William Faulkner’s short story “Barn Burning” is set back to around 1890’s in the south of the United Sates. The short story revolves around the Snopes, a poverty stricken family who seem to not be able to stay anywhere too long. The family includes Abner the father, Lennie the mother, Lizzie the aunt, and four children the oldest a male, twin girls, and Sarty the youngest male being the only one of the children with a name mentioned. In this story Faulkner employs plot, character, and point of view to create the question of loyalty over right and wrong.
Faulkner uses plot in a structured way using every key component helping form his view on the question he created. He starts the story with a discussion with Abner, …show more content…
In some stories authors choose to use very few stock characters unlike them Faulkner has many in this story. It is apparent that Lettie, Lizzie, the eldest son, and the twins are all stock characters. Lettie is a stock character for many reasons. She cares for the whole family always looking out for their well-being. She also tends to the house and cooks meals for her family. Lastly she does not speck her views that may be against her husband strongly in almost fear of him. All of these reason show that Lettie is the stereotypical housewife in many stories causing her to be a stock character. Lizzie has nearly no role in this story what so ever. There is not much to note about her besides the fact the she is an Aunt who happens to stay with this family. She is stock due to her having no significance in this story. The twins like Lizzie have nearly no role in this story because no words are spoken. They are mentioned often this does not mean they are not stock. The girls simply do chores and obey any instruction they are given. When described in the story is seems as though they are extremely neglected. This showing that they are stock because how often are there girls in story from low income families who are neglected and un recognized. The eldest son is almost a mixture of a flat character and stock, leaning more towards stock. He is in the story