As I Lay Dying, study guide & Activities

As I Lay Dying
by William Faulkner
About_
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner follows the Bundren family as they undertake a grueling journey to bury their
mother, Addie, in Jefferson, honoring her dying wish. Told through the shifting, often unreliable perspectives of
family members and neighbors, the novel explores grief, duty, poverty, and the private inner lives hidden behind a
family’s public face. This study guide contains 91 questions across 7 chapter sections (70 Factual + 21 Critical), 1
Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 11-12, AP Literature, or Introductory College
Teacher Note_
This guide is designed to help students track the complex, multi-voiced structure of Faulkner’s novel while pushing
them toward deeper analysis of grief, family duty, and moral ambiguity. The mix of factual recall and critical
thinking questions builds comprehension while sparking real classroom discussion — hopefully saving you some
prep time in the process!