Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Sutpen is a hero, through and through. Or at least that's how he's described: heck, even people who hate his guts (we're looking at you, Rosa!) use heroic terms to talk about him. Legendary figures from literature, history, and mythology are employed to make Sutpen's character more dramatic. And boy do we mean dramatic.
For examples, check out our "Shout-Outs."