Passage 155 · 1929
"The Sound and the Fury"
Main effectThrough layered spatial prepositions, odd adjectival flower-spaces, modal perception, unclear pronouns, objectless hitting, progressive movement toward incomprehensible flag, and paratactic coordinate response, Faulkner creates syntax of cognitive disability—grammar that performs Benjy's consciousness through fragmented deixis and inability to subordinate, name, or causally connect events.
Device index
Hover over a device to highlight its words. Select it to keep the explanation open.
Tropes
Broken, incomplete expression.
Pointing words.
Schemes
Clauses without subordination.
Syntax
"Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces"—two spatial prepositions. Syntax shows fragmented perception through barriers.
"curling flower spaces"—unusual modifier. Syntax renders garden through limited vocabulary.
"I could see"—modal verb of ability. Syntax emphasizes perception as accomplishment.
"them"—pronoun without clear antecedent. Syntax shows inability to name actors.
"hitting"—present participle without object. Syntax makes golf incomprehensible, verb without target.
"were coming toward"—past progressive with directional preposition. Syntax shows ongoing movement without understanding destination.
"where the flag was"—adverbial clause of place. Syntax can locate but not interpret flag's significance.
"and I went along the fence"—coordinating conjunction linking observation to action. Syntax makes response automatic, un-reasoned.
Close reading
1Close Reading
Prepositional Layering
"Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces"—two spatial prepositions. Syntax shows fragmented perception through barriers.
Adjectival Oddity
"curling flower spaces"—unusual modifier. Syntax renders garden through limited vocabulary.
Modal Perception
"I could see"—modal verb of ability. Syntax emphasizes perception as accomplishment.
Object Pronoun
"them"—pronoun without clear antecedent. Syntax shows inability to name actors.
Intransitive Hitting
"hitting"—present participle without object. Syntax makes golf incomprehensible, verb without target.
Progressive Approach
"were coming toward"—past progressive with directional preposition. Syntax shows ongoing movement without understanding destination.
Locative Clause
"where the flag was"—adverbial clause of place. Syntax can locate but not interpret flag's significance.
Coordinate Response
"and I went along the fence"—coordinating conjunction linking observation to action. Syntax makes response automatic, un-reasoned.
Stylistic Effect
Through layered spatial prepositions, odd adjectival flower-spaces, modal perception, unclear pronouns, objectless hitting, progressive movement toward incomprehensible flag, and paratactic coordinate response, Faulkner creates syntax of cognitive disability—grammar that performs Benjy's consciousness through fragmented deixis and inability to subordinate, name, or causally connect events.