Barn Burning: Essay Topics & Samples

If you are looking for some Barn Burning topics, prompts, and essay examples, then you are in the right place. Here you will find ten excellent ideas and get a list of samples. They can help you get started on the right note.

Keep reading to get inspired to write an excellent Barn Burning essay.

Essay Topics

1. Father and son relationship in Barn Burning.
   The Snopes family is the focus of the short story Barn Burning by Faulkner. However, only the son and father relationship is described. What causes the conflict between them? What worldviews do both of them represent? Try to characterize Abner as a father and Sarty as a son.
2. Racial struggle in Barn Burning.
   How the writer describes class, racial, and social turmoil in the story? Look at Barn Burning full text and find examples of racial slurs. It is the legacy of the Old South. However, did the New South change that much? Elaborate on your views.
3. Resentment in Barn Burning by Faulkner.
   Talk about the reasons for Abner’s resentment. Is it only his economic status or something else? Also, describe how it manifests on different occasions and what he decides to do about it. Do other characters in the story have resentment issues?
4. A question of loyalty in Barn Burning
   The theme of loyalty is one of the most crucial in the entire story. Sarty chooses to stay loyal to his sense of justice or be faithful to his blood. You can try to analyze how the boy’s thoughts shift throughout the story.
5. American dream in Barn Burning.
   How does the writer describe the poverty and wealth in the story? What are the possessions of the Snopes? Compare them with the de Spain’s possessions. Is America in Faulkner’s story described as the land of justice and opportunity?
6. The tone of Faulkner’s Barn Burning.
   What is the overall tone of the short story? How does Sarty describe his family and his sisters in particular? Elaborate on how the narrator describes Sarty’s emotions and feelings. What tone does it set for the entire story? It may feel as if the whole family is at war. Is it true?
7. The point of view in Barn Burning.
   Comment on the narrator’s point of view in the story. What type of technique Faulkner used in the story? Explore what effect this technique allows him to achieve. Does he know everything, or is his perspective still limited?
8. The meaning of the fire in Barn Burning.
   The symbolism of fire is essential for understanding the story. First, dwell on the reasons why Abner uses fire to serve justice. What does fire usually represent? You can also discuss what fire means for Sarty. When he talks about campfires, he mentions it slightly.
9. Sarty’s internal struggle.
   The boy’s fight for independence is an important theme. Why does he want to break away so much? Describe what type of conflicts are present during Sarty’s internal struggle. He experiences three stages, from conformity to independence from his father.
10. The purpose of introducing the court hearings into the story.
    What do the court hearings in Barn Burning represent? Do they represent justice or something else? Abner attends the hearings. However, he feels that their decision is not just. So, he takes justice into his own hands. Why does the story start with the court hearing?

Essay Samples

Here you will find some helpful essay samples. Not only can it give you some inspiration of what to write, but it can also provide you with a clear direction and understanding on some of the Barn Burning topics. If you’re in a hurry, you can apply a story summarizer to any of these examples to quickly get the gist of every paper.

1. “Barn Burning” a Story by William Faulkner
   This essay encompasses many topics and themes, starting from the racial question and ending up with father-son relationships. It also explains the historical background in which the story took place. A great place to start your research and a brainstorming session.
2. Literary Analysis of “A Rose for Emily” by W. Faulkner
   This essay deals with a different short story. However, it can be helpful as it speaks a lot about the techniques Faulkner employed in his writing. As the author’s style is not the easiest, it explains why and how literary devices are being used.
3. “Rose for Emily” and “Barn Burning” Comparison
   After the previous essay samples, you can finally see the comparison of the short stories. See what themes William Faulkner implemented in both of them and how characters suffer from the consequences of their actions. Besides, the author of the essay examines the overall surroundings of the stories and their influence on the atmosphere and tone.
4. Denomination of Children in Literature: King James Bible, Fathering, and Barn Burning
   Children’s worldview and behavior obviously differ from the adults’ perception of the world. Let’s discover the denomination of children in the literature! The author of this essay explores the kids’ position in society on the examples of three famous works: King James Bible, Fathering by Mukherjee, and The Burning by Faulkner.
5. “Barn Burning” Short Story by William Faulkner
   William Faulkner’s Barn Burning highlights the significance of fathers in raising their children. In this essay, see a general overview of the story. Find an analysis of the relationship between Sarty (the son) and Abner Snopes (his father). Read this essay and get a clear understanding of the short story Barn Bunning.
6. Father-Son Relationships in Barn Burning by William Faulkner
   The relationship between the father and the son in Barn Burning is full of tension and controversies. What are the roots of misunderstandings in a family? Read this essay and get a clear explanation.
7. Women in Barn Burning by William Faulkner
   Barn Burning describes the life of an American family of the late 19th century. At that time, the position of women in society was quite different from what it is now. Look at this essay to learn about gender inequality and social injustice in the post-Civil War conditions in the USA.
8. The Symbolism of Blood in Barn Burning by William Faulkner
   What comes to your mind when you think of blood? Death, crime? Or maybe strong family ties? Blood can symbolize a wide variety of things. What does it represent in Barn Burning by William Faulkner? Read this paper to figure it out.
9. Sarty Snopes Character Analysis
   Sarty Snopes is the protagonist of Barn Burning. He is a ten-year-old boy who is torn between loyalty to his father and disgust for him. What is the reason for Sarty’s concerns and inner conflict? Check this essay and get an in-depth analysis of Sarty’s personality.
10. Abner Snopes and Major de Spain as Figures of Authority in Faulkner’s Barn Burning
    Abner Snopes and Major de Spain are two characters of Barn Burning that hold a lot of power in their hands. However, they are people of different social statuses and environments. See how authority affects their personalities and their interactions with the surrounding people in this essay.