| “As I Lay Dying” is a tale told by a multitude of narrators all working to bury Addie Bundren, the now dead matriarch of the Bundren family. Anse, Darl, Tull, Cash, Jewel, Dewey Dell, Vardaman and a cast of minor characters all navigate through a series of misfortunes to carry out Addie's final wish: to be carried back to her home town of Jefferson, Mississippi.
On the way to Jefferson, Addie's body decomposes in the extraordinarily hot weather and produces a foul smell. The weather conditions are atrocious; the constant rain has flooded out the main bridges. When the family tries to cross the most stable of the bridges, it collapses, sending the horses, Cash and the coffin into the rising water. Cash survives, but he suffers a broken leg that festers all the way to Jefferson. Barns catch on fire, and Dewey Dell is preoccupied with a secret. The question remains: will Addie's final wish be carried out? The novel is composed primarily of stream of conscious monologues from each of the Bundren family members. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's Internal struggle/realization? Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes Loss of... Main Character Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - natural phenomena Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes The US: - Deep South Farm/Ranch? Yes Farm/Ranch: - farm Small town? Yes Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing - impregnation/reproduction Lot of foul language? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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