Nathaniel Hawthorne Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne 1804-1864 • Born in Salem, Massachusetts • Puritan Background • Ancestor of John Hathorne – one of the three judges in the Salem Witch Trials Hawthorne’s Background • Began writing after college • Spent many years in seclusion – “starving artist” • Held many jobs including writer and publisher His Themes in Writing • • • • Moral allegories The sinful man Hypocrisy The dark side of human nature • The religious Who were the Puritans? • Wanted a “pure” church – No candles – No Images – No stained glass windows • Rejected the “showy” church of England • Led very somber lives governed solely by a strict interpretation of the Bible • No “nonsense” – dancing, gambling, drama, etc Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church • Jesus Christ is the Son of God – died on the cross for everyone’s sins • The whole Bible is the word of God and it is to be followed to the letter. • The belief in these ideas are fact is known as a person’s faith – Faith: strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual understanding rather than proof. • Basic Beliefs of the Puritan Church Faith is what is necessary to get into heaven. • If you don’t go to heaven you go to hell. • Sins, as defined by the Bible, are to be avoided at cut out of life • A catechism is a book that is used to teach basic principles of the church The Infamous Puritans • The Salem Witch Trials put the Puritans prominently in the history books And Now, Nathanial Hawthorn’s Short Story “Young Goodman Brown” Some Basics… • Characters – Young Goodman Brown – His wife: Faith – Mysterious man in the forest with a strange looking staff Some Basics… • Minor Character’s Notes… – Constable: person in law enforcement – Deacon: position in church held by congregation member – Goody: abbr. of “goodwife”, female version of goodman – Reverend: pastor – Sabbath: day of rest in the Christian church – in this case, Sunday YGB as an Allegory • What is an allegory? – A story where everything is a symbol – Used commonly to instruct especially in religious matters • SYMBOL: An object, person, or event that functions as itself, but also stands for something more than itself. • For example a dove stands for Peace. The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Basics • The Snake Satan – • The Devil The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown - Basics • The Forest • Evil / Sin The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – Basics • Stars / Sky / Heavenly Bodies • Heaven / Connection with God The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown - Basics • White Purity • Red Sin • Pink ???? The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown - Basics • Fire • Hell The Allegory of Young Goodman Brown – now, not basic • Young Goodman Brown • The common Christian man – brown is neutral (can apply to or be anyone) • Faith • A Christian’s faith • Witches • Satan / Evil Another literary term feather for your literary term cap… • Imagery: words and phrases that recreate vivid sensory experiences for the reader. Usually imagery is visual, but often it is written to the senses of smell, hearing, taste, and touch Complete C-Notes Questions & Summary (due in-class) • 4: level one questions • 3: level two questions • 3: level three questions – Make sure you space the questions throughout both pages of notes • Write a 5 sentence summary on the bottom of the notes in the box provided