Go Down, Moses Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. How does Faulkner's experience of being raised by an African American nanny affect his depiction of family histories in this book?
  2. Is there a difference between Faulkner's characterization of the white and black characters in the book?
  3. Can a white Southern author understand the African American experience in the South?
  4. Do the African American characters seem realistic or stereotyped?
  5. The seven stories of Go Down, Moses were first published as separate stories. Why do you think they're arranged in the book in this particular order?
  6. How does "Pantaloon in Black" differ from the other stories?
  7. What are some of the rules of "good writing" that Faulkner breaks in this book?
  8. If you could rewrite each of these stories from the perspective of the female characters, what do you think would change?
  9. How did the Civil War affect the lives of the families in the novel?
  10. Do you think the book is a collection of stories or a novel?