Barn Burning

Despite his violent and dangerous tendencies, Snopes is described as being calm and controlled. When camping, he is also known for setting small, tame fires to warm the family. Why does Snopes build “neat,” “shrewd” fires? What does this detail reveal about him?

Two phrases appear often in Sartoris’s narration: “grief and despair” and “terror and fear.” Why are these phrases repeated so often, and what do they emphasize about Sartoris’s inner conflict?

Major de Spain’s manor represents the “plantation home” of the antebellum South. Upon seeing it for the first time, Sartoris is struck by its size and grandeur. What about the de Spain’s home makes such an impression on Sartoris? Why does it ease the “terror and despair” he feels?

Faulkner reveals details about Snopes’s past as a “soldier” during the Civil War. Faulkner implies that the knowledge of these details will eventually change Sartoris’s perception of his father. Write a short story in which Sartoris reflects upon the events of “Barn Burning” as an adult. How does his adult understanding of his father impact Sartoris’s view of himself and his decision to warn the de Spain’s about the barn fire?

Faulkner often compares and contrasts Lennie and her sister with Sartoris’s older sisters. Identify three of the key differences between the Snopes women and analyze what these generational differences indicate on a thematic level.

Is Sartoris loyal? Consider multiple definitions of loyalty. Do his actions in the story preclude him from being a loyal son? To what or whom is Sartoris ultimately loyal?

Choose one main character (Snopes, Sartoris, or Lennie) and, using details from the text, analyze their character as it relates to Faulkner’s larger thematic arguments about the social and economic status of Mississippi after the Civil War.

Rewrite “Barn Burning” from the point of view of a secondary or background character, such as Sartoris’s aunt, older brother, Major de Spain, or the Justice of the Peace. Then, consider ways in which Sartoris’s perception colored the original narrative. What effect does the change in narrator have on the reader’s experience of the story? Why do you think Faulkner chose Sartoris as the story’s narrator?