The Sound and the Fury has to signify SOMETHING, right?

So I am reading it for the second time. The first time, a few years back, I read it during my short-lived ‘I need to read all the classics, and I need to read them NOW’ phase. I did not, to put it lightly, sweat the comprehension the first time around. This time, though, it is for a class with a fast-approaching midterm, and so I feel that it would probably be in my best interest to actually understand what is going on.

Can anyone tell me what happens? I’m not really interested in stuff like “what themes are important to Faulkner throughout the four sections” or “what is the signifigance of Benjy’s chapter,” but I really just want to know what happens.

Why are there two Quentins?

Is there incest?

Why does it seem like there are two Jasons?

What is the basic plot?

Why is this book so famous? Is it because it is the first instance of having the story told by four different people? Because that is all I can figure out.
Currently I am just starting the second section, and while I thoroughly plan on wading through the entire thing a second time, I might not finish until right next to the class, so I figured I would ask my questions early.
Any help greatly appreciated,
love
sneeze

bump bump bump

Sorry if such a bump was premature - the post was right at the bottom of the first page. I figured that since I just downed six (yes) shots of espresso, mixed into an oreo mocha, and thus will be awake for awhile, and reading, I would try and keep my question current.

love
sneeze

The second Quentin is Caddy’s daughter, named after the Quentin who killed himself after part 2. Probably no incest, but certainly plenty of incestuous feelings. Only one Jason. No traditional plot to speak of. And it’s so famous because it absolutely kicks the ass of every American novel since Huckleberry Finn.

Thank you, Minty Green. The Quentin thing especially helps things out immensly. I really would have liked Cliff Notes for this one, if just so I could figure out what is going on, but believe it or not, there is no place around me where I could know to buy one that wouldnt involve an hour more of bus-related travel.

I still dont see if kicking the ass of any (let alone all) American novels, but I think so far that is just me being prejudiced against books that are needlessly incoherent. This despite the feeling that I need to like Faulkner, if not because he is (supposedly) a good writer, atleast he is a fellow Mississipian (I think).

Anyway - thanks again!

love
sneeze

You might find this link helpful:

http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/faulkner.html

also http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/soundfury has a summary of the book, characters, context etc. excellent site, i’ve used it numerous times meself. you might need to register to use it, though. it’s free and definitely worth it.

am i allowed to advertise a site in this way? :slight_smile:

Thank heavens for links!

Thank you, Fretful Porpentine and auRa - those links helped me out immesnly. Particularly Sparknotes - it prevented me from having to start similar threads on Walt Whitman and Ernest Hemingway.

maybe this final wont kick my ass through my throat after all.

thanks again.

love
sneeze

You should spend more time reading and less time posting. Discussion of literature should take place in Cafe Society, not General Questions. Furthermore, no forum of the SDMB should not be thought of as a homework aid. This thread is closed.

bibliophage
moderator GQ