A rose for emily

Creative Response #3: “A Rose for Emily”

Length: 500 words (approximately two pages double spaced – multi paragraphs, please! Indent the beginning of each paragraph)

Format: Times New Roman 12, one inch margins, double-spaced (Use this font)

Due February 8 2026

Upload: MS Word Attachment or PDF ONLY

Choose either A or B (but not both)

A. In “A Rose for Emily,” William Faulkner accomplishes a difficult writing task. He tells the story of Miss Emily Grierson from a unique perspective: the first-person plural (“we”). By doing so, he tells us about the strange events in her life from the collective viewpoints of the townspeople rather than from that of one person. He lets us know about individual townspeople’s views of the events in her life through dialogue at various points throughout the story.

In this writing assignment, you will approach the story from the perspective of one character with special insight into Miss Emily’s life – Tobe, her African-American servant. Using your imagination while staying true to Faulkner’s plot, in at least 500 words, write a journal/diary entry from the first person singular point of view of Tobe, Miss Emily’s servant. Choose one or two events from the story as the incident which you are focusing on. The incident(s) should be one which Tobe would have witnessed or have close knowledge of, such as Miss Emily’s refusal to bury her father, or the murder and subsequent living with her suitor’s body. Incorporate two instances of dialogue into your account, such as a conversation Tobe might have had with Miss Emily, her father, or any other character mentioned in the story. Please note: Use your imagination but stay true to Faulkner’s plot.

OR

B. You are the current mayor of Jefferson, Mississippi and are asked to deliver the eulogy at Miss Emily Grierson’s funeral in at least 500 words. “Friends we are gathered here today to mourn the death of our longtime citizen, Miss Emily Grierson.” In your response, you can also describe what is happening during and after the delivery of the eulogy. How are the townsfolk responding to or reacting to your comments – in agreement, etc?

• What you would say, as a representative of the town, about the role that Miss Emily has played in the town’s history?
• What aspects of Miss Emily’s life would you focus on?
• How do you think she would best like to be remembered?
• How do you think the town remembers her?
• What are some events in her life that you would like to focus on – the china painting lessons to the young children, etc.?

Please note: Use your imagination but stay true to Faulkner’s plot. Don’t create a totally different story.

DON’T FORGET: Come up with five open-ended questions about “A Rose For Emily” and post them to Discussion Board #1