Barn Burning

What is the significance of Lennie Snopes’s dowry? What does the clock represent about her character, her marriage to Snopes, and the state of Mississippi after the Civil War?

Despite his violent and dangerous tendencies, Snopes is described as being calm and controlled. When camping, he is also known for setting small, tame fires to warm the family. Why does Snopes build “neat,” “shrewd” fires? What does this detail reveal about him?

Two phrases appear often in Sartoris’s narration: “grief and despair” and “terror and fear.” Why are these phrases repeated so often, and what do they emphasize about Sartoris’s inner conflict?