by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 15th, 2009

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I have to read the book "the Sound and The Fury" by William Faulkner for my literature class. I read eleven pages and I don't get it. Please help me understand why I have to read this book out of all the other books out there?

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by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on January 15th, 2009
You have to read it because you won't pass the class if you don't.

I don't remember reading The Sound and the Fury, although I got on a Faulkner kick 15 years ago and read a lot of his books. Faulkner kind of eases into his stories sideways. They don't make sense for a while. He kind of plunks you into a story without explanation and leaves you to watch the characters for a while. You have to have faith in the author and keep reading. After a while, things will begin to become clearer. I read As I Lay Dying in that Faulkner kick, and I don't know that I ever understood exactly what was going on in the story, although it was a rich and visual story. I couldn't even remember the title, until I went and looked it up.

From my own point of view, I think most literature classes are designed to give you a feel for a lot of different styles and purposes of writing. I feel that they often tell you more about the times in which they were written than the authors or genres that they spawn. They tell you about how people thought at that time and place. They frequently showcase those authors that were most popular, and for that author to be popular he or she had to appeal to many people. So in a way, that author must reflect popular thought of their day. Either that, or he led the popular thought of his day. So what does Faulkner tell you about the way people were thinking and feeling in the thirties, given what you know about the history of the times? Why were they attracted to his writing? How was he different from the writers that came before him? He may not appeal to you, you are of a different generation and different times. You may struggle through it, but why did your great-great grandparents pay money for it?
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- Thank yOu!!! +++6 for that great Answer:):) In what during the year of 1927..april.They are black..I think?? because they use the word niggers to refer to themselves. I know there is a really nice girl named Candice..and there is Lester..who is Lester? who is the mentally handicap boy and why are they looking for that quarter? And what show do he want to see?..I am a little confused..and I am only on page 11. Thank You for your answer..I kind of see what you are saying:):)
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 15th, 2009
- OH! I see! I read your response to my answer first. So you are quoting the book - use quotes! :)
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 15th, 2009
- Okay:) "white folks gives nigger money because know first white man comes along with a band going to get it all back, so nigge rcan go to work for some more"...what does that mean?
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 15th, 2009
- It means they are powerless. It means that even though they've been freed, they are still slaves to white men. I can't seem to find the photograph that went with this article and I wanted to show it to you. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Off_the_Beaten_Track.html If you saw the picture, I think the whole book would snap into sharp focus. We talk about prejudice still existing, but if you saw this picture, I think you'd see how very much things have changed. I didn't realize how very bad things were for sharecroppers until I saw this picture.
  
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  by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on January 16th, 2009
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_and_the_Fury
  Here TJoe, this might help too. The wikipedia article give an overview of the characters and plot. The story is told four times from four points of view. It centers on a white family that has fallen from its heights during the civil war. Three of the narrators are members of the white family and one is their black servant. The first voice you are hearing is the mentally handicapped son of the white family.
  
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  by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on January 16th, 2009
- Thanks so much Blessed!!! For some reason I thought the family was black, thanks for helping me out by the way. I just requested you as a friend because I have to Literature courses this semester:) I might need some extra help:):) Thank yOu again for your patience:):):)..and kindness:)
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 16th, 2009
- No problem. I've been through those classes too.
  
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  by bagicide stayed 10 months too long on January 16th, 2009
- Again, see if you can find this book on tape. Hearing dialogue written in heavy dialect like this really helps with understanding the meaning. Read along with the tape. This is how I read all of Shakespeare in my college classes, and it really worked to help me understand the old English.
  :)
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 16th, 2009
- Thanks Suzanne:):)
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 17th, 2009
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by Possum on January 16th, 2009
Eleven whole pages and you're giving up-your lust for knowledge and understand never cease to amaze me! Maybe you should start with the source of the title.
If necessary consider buying/borrowing Cliff's Notes so you'll know what you're supposed to be reading (read the notes as you read the book- don't read the notes first or you'll probably forget)
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- He's not giving it up! He's asking for help with understanding it!
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 16th, 2009
- TJ is very much not a he ;-)
  
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  by Possum on January 17th, 2009
- Thanks Possum:):)..I am not giving up yet yo:):)LOL:P
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 17th, 2009
- OK Hard to tell from the picture! :)
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 17th, 2009
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by justmesuzanne on January 15th, 2009
Quite honestly, I haven't read it and did not have to read it when I was in school. Looking at the info on Wikipedia,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sound_and_the_Fury

I would say, you have to read it because it is a classic and because Faulkner originated the "stream of consciousness" style of narration with this novel.

My advice to you would be to look at the info on Wiki to get an overview of the novel. Look up a couple of other good reviews to get an idea of what people who know thought about it. Look and see if you can find a good version of it on tape, and read along with the tape.

Don't do any of this INSTEAD of reading the novel, but all of these methods used as support will help you understand how the novel is viewed and how it was intended to be read. If you can take a multimedia approach, it will make it more interesting for you.

Good luck!
:)Suzanne
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- Thank YOu so much!!!
  And to be honest with you I only read 11 pages, and excuse me if anyone gets offended:)..It is a nigger family during the 1927's..during World war 1..I know there is a mentally challenged boy, and then there is this smartass who takes him outside all the time, and then mammy doesn't want the boy to go outside without his boot covers. And they are always telling him to put his hands in his pockets...like he is that stupid, but he knows how to smell. Candice always smells like trees..so he is a good smeller:):) So he is not that stupid..he see's:) That's what I get from the first 11 pages:):)
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 15th, 2009
- Well, that's a lot of observation, and it sounds like you could get quite a bit out of reading along with a good tape. There is probably a lot of meaning you can glean from hearing it well-read.
  
  Be careful with your choice of words, and you won't offend anyone. If your use of the "N" word is a direct quote from the book, put it in quotes. If it is your own choice, you will be better off choosing another word!
  
  :) Suzanne
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 15th, 2009
- I am just confused:) I am trying to read the book and understand how I can get passed of my least favorite words:):) Its number one the G word..the J word and the N word:):)
  
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  by TjoeBaxter is Hot Yo on January 15th, 2009
- :) :)
  
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  by justmesuzanne on January 16th, 2009
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by Im BACK on April 15th, 2009
It's considered an American classic novel. What's wrong with reading the novel? It might give you some new perspective on how you see people, life, and such.

Faulkner uses a lot of stream-of-conscienceness in his novels. For example, you might be reading about trailer parks and the next thing you might be reading about trees. It goes on and on. Try not to follow the story directly because it's not going to make sense if you do.
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Question

I have to read the book "the Sound and The Fury" by William Faulkner for my literature class. I read eleven pages and I don't get it. Please help me understand why I have to read this book out of all the other books out there?

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Question

I have to read the book "the Sound and The Fury" by William Faulkner for my literature class. I read eleven pages and I don't get it. Please help me understand why I have to read this book out of all the other books out there?

Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

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