Can anyone explain the premise behind the Sound and the Fury to me?

Question

I am about a quarter of the way through and am still pretty lost. I understand that Benji is retarded, I think Caddie is pregnant, probably from her brother Quinten, but it is not all that easy to follow. Am I right that Faulkner skips around a lot, time-wise? Also, is there an easy way to tell who is narrating? I cannot figure it out.

Answer 1

I'm afraid you'll have to finish the book, to judge for yourself, the answers to the questions you've posed; which is probably why your instructor has given you this assignment. Each person has their own viewpoint, and you'd be cheating yourself out of finding out what your own would be by asking other folks what they think. And, truly, the only real way to know what the author had in mind while writing something down is to ask, if possible, and hope for an honest answer. But, you can ask for other people's opinions as many times as you care to, and probably even find a common denominater within the list; however, your understanding will only come from yourself, with time and patience and practice...in other words; education...learning is what leads to it. That is your pot of gold at the end of the reading rainbow. Please forgive my simplistic terms, and puns as well, but I do mean well. And I will sincerely help if I can.
x It may even turn into something you consider enjoyment or even: "FUN!", or at the very least, a sense of accomplishment. My hopes for the results of your reading comprehension? ...exactly that! The very thing which motivated me to teach in the first, and, last place: what I like to call "the little lightbulb" that goes flashing on over someone's head ; lighting up their eyes with wonder and understanding and excitement and imagination!!!! ... and the understanding of how much FUN is coming their way on the journey ahead...and the fact that they can take it as far as they want!...forever, if they choose!
My last answer to your literary questions is to read something that really sparks your imagination, if that's not what kind of material you are studying at present, and if the instructor wants you to investigate other areas to try to push you to the limits, but it's not working, it can't hurt to have a discussion about it with him/her, and suggest adding some changes to the curriculum they'd originally planned. If this is way off-base for you or them, then maybe your wondering over this piece is already the challenge you were looking for, and you may gain more enjoyment and insight from looking for your own opinions and answers, or maybe even a book discussion group!
At any rate, I hope this helps, without actually answering any of the answers you'd posed, and even if not, knowledge is power, and the more resources/tools of progress you have to choose from, the more powerful you become in running your own education and making it more pleasing for yourself along the way!-Shall we say "custom built"?
I will be available to further discussions if you felt let down by my correspondence, and if so, I'll try to help you if I can. Communication is best when each party clearly understands what exactly the other is stating...and checking to make sure they are hearing what you are truly saying, and vice-versa. It is one of greatest gifts we've been given! (when it works!) :) Even though this is the very problem you have stated in your question, (not being able to figure it out), I'm afraid that I don't believe that, and from the way you wrote out your dilemma, it actually sounded more to me like you haven't given yourself the chance to have a clearer understanding of all the issues bothering you in this story. Could impatience be playing a more major part in this than you may have considered? Sorry if I'm making you feel uncomfortable, but, if I am, it must be that some of it could be true. Give yourself some more time to read and less time to ask questions, at least until you're, let's say: between 1/2 and 3/4ths of the way through the book!
My bet is that you're going to feel very, very differently about your capacity to figure these things out, and if not by then, why not go to the end to see if it makes any difference?!! ...After all, by then, you'll have read all the answers in the book, know who the narrator was, and you can always write down questions you have while reading, to research later after you've finished, to see if you have a better understanding at that time!
"Good luck with that!"
v

Sincerely, HaveMaster'sDegreeInEnglish :)