The Sound and the Fury Lesson Plan

The watch Jason III gives Quentin is one of the novel's most important symbols. How is the watch used in this section? What is the significance of the ticking that begins the section? Why does Quentin break the watch face?

The ticking of the watch represents the characters' attempts to control time, something that the novel repeatedly shows cannot be done. Moreover, it's particularly a symbol of Mr. Compson's desire to control time, which places a burden on all of his children, especially Quentin. The section opens with ticking to show that Quentin feels the march of time, but when he breaks the watch face, he tries to break free.

Throughout this section, Quentin is...