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Absalom, Absalom Study Guide

by William Faulkner

Absalom, Absalom study guide contains a biography of William Faulkner, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Absalom, Absalom! is the story of a legend and the people who tell it over and over again. In September 1909, 20-year-old Quentin Compson goes to visit Rosa Coldfield, an older woman in his hometown of Jefferson, Mississippi. Miss Rosa has summoned him to listen to her version of the legend of Thomas Sutpen. That same night, Quentin goes over the story again with his father, Mr. Compson, who tells the story from a different perspective. Five months later, when he goes to Harvard, he reinvents the story with his roommate, Shreve.

In 1833, Thomas Sutpen came to Jefferson and built, without any help but his own wild, superhuman will, an enormous mansion on 100 acres that he swindled from an Indian tribe. With a band of foreign slaves and a…

Read the full Absalom, Absalom Summary

• Absalom, Absalom Summary
• About Absalom, Absalom
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 1
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 2
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 3
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 4
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 5
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 6
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 7
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 8
• Summary and Analysis of Chapter 9
• The Biblical Story in Absalom, Absalom!
• Related Links on Absalom, Absalom
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Absalom, Absalom: Major Themes
• Absalom, Absalom: Essays
• Absalom, Absalom: Questions
• Absalom, Absalom: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• William Faulkner: Biography