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William Faulkner Research Paper

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William Faulkner Biography Nobel Prize–winning novelist William Faulkner, a major American twentieth-century author, wrote historical novels portraying the decline and decay of the upper crust of Southern society. The imaginative power and psychological depth of his work ranks him as one of America's greatest novelists. William Cuthbert Faulkner was born on September 25,1879 in New Albany, Mississippi however he grew up in Oxford, Mississippi. He was the first of four sons to Murry Cuthbert Faulkner (June 26, 1899-December 24, 1975) and Maud Butler Faulkner (November 27, 1871-October 16, 1975). His brothers were Murry Charles "Jack" Falkner (June 26, 1899–December 24, 1975); John Wesley Faulkner (September 24, 1901 – March 28, 1963); and Dean Swift Falkner (August 15, 1907–November 10, 1935). Murry joined the FBI and took part in the murder of John Dillinger, a famous bank robber, in Chicago. John had become an American author and an accomplished self-taught painter. The youngest brother Dean died in a plane crash during an airshow at the age of 28 years old. Estelle Oldham Faulkner was a popular girl growing up with an …show more content…

He is best known for such novels as The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, Light in August and Absalom, Absalom! The novel The Sound and the Fury (1929) centers on the Compson family, former Southern aristocrats who are struggling to deal with the dissolution of their family and its reputation. Over the course of the 30 years or so related in the novel, the family falls into financial ruin, loses its religious faith and the respect of the town of Jefferson, and many of them die tragically. As I Lay Dying (1930) is narrated by 15 different characters over 59 chapters. It is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her poor, rural family's quest and motivations—noble or selfish—to honor her wish to be buried in her hometown of Jefferson,

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