Final answer:
William Faulkner, a key figure in American literature and the Southern Literary Renaissance, authored many works including thirteen novels set in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County. He is known for his innovative narrative techniques and exploration of the human psyche. The correct number of novels Faulkner wrote is approximately 30.
Step-by-step explanation:
William Faulkner was an eminent American novelist and a Nobel laureate famous for his contributions to modernist literature. Throughout his prolific career, he wrote a multitude of works, including novels, short stories, a play, poetry, and essays. Notably, Faulkner wrote thirteen novels set in Yoknapatawpha County, a fictional place based on his home in Mississippi. These works were an influential part of what is known as the Southern Literary Renaissance, and he utilized complex narrative techniques like stream-of-consciousness writing and non-linear plotting. Among his novels are profound and critical successes such as 'The Sound and the Fury,' 'As I Lay Dying,' and 'Absalom, Absalom!' His work, characterized by the exploration of the human condition and his distinct Southern Gothic style, has made him a keystone author in American literature.
Answering the question, William Faulkner did not write 10, 20, or 40 novels. The correct option is C) 30, as he authored numerous works over the different phases of his career, not all of which were set in Yoknapatawpha County.