Barn Burning Analysis

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Summary of central events: Mr. Snopes burns Mr. Harris barn because Mr. Harris charges him, “a dollar pound fee,” (515) for the return of his hog. In court the judge dismisses the charges against Snopes but warns him to leave the town for good and Snopes agrees to comply. The next day the family arrives at their new home. After Snopes tracks horse manure onto the expensive rug, the server instructs him to clean and return it. Snopes ruins the rug from improper cleaning and Major de Spain “charge[s] [him] twenty bushels of corn against [his] crop” (521). At the last court appearance the judge decides that Mr.Snopes has to pay Major de Spain 10 bushels of corn for the ruin of the rug. Because Snopes is upset from having to pay de Spain for the ruin of the rug, he attempts to burn Spain’s barn. Snopes has plan to burn de Spain barn. Sartoris runs to de Spain house, shouting “Barn” (525). Three shouts ring out and Snope was killed. Protagonist : Because Sartoris is force to deal with issues of right and wrong he has to be more mature than an average ten-year old. “Your getting to be a man,” (517) Snopes replies after he strikes Sarty on the side of his head. Sarty is “round” and demonstrates growth and development throughout the story. He is uneducated but is willing to sacrifice his relationship with his family for justices and morality. Sartoris decides that the support that his family offers is something he can do without. Point of View: The story is told from the third person omniscient point of view. Setting: The setting takes place in the South during the early summer of the 1800s in a small country town. The courthouse is in a general store, “[t]he store in which the Justice of the Peace’s court…”(515). The dialect of Sarto... ... middle of paper ... ...racters are similar in escaping from people that over crowds them. Sarty “[runs] down the drive, blood and breath roaring; presently he was in the road again thought he could not see it” (525). Sarty finally got away from his abusive father and now he makes decisions for himself and justices. Waverly runs away from her bragging mother “raced down the street, dashing between people, not looking back…“(741). She realizes that her mother loves her and is proud of her. Both characters escape their families to have peace. Sary did not return but Waverly did. Evaluation: Barn Burning forces readers to think deeper when it comes to making decisions. Decisions not only affect the person who is making it but it also affects the people that are around. Making the right decisions should be made wisely, not to benefit someone else, but because it is the right thing to do.

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