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Overview
“Barn Burning” is a short story by William Faulkner that was first published in 1939 in Harper’s Magazine
. It has since been anthologized many times. The story is set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, in the late 19th century and is told from the perspective of a young boy named Sarty Snopes. Sarty’s father, Abner Snopes, is a tenant farmer who has a habit of burning down the barns of the wealthy landowners for whom he works. The story explores themes of loyalty, family, and justice.Read the full story summary, an in-depth character analysis of Colonel Sartoris Snopes, and important quotes from “Barn Burning.”
