Sample Literature Analysis/Review on Barn Burning

The three articles present interactive settings that are based on the psychological elements of the different literature works. The psychological approach of the literature work helps develop a connection between the symbolic events in the story and the characters. A common theme being considered in evaluating the three literature studies is Oedipus complex. The literatures being evaluated include ‘Trifles,’ ‘An Evel Knievel Elegy,’ and ‘Barn Burning.’

Barn Burning

• Loyalty to the family

1. Col. Sartoris is brought to the town justice for testifying against his father who burnt the barn of Mr. Harris
2. “He aims for me to lie, he thought, again with that frantic grief and despair. And I will have to do it.” (Faulkner 480).

• Abner considers the action of Col. Sartoris an act of not being loyal to the family and wakes him up in the middle of the night and then punishes him.

1. Col. Sartoris is in a dilemma about his feelings towards his father; in part he loves and looks up to him, but again he is not proud of the actions of his father.
2. The father is bent on establishing a strict rule in the family and his arrogance leads to his death as he tries to torch Mr. de Spain’s barn.

Trifles

• Accusation of Murder

1. Found in the same room with the corpse of her husband, Minnie Wright is accused of killing him.
2. However, there are no evidences that support the claim.

• There are no evidences in the storyline that link the possible action of Minnie Wright as a form of conflict between her and the husband.

1. Later on a bird is found in the house and they consider that ‘Somebody – wrung – its – neck.’ (Glaspell 1393).

An Evel Knievel Elegy

• Personal Connection and conflict

1. The writer states in the opening statement “We have all felt our parachutes malfunctioning at a job interview or a cocktail party…” (Galvin 993).
2. The everyday experiences create the conflict experienced by the writer that also relates to the everyday issues.

 

 

Works Cited

Faulkner, William. “Barn Burning.” Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 480-491. Print.

Galvin, Brendan. “An Evel Knievel Elegy.” Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 993. Print.

Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles.” Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature: Reading, Thinking, Writing. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 1386-1395. Print