Preface

This creative writing project appeals to students who are familiar with writing fan fiction in established universes such as Harry Potter or Star Wars but is designed for any novice creative writing student.

The project empowers students to control the narrative by enhancing and changing a problematic story’s perspective.

It was extremely fun writing my Faulkner Fan-Fiction piece because I have never written fan fiction before. It was very exciting to be able to take inspiration from a story and expand on it through my own words.

Activities

1. Analysis of Elements of Fiction in “Barn Burning” and Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”

Study

Instructions

Read William Faulkner’s “Barn Burning” and Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use”

Explore: Author Websites

For more information on each story visit:

  1. Alice Walker’s official web page
  2. Digital Yoknapatawpha’s “Barn Burning” pages
Screen capture: Main Map Barn Burning

Respond: Group Work

In small groups, compare and contrast the main character, the setting, the point of view, the conflict, and the climax of each story.

Discuss the following questions:

  • What information from DY or Walker’s web page helped you understand the story?
  • How does each author’s choice of central character and point of view inform the story?
  • Whose voices are silenced in each story?
  • How many scenes are in each story?
  • How does setting add to the conflict in the stories?
  • How does each story use fire both literally and symbolically?

2. Creating a Character Chart using DY

Explore: Character Search

Overview: Digital Yoknapatawpha Map Display Character Search

The map display allows users to pull up records for every location, character, and event in the story. These records contain an overview of each character, the events where they are present and mentioned, and the locations where those events take place.

Instructions
  1. Navigate to the Digital Yoknapatawpha home page
  2. Select “Barn Burning” from the bookshelf
    • This will open the main map display for “Barn Burning”
  3. Select “All” or “Major and Secondary” under “Show Characters” on Display Controls
  4. Hover your cursor over the characters on the map to reveal their name
  5. Select a character for your fan fic by clicking on it
    • For a more targeted search, check the “Alphabetical List” box under “Show Characters”
    • Check the name of a specific character
    • Click “Show”
  6. Click on your chosen character. An informational box will open with the following tabs: Biography, Information, Events, Location. Use the information from this box to complete the questions on the attached character chart.

Respond: Minor Character “Barn Burning”

Instructions

Create a character chart for one of the minor characters in “Barn Burning”.

  1. Select a minor character you are interested in writing about for a revision of a scene in “Barn Burning”.
  2. Use as much information as you can from Digital Yoknapatawpha’s character listing.
  3. On the character chart, designate:
    1. What information you gleaned from DY
    2. What information you got from the story
    3. What information you are inventing
Detailed Instructions

Study: Context Research

Instructions
  1. Select one event/scene from “Barn Burning” in which your character appears.
  2. Use this scene in your revision when writing from your chosen character’s point of view.
  3. Research the scene by visiting:
  4. Return to Digital Yoknapatawpha.

Explore: Event Search

Walkthrough
  1. Return to the “Barn Burning” map on Digital Yoknapatawpha.
  2. Click on your character on the “Barn Burning” map
  3. Click the events or locations in which they appear through the pop-up box
    • An informational box will open with the following tabs: Biography, Information, Events, Location.
  4. Use the information from this box to write a description of the event/scene.

Respond: Character chart

Write the answers to the following questions at the bottom of your Character Chart.

  1. What information did you glean from the three sites that will help you re-create the Faulkner scene?
  2. Where does the scene take place?
  3. Describe the scene through the viewpoint of your chosen character.

3. Writing the Scene

Respond

Now that you have thoroughly developed a character, researched tenant farming, and gained context for the time period in which the story takes place, you should:

  1. Re-envision a scene from “Barn Burning” from the point of view of your selected character.
    • For instance, if you select the Black servant at the De Spain mansion, you may re-envision the scene when Abner sullies the entrance rug. You will write the scene from the servant’s point of view.
  2. Each scene should include:
    • Action
    • Description
    • Narration
    • Dialog
    • Interiority
  3. Your re-imagining of the scene should add complexity based on the chosen character’s alternative perspective.

4. Workshopping Scenes and Putting it All Together

Respond: Peer Review

Instructions
  1. Read each classmate’s scene and make notes about what works and what doesn’t work.
  2. If two students chose the same character and scene, they should work together to align the scenes so they “match.”
    • For instance, if two students chose to write from the same judge’s perspective, they should both agree on the name for the judge. Names from the overall Faulkner universe are preferred.
  3. After reviewing your stories, decide on the order the stories will appear in the final Faulkner Fan Fic web page.

Final Product

You may use a free education website creator, Wakelet, or any online platform to display the final Faulkner Fan Fic.

Assignment Resources

Teaching Resources