When does A Rose for Emily take place?

The disjointed timing of the sections creates suspense going from one time period to another. Faulkner lures the reader into each section making the reader wondering what precipitated the action and what the action will lead to. Then Faulkner goes to a different time period beginning the process all over again while still leaving the reader hanging with the same questions about the previous section. It is a common way to avoid a straight chronological story, which can get predictable. Quentin Tarantino used this disjointed timing in his film "Pulp Fiction" to heighten the effect of the individual vignettes that involved only certain characters.