Faulknerian Style in the Climactic Scene of 'Barn Burning'

Chelsea Nichols
March, 2003

Faulknerian Style in the Climactic Scene of Barn Burning

In the climactic scene of Barn Burning, William Faulkner displays many literary talents in order to describe the remarkable scene in which Sarty Snopes, the main character of the story, breaks away from the loyalty to his family to satisfy his own moral hunger . Faulkner’s unique style of writing is very recognizable in this scene, and he uses many successful techniques to make this part of the story flow quickly while relaying the always-present source of inner turmoil in Sarty. The Faulknerian style cannot be exactly defined, but how he presents this climactic scene shows the way Faulkner can manipulate the English language to create feeling and action.
Faulkner creates a magnificent sense of movement as Sarty runs to Major Ds Spain’s house to betray his father, and as he runs away from what he’s done. Although he is being pulled between the loyalty to his father, and the loyalty to h...