Do not fear Faulkner! As I Lay Dying does not have the dense, convoluted prose generally associated with the author and offers a full-length experience of the heart of Southern Gothic literature. This extensive lesson was ostensibly designed to cover the novel but evolved to include two of his short stories and (if you choose) an anticipatory set involving Flannery O'Connor. I usually TEACH the first 100 pages then have students groups dissect and present the remaining chapters, but the components of this lesson cover the major aspects of Faulkner, the genre and the novel. If you are considering Faulkner for the first time, I encourage you to scan the preview provided. Especially if you teach honors or AP classes, your students will need to know something about Faulkner's work and the short-lived Southern Gothic era.