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Choices in Barn Burning

            William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" is the story of inner conflict and change within a young boy named Sartoris Snopes. He is faced with the decision of choosing to give in to his father Abner's attempts to make him lie in court and keep him out of jail for barn burning or betray his flesh and blood and be truthful to his convictions. Sarty's father pressures him after his initial court appearance for barn burning telling him, "You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain't going to have any blood to stick to you." (Meyer 496) Sarty begins the story feeling a strong allegiance to his father, but by the end of the story the reader learns his views have drastically changed. .
             The plot of "Barn Burning" revolves around the consequences of the choices Abner has made in the past. He has been a parasite in former communities causing his family grief and embarrassment. The protagonist in this story is Sarty Snopes. He draws sympathy from the reader for the situations his father puts him in and is the central character that the conflict revolves around. The climax of the story occurs at the end when Sarty has alerted Major de Spain of his father's intentions to burn his barn. The culmination gains its suspenseful edge when Sarty is running down Major de Spain's drive and he hears Major de Spain's horse galloping behind him. The symbolic resolution to the conflict comes when Abner and his elder son are shot and killed while trying to burn Major de Spain's barn. However the actual solution does not occur until sometime during the night following his father's death, while Sarty is sitting upon the crest of a hill reflecting on his actions and future life. (Meyer 504) .
             The setting occurs in the late 1800's in small towns and on a wealthy war veteran's plantation. Many southerners earned their money by share-cropping during this time. Abner Snopes being a share-cropper allows this story to be feasible.


Essays Related to Choices in Barn Burning

1. Barn Burning

Colonel Sartoris Snopes, who is called "Sarty" by his family, is a major character in William Faulkner's "Barn Burning." This young boy of about ten finds himself in the position of being expected to lie to protect his father from punishment for burning the neighbor's barn. Sarty's character in "Barn Burning" is a study of the physical and spiritual relationships between a father and son that are born out in the reality of truth versus lies as evidenced in Sarty's Personal integrity. In "Barn Burning" Faulkner writes about the relationship between a father and his son i...

  • Word Count: 740
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Barn Burning

Barn Burning by William Faulkner is a short story told through the eyes of Sartoris Snopes, who is the ten-year-old son of the rebellious Abner Snopes. Throughout the story, "Sarty" is faced with a harsh choice; either he strictly relies on his father for guidance, or he molds his own future by surpassing his father's estranged ways. ... As a round character, Sarty allows three of his father's actions to help him realize that he does not want to be like his father: a burned barn, a ruined rug, and a second attempt to burn a barn. ... He heard his father planning to burn Major de S...

  • Word Count: 788
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Barn Burning

Barn Burning At the beginning of the story Faulkner introduced the readers to Sarty who is the main character of "Barn Burning". ... After the trial and ordered to pay the prize to De Spain, Abner is angry and that is why he decided to burn De Spain's barn so he doesn't have to pay. He asked Sarty to go to the barn and get the wagon oil. ... Faulkner introduced the readers to the climax after Sarty warns De Spain about his barn and he hears the gun short. ... Faulkner makes the readers think that what point should a young man leaves his parents and go off, to make his choices? ...

  • Word Count: 618
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. barn burning

Barn Burning "You"re getting to be a man. ... This quote from William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" does reveal a central issue in the story, as Jane Hiles suggests in her interpretation. ... Sarty's father, Abner Snopes is being accused of a barn burning. ... Barn burning is his largest and always final statement. ... Inevitably, one night Abner decides he will make his signature statement, the barn burning. ...

  • Word Count: 1119
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Barn Burning

Barn Burning "You"re getting to be a man. ... This quote from William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" does reveal a central issue in the story, as Jane Hiles suggests in her interpretation. ... Sarty's father, Abner Snopes is being accused of a barn burning. ... Barn burning is his largest and always final statement. ... Inevitably, one night Abner decides he will make his signature statement, the barn burning. ...

  • Word Count: 1118
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Barn Burning

Barn Burning "You"re getting to be a man. ... This quote from William Faulkner's "Barn Burning" does reveal a central issue in the story, as Jane Hiles suggests in her interpretation. ... Sarty's father, Abner Snopes is being accused of a barn burning. ... Barn burning is his largest and always final statement. ... Inevitably, one night Abner decides he will make his signature statement, the barn burning. ...

  • Word Count: 1118
  • Approx Pages: 4
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7. barn burning

The story "Barn burning" seems just to be about a cruel father and a son who is in the grips of that cruelty. I think Faulkner discovers at least one important question in the story were he asks at what point should a person make a choice between what his parents and or family believes and his own values? ... After they get home, Sarty is asked by his father to go to the barn and get the wagon oil. ... The climax occurs after Sarty warns De Spain about his barn and he hears the gunshot. ... I also thought that it was important to make some general analysis of the timeless question that is bein...

  • Word Count: 845
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Barn Burning

The choice between family and conscience is a strong theme within "Barn Burning" that Sarty, the protagonist, has to face. His father, Abner Snopes, does not choose the best decisions for himself and his family, but because he is family, Sarty feels he has no choice or be admonished and hit. ... The battle between listening to his heart and following his family and unconditional love imposes on him a hard struggle of the choices of life. ...

  • Word Count: 246
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