Tull VI (152-155)

"Chaos!"

Tull relates everything to Cora. He says that Darl jumped free (Cash told him to, but Cora accuses him of cowardice). Jewel holds onto the rope at the other bank.

Where's Anse during all this? Like you have to ask.

Cora: "I notice Anse was too smart to been on it a-tall." (152)

Tull: "I don't know what you want, then," I said. "One breath you say they was daring the hand of God to try it, and the next breath you jump on Anse because he wasn't with them." (153)

Cora's argument-ender:

"...with that singing look in her face like she had done give up folks and their foolishness and had done went on ahead of them, marching up the sky, singing." (153)

By the way, Cash can't swim! (154)

Tull V (137-140)

Anse and his crew begin crossing the water, trying the ford because of the washed-out bridge. Tull doesn't understand their desire to do so, unless "They would risk the fire and the earth and the water and all just to eat a sack of bananas." (140)

Tull IV (123-127)

Tull follows the Bundrens to the washed-out bridge. Dewey Dell says Whitfield crossed, but that was 3 days ago. Anse reminds them of his promise to Addie.

Tull suggests they wait a night for the water to go down. Anse can't make a decision, as usual, and finally Jewel decides to float the wagon and let Anse and Dewey Dell walk across. But Tull refuses to allow his mule to get in the high water.

"...it ain't never been what he done so much or said or anything so much as how he looks at you. It's like he had got into the inside of you, someway." (125)

Tull III (85-93)

"The Funeral"

Tull tells Quick, a neighbor, that the bridge won't hold the weight of a wagon. Meanwhile, Anse looks more dignified in his white shirt.

Cash is filling up the holes in the coffin, doing it the hard way, as usual. They laid Addie opposite the normal way so that her big dress would fit better.

Whitfield, the preacher, is late because the bridge is out. It will take even longer to get to Jefferson now.

We learn about Cash's fall when he broke his leg (28 feet, 4 inches, which is hilariously exact).

The funeral service is very short, and we learn that Addie was in the coffin for 3 days before Darl and Jewel got back.

Italics mark later recollections by Tull and Peabody. Cora and Tull see Vardaman fishing in a dead pond...this boy doesn't know how to express his grief. Why is it fitting that he is fishing in a dead pond?

It's remarked that 3 days is a long time for a body to be above ground in Mississippi in the summer. Yikes.

Tull II (68-74)

"Tull Helps Finish the Coffin"

Cora and Tull see Peabody's team come by; they argue about who it is first. Now, the rain has broken.

Vardaman comes to the door, standing in the rain and going on about Tull having seen the fish. Cora attributes this behavior to grief.

Vernon thinks Darl's problem is that he thinks too much.

Vernon helps Cash finish the coffin, and they put Addie in it. They do this because Vardaman wouldn't stop opening the windows of the cabin so she could "breathe." Finally, Vardaman goes to sleep next to the coffin after having srilled holes in it. Two holes had been bored into her face.

Vardaman's behavior is a little more understandable because of what he said in the last chapter. Granted, he's not all there, but at least he has his reasons.

Why have a dull character like Tull (dull/Tull, ha) narrate a crazy scene like this?

Cora, judgmental as always, remarks: "I see the hand of the Lord upon this boy [Vardaman] for Anse Bundren's judgment and warning." (72)

Meanwhile, Tull comments on Cora: "I reckon she would make a few changes, no matter how He was running it." What is Tull referring to, exactly?

Tull I (29-34)

"Tull Tries to Comfort Anse"

While Tull is trying to console Anse, Anse expresses the opinion that Addie will die before Darl and Jewel return.

This chapter is important because it marks the introduction of a new theme, that of Vardaman and the fish. Vardaman shows up with a rather large fish and wants to show it to his mom, but is frustrated. (Remember that Vardaman is mentally challenged, and understands little about what is going on around him.)

Why does Tull promise to help Anse with the corn? What comment is being made about life in the South?

What might the approaching rain foreshadow?

What concern does Tull repeat almost word-for-word about Cash? Why might that be important?

What opinion does Cora express about Addie and Anse's relationship?