Genre
Short stories
Setting and Context
The setting of the story does not go beyond the city of Jefferson, Mississippi State, the US. The time though varies: some stories take place in the first part of the 19th century (“Red Leaves”), or in the first part of the 20th century (“Dry December”, “That Evening Sun”, “Two Soldiers”, “Barn Burning”).
Narrator and Point of View
Most of the stories are told by the third-person, which makes them third-person type of narration. Though there is a story told by the first person, that’s “That Evening Sun”, which is told by Quentin, a son of Mr. Compson.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the stories is dramatic, and the mood is tense.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Each story has its protagonist. “Red Leaves”’s protagonist is the old slave, the protagonist of “Barn Burning” is young Sarty, the protagonist of “Dry December” is Minnie Cooper, the protagonist of “That Evening Sun” is Nancy.
Major Conflict
The major conflicts of the stories concern domestic violence, racism, social inequality, and jealousy.
Climax
Most of the stories have an open end, and thus have no climax.
Foreshadowing
“’I hell-born, child,’ Nancy said. ‘I won't be nothing soon. I going back where I come from soon.’” (from “That Evening Sun”). Nancy’s words foreshadow, in a rather vague way, that her life is to end soon.
Understatement
N/A
Allusions
The story “Two Soldiers” alludes to the World War I.
Imagery
The stories are abundant in the images of everyday life and the environment of common people.
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
The stories explore the themes of racial inequality, of racism, of sexual abuses and violence parallelly.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
“But as they neared the square she began to tremble again, walking with her head up her hands clenched at her sides, their voices about her murmurous, also with that feverish, glittering quality of their eyes.” (“glittering quality of their eyes” is a metonymy for the restless and sympathizing look; “voices about her murmurous” is a metonymy for chattings). From “Dry December”.
“They went on, passing the lifted hats of the gentlemen, the suddenly ceased voices, deferent, protective.” (“ceased voices” is synecdoche for the ceased conversation). From “Dry December”.
Personification
“Below the cast the wan hemorrhage of the moon increased. It heaved above the ridge, silvering the air, the dust, so that they seemed to breathe, live, in a bowl of molten lead.” (the moon is personified, from “Dry December”).
“Like nobody had made it [a whisper], like it came from nowhere and went nowhere, until it was like Nancy was not there at all.” (the whisper is personified, from “That Evening Sun”)
