Abstract: There is one literary tradition in the English and American literature that has lasted for over two hundred years. This thesis is the probing into one modern practitioner of American Gothic tradition in the American South. And that is William Faulkner, the pioneer in the Southern Renaissance in the early 20th century America, who may also deserved to be remembered as a modern pioneer in the Southern Gothic and the American Gothic as a whole, for his fantastic Yoknapatawpha saga has instilled fresh blood into the Gothic tradition while also endowed them with unfailing charms. Specifically, this thesis is intended to venture a close examination of the Southern Gothic kingdom Faulkner has delineated in his Yoknapatawpha saga from the perspective of aesthetics in the hope of appreciating some special charms afforded by the Gothic tradition. At first, the thesis will present a brief introduction to Gothic tradition and its association with the American South, and then the main parts will make some analyses around three prominent Gothic elements in Faulkner’s works, which include the grotesque, horror and the Sublime, followed afterwards by the conclusion of the uniqueness of Faulkner’s handling with the Gothic. 

Key words: William Faulkner Grotesuque Horror the Sublime 

Content

摘要：

Abstract:

Introduction-1

Chapter One grotesques Raised in Solitude-3

1.1 The definition of grotesque-3

1.2 Typical grotesques in Faulkner’s works-4

Chapter Two horror in the Deformed Family and Southern Society-7

2.1 Horror in the deformed family-7

2.2 Horror in the deformed Southern society-10

Chapter Three the Sublime in the Fall of the House-11

3.1 The definition of the Sublime-12

3.2 The Sublime in the fall of the Sutpens-12

Conclusion-16

Bibliography-18

Acknowledgements-20