Keywords

In The Reivers Lucius Priest defines the various positions of Conservative, Liberal, Republican, and Democrat in the following manner: "Like this: a Republican is a man who made his money; a Liberal is a man who inherited his; a Democrat is a barefoot Liberal in a cross-country race; a Conservative is a Republican who has learned to read and write." (109) Though, these positions are hardly set in stone it is important to note the distinct separation between political outlook and political party. JB

A moment in a character's story when something happens that changes the arc of his or her life. For example, when in Absalom! Thomas Sutpen is turned away from the front door of that Tidewater plantation. Or in The Mansion, when Houston tells Mink Snopes he still owes the one dollar "pound fee" (28). SR

This term is meant to capture the buying of goods--food, staples, hardware, etc.; goods to be bought and sold. JJ

I created this to capture scenes when two or more characters interrupt each other's attempt to create a narrative - specifically, in the context of the way Gavin (and sometimes the Governor) seize on parts of Temple's story that she would rather not dwell on. SR