“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
NOTES before you read:
 New England region—Puritanism
 Story takes place during the atmosphere of the Salem Witch Trials—1692
 Belief in the pure word of the Bible
 Direct revelation from the Holy Spirit supersedes reason
 Always on the lookout for satanic influence
o The Witch Trials—1692
o 150 people accused of witchcraft and jailed
o 19 hanged
o 1 pressed to death
Judge Hawthorn, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s great grandfather, was a famous “hanging judge” from the trials
Allegory: representation of abstract ideas by characters, events in a narrative, drama, or art form
Humans vs. temptation
Perception of truths
QUESTIONS:
1.
Why is Goodman Brown’s wife “aptly named” Faith?
2.
What does Faith want?
3.
According to Brown, doing what will protect Faith?
4.
Where does Brown go?
5.
Describe how the setting can be symbolic.
6.
Explain how the quote, “What if the devil himself should be at my very elbow,” reflects the
Puritan mindset.
7.
What could be the double meaning of “Faith kept me back awhile”?
8.
Why doesn’t Brown want to follow the stranger?
9.
What does the stranger say to try to persuade Brown?
10. What is Brown’s reaction to the stranger’s words?
11. Why does the Devil mockingly laugh at Brown?
12. The woman who taught Brown his catechism is seen in the woods; why is she there?
13. How does Brown respond?
14. What happens when the Devil touches a maple branch? What could that symbolize?
15. Explain the line: “What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she
was going to heaven: is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?”
16. Where are the minister and Deacon Gookin going? Why?
17. What might the pink ribbon symbolize?
18. How is the exclamation, “My Faith is gone!” symbolic?
19. What does Brown discover? Who is there?
20. What is meant by “It was strange to see that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the
sinners abashed by the saints”?
21. List the atrocities the dark figure claims the towns people committed.
22. Explain what the dark figure means: “. . . the fountain of all wicked arts, and which inexhaustibly
supplies more evil impulses than human power—than my power at its utmost—can make manifest
in deeds.”
23. How can “Evil . . . be your only happiness?”
24. Explain the double meaning of “Faith! Faith! Look up to heaven, and resist the wicked one.”
25. How has Brown’s perception changed? How can the Puritan moral code be responsible?
26. Philosophy can be referred to as the exploration of truths; what truths did Brown explore?