Young Goodman BrownYoung Goodman Brown

by Nathaniele Hawthorne

Work Analysis Work Analysis

Set off on a journey

Encounters The next Morning

Goodman died

Evil assembly

The companion The companion

His head being turned back, he passed a crook of the road, and, looking forward again, beheld the figure of a man, in grave and decent attire, seated at the foot of an old tree. He arose at Goodman Brown's approach and walked onward side by side with him.

It was now deep dusk in the forest, and deepest in that part of it where these two were journeying. As nearly as could be discerned, the second traveller was about fifty years old, apparently in the same rank of life as Goodman Brown, and bearing a considerable resemblance to him, though perhaps more in expression than features. Still they might have been taken for father and son. And yet, though the elder person was as simply clad as the younger, and as simple in manner too, he had an indescribable air of one who knew the world, and who would not have felt abashed at the governor's dinner table or in King William's court, were it possible that his affairs should call him thither. But the only thing about him that could be fixed upon as remarkable was his staff, which bore the likeness of a great black snake, so curiously wrought that it might almost be seen to twist and wriggle itself like a living serpent. This, of course, must have been an ocular deception, assisted by the uncertain light.

StyleStyle

• Symbolism– Pink ribbon – Forest – Sunset – The devil’s staff

the Pink Ribbonsthe Pink Ribbons

• Pink is associated with innocence and gaiety.

• Ribbon is a modest, innocent decoration for girlness.

Forest & Sunset Forest & Sunset

• The world outside: outside the village, outside the normal boundaries of right and wrong, outside of Brown's comfort zone. But they could symbolize something else as well: the woods could be an embodiment of young Goodman Brown's fears and suspicions, a freaky picture of dark feelings he doesn't normally acknowledge. (Similarly backed up by the approaching night)

The Serpent StaffThe Serpent Staff

• In the book of Genesis, the serpent tempts Eve to taste the fruit from the forbidden tree.

• The loss of innocence.• The fall of human.

Style Style

• Pun

Faith: religious belief; female purity; family redemption

Young Goodman Brown: youth=innocence; Goodman=Goody=Goodwife=Mr.& Mrs.; Brown=common name=everyone

StyleStyle

• Allegory – It is a figurative mode of representation conveying

meaning. – It is not meant to characterize, to particularize, but to

generalize, and to address abstract ideas.

Setting Setting

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-18641804-1864

• Born in Salem, Massachusetts

• Puritan Background• Ancestor of John

Hathorne – one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials

ThemeTheme

• The human nature– Evil is at the core of human heart

•Hidden sin – hypocrisy of people around •Original sin – Goodman himself vacillates between inherent goodness and dark side of mind

– Loss of faith

PuritanismPuritanism

• Radical version of Protestantism

• Religious belief of American founders

• Provides a set of values for American society and culture

Basic Puritan Beliefs Basic Puritan Beliefs

1. Total Depravity - through Adam and Eve's fall, every person is born sinful - concept of Original Sin.

2. Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation - concept of predestination.

3. Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

4. Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God.

5. Perseverance of the "saints" - those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God, and to live uprightly. If anyone rejects grace after feeling its power in his life, he will be going against the will of God - something impossible in Puritanism.

WRITING

STYLE

WRITING

STYLE

the use of symbolthe use of symbol

revelation of characters’ psychologyrevelation of characters’ psychology

the use of supernatural mixed with the actualthe use of supernatural mixed with the actual

use of ambiguity to keep the reader in the world of uncertainty – multiple point of view

use of ambiguity to keep the reader in the world of uncertainty – multiple point of view

his stories are parable (allegory) – to teach a lessonhis stories are parable (allegory) – to teach a lesson

to connect a bygone time with the very Presentto connect a bygone time with the very Present

Assignment Assignment

• Adventure of Huckleberry Finn

• Give a brief introduction into characters depicted in the selected reading

• Find resources of humorous stories in English, share one!