A Rose for Emily Quiz

Introduction to Miss Emily Grierson

• Miss Emily Grierson's death prompts the entire town to attend her funeral, showcasing her significance as a "fallen monument."
• The funeral highlights the town's curiosity, especially among women wanting to see inside her long-secluded house.

Miss Emily's House

• The house, a once-grand representation of the 1870s, now stands out in decay amidst modern developments like garages and cotton gins.
• Described as an "eyesore," it remains the only relic of a once prestigious neighborhood.
• The setting includes a traditional cemetery where both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried, emphasizing historical context.

Social Obligations and Tax Situation

• Miss Emily symbolized tradition and societal duty; her family legacy created a sense of obligation for the townsfolk.
• The late Colonel Sartoris had relieved her of taxes by fabricating a story about her father's financial contributions to the town, which would not have been accepted as charity.
• This arrangement, from 1894, created confusion when new town officials sought to collect taxes.

Communication Issues

• The townspeople's attempts to notify Miss Emily about her tax obligations are met with her silence and resistance.
• She refuses to leave her home, evidenced by the lack of visitors and her long-standing reclusiveness since ceasing her china-painting lessons.

Town Authorities' Visit

• A formal deputation visits Miss Emily to discuss her unpaid taxes, introduced by her old servant.
• The setting within her home is described as dusty and neglected, reflecting her isolation.

Miss Emily's Appearance and Attitude

• Upon their visit, Miss Emily is characterized as bloated and pallid, with a fragile demeanor that betrays her loneliness and mental state.
• She demonstrates a cold, unwavering stance on her tax situation, stubbornly insisting she owes nothing, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Confrontation with Town Officials

• The officials express confusion over her denial of tax obligations, emphasizing the lack of documentation supporting her claim.
• Miss Emily's repeated insistence to "see Colonel Sartoris," despite his death nearly ten years prior, suggests her clinging to the past and refusal to accept change.

Conclusion of Encounter

• Her authoritative command to her servant to remove the town officials illustrates her dominance in the conversation and her detachment from societal norms.
• This act of defiance mirrors her previous confrontation with town authorities regarding a mysterious smell emanating from her house, marking her as a constant figure of resistance in the community.