Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who writes the note that Quentin receives at the beginning of the novel?
Who writes the note that Quentin receives at the beginning of the novel?
Rosa
When Quentin meets with Rosa, what does she call the musty room where they sit to talk?
When Quentin meets with Rosa, what does she call the musty room where they sit to talk?
the office
What is Rosa's attitude as she begins to tell the story of Thomas Sutpen?
What is Rosa's attitude as she begins to tell the story of Thomas Sutpen?
bitterness
Who seemed to have Thomas Sutpen's temperament?
Who seemed to have Thomas Sutpen's temperament?
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Where at the plantation did Henry kill Judith's fiancé?
Where at the plantation did Henry kill Judith's fiancé?
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What does Thomas use to buy his acreage of land?
What does Thomas use to buy his acreage of land?
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What do Thomas and his slaves wear as they build the plantation?
What do Thomas and his slaves wear as they build the plantation?
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What did General Compson loan to Thomas to begin his plantation?
What did General Compson loan to Thomas to begin his plantation?
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Out of the 100 people that were invited to Thomas and Ellen's wedding, how many came?
Out of the 100 people that were invited to Thomas and Ellen's wedding, how many came?
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What did the townspeople throw when Thomas and Ella emerged from the church after getting married?
What did the townspeople throw when Thomas and Ella emerged from the church after getting married?
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How did Rosa's mother die?
How did Rosa's mother die?
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How did Rosa plan to rescue Judith from the Sutpen fate?
How did Rosa plan to rescue Judith from the Sutpen fate?
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After Rosa's aunt left, how often did Rosa go to Sutpen's plantation?
After Rosa's aunt left, how often did Rosa go to Sutpen's plantation?
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Who was it assumed that Charles Bon would marry?
Who was it assumed that Charles Bon would marry?
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How did Rosa's father kill himself?
How did Rosa's father kill himself?
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Whose appearance and behavior did Henry imitate?
Whose appearance and behavior did Henry imitate?
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Where was Charles keeping a mistress?
Where was Charles keeping a mistress?
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What rank was Charles promoted to in the Confederate army?
What rank was Charles promoted to in the Confederate army?
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Mr. Compson hints that Henry may have wanted to see Charles and Judith married because Henry was ___
Mr. Compson hints that Henry may have wanted to see Charles and Judith married because Henry was ___
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What was Judith's wedding gown made from?
What was Judith's wedding gown made from?
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Who told Rosa that Henry had shot Charles?
Who told Rosa that Henry had shot Charles?
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After Charles was shot, what was Judith found holding?
After Charles was shot, what was Judith found holding?
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After the Civil War, Thomas seemed ___.
After the Civil War, Thomas seemed ___.
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When Thomas realized that the plantation could not be saved, what did he do to Rosa?
When Thomas realized that the plantation could not be saved, what did he do to Rosa?
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According to Rosa, how long has someone been hiding at the plantation?
According to Rosa, how long has someone been hiding at the plantation?
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What are students at Harvard always asking Quentin to explain?
What are students at Harvard always asking Quentin to explain?
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What did Wash use to kill Thomas?
What did Wash use to kill Thomas?
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Who retrieved Charles Etienne de St. Valery Bon and brought him to the plantation?
Who retrieved Charles Etienne de St. Valery Bon and brought him to the plantation?
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How did Judith die?
How did Judith die?
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When Rosa returns to the plantation, how long has she been away?
When Rosa returns to the plantation, how long has she been away?
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Who passed down the stories of Thomas's life?
Who passed down the stories of Thomas's life?
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Where was Thomas born?
Where was Thomas born?
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How did Thomas earn the hand of the daughter of the landowner he worked for?
How did Thomas earn the hand of the daughter of the landowner he worked for?
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Why did Henry abandon his first wife?
Why did Henry abandon his first wife?
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What does Wash Jones call Thomas?
What does Wash Jones call Thomas?
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Who do Quentin and Shreve think poisoned Charles against Thomas?
Who do Quentin and Shreve think poisoned Charles against Thomas?
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In Quentin and Shreve's imaginations, who saved Henry from wounds he received in the war?
In Quentin and Shreve's imaginations, who saved Henry from wounds he received in the war?
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When Rosa returned to the plantation with Quentin, who tried to stop her from going up the stairs?
When Rosa returned to the plantation with Quentin, who tried to stop her from going up the stairs?
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Who was in the photo that Judith found in Charles's pocket after he was shot?
Who was in the photo that Judith found in Charles's pocket after he was shot?
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Quentin and Shreve conclude that Charles must have thought that ___ when he went to the plantation the night he was killed.
Quentin and Shreve conclude that Charles must have thought that ___ when he went to the plantation the night he was killed.
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When Quentin and Rosa go to the plantation, how does Quentin get in?
When Quentin and Rosa go to the plantation, how does Quentin get in?
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Why did Henry Sutpen finally come home?
Why did Henry Sutpen finally come home?
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Who escorts Rosa back to her carriage?
Who escorts Rosa back to her carriage?
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What is in the emergency closet that Clytie has prepared in case the police come for Henry?
What is in the emergency closet that Clytie has prepared in case the police come for Henry?
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Shreve speculates that the ___ of the world will one day overrun everything.
Shreve speculates that the ___ of the world will one day overrun everything.
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Study Notes
Characters and Relationships
- Rosa writes the note received by Quentin at the novel's beginning, establishing a key narrative link.
- Rosa exhibits bitterness as she narrates the story of Thomas Sutpen, reflecting her emotional turmoil.
- Judith, a central character, inherits her father's ruthless temperament, deepening family complexities.
- Henry kills Judith's fiancé in front of the plantation gates, a pivotal act highlighting family rivalries.
Setting and Plot Points
- The musty room where Rosa and Quentin converse is described as "the office," symbolizing the confinement of their conversation.
- Thomas Sutpen acquires his land using Spanish coins, an indication of his cunning and resourcefulness.
- During the plantation's construction, Thomas and his slaves are noted to wear nothing, illustrating the harshness of laboring conditions.
Events Surrounding the Sutpen Family
- General Compson loans Thomas seed cotton to initiate his plantation, showcasing the support system among characters.
- Only 10 out of 100 wedding invitees attend Thomas and Ellen's marriage, depicting societal dynamics and antagonism.
- Dirt is thrown at Thomas and Ella after their wedding, symbolizing the town's bitterness towards them.
Symbolism and Themes
- Rosa's mother's death occurs during childbirth, contributing to themes of maternal loss and familial burdens.
- Rosa's desire to save Judith from the Sutpen legacy involves marrying Thomas, showcasing desperate measures against familial fate.
- After the Civil War, Thomas's emptiness reflects the decay of values and wealth post-conflict.
Key Events and Character Actions
- Wash, a servant, reveals that Henry shot Charles, unravelling tragic consequences among the characters.
- Judith is found holding a photo of herself after Charles's death, emphasizing themes of identity and loss.
- Characters like Clytie and Wash play crucial roles in the family's dynamics, with Clytie attempting to protect Rosa from their shared painful history.
Conclusions and Speculations
- Quentin and Shreve's discussions speculate on Charles's motivations, revealing deeper tensions within the family.
- Rosa's return to the plantation occurs after 43 years, underlining the long-lasting impact of trauma and history.
- The novel examines perceptions of race, lineage, and identity through Henry's abandonment of his first wife due to her mixed heritage.
Other Notable Details
- The emergency closet prepared by Clytie reflects the ongoing unstable situations and potential violence surrounding the Sutpen family.
- Shreve's commentary on the "Jim Bonds of the world" hints at broader societal commentary and the cyclical nature of violence and oppression.
- The significance of artifacts, such as Judith’s wedding gown made from rags, symbolizes the collapse of idealism and wealth in the Sutpen lineage.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of William Faulkner's 'Absalom, Absalom!' with these flashcards. The quiz covers key characters, settings, and themes from the novel. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike!
