Faulkner's As I Lay Dying - Epic Conventions and Character Analysis - Part 2
Explore Faulkner's adaptation of epic conventions in "As I Lay Dying" through this 49-minute Yale University lecture. Examine the blurring of boundaries between humans and non-humans, and the resurrection of the dead. Analyze Tull's relationship with mules and buzzards, Jewel's connection to snakes and horses, and the symbolic significance of these animal associations. Delve into the narrative secrecy surrounding Jewel's genealogy and the parallels between Reverend Whitfield and biblical imagery. Investigate how Faulkner's use of cross-species kinship and scattered representation contributes to the epic tradition, drawing comparisons to Homer's Cyclops, Circe's magic, and Dante's Inferno. Gain insights into the portrayal of poor whites, the mythic qualities of animals, and the epic convention of raising the dead in this comprehensive analysis of Faulkner's literary techniques.