's perception of Thomas Sutpen as a "demon"?
7. How does Shreve McCannon's interpretation of Sutpen's story differ from that of the other narrators?
8. How does the gossip within the story contribute to Faulkner's narrative structure?
9. What makes Sutpen's Hundred a legendary setting?
10. In what ways does Thomas Sutpen's treatment of both Rosa and Milly reflect his misguided obsession with his grand design?
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