“The Birth-Mark”: Identify some possible themes and symbols of this story. What is the central conflict? Is the story an allegory? If so, what is its “moral” or message? Support your ideas with specifics from the story. How might this story also be seen as an indictment of our current-day obsession with youthful appearances and plastic surgery?
“Young Goodman Brown”: What influence does the way Puritans value outward expressions of faith and righteousness have on young Goodman Browns disillusionment that continues throughout his lifetime? What happens when individuals are pressured to “appear” righteousness?
Video and Textbook Introduction: How does Hawthorne fit into the “Gothic” tradition as depicted in Gothic Undercurrents? What does the textbook’s introduction to Hawthorne add to your understanding of his work, including the two stories being discussed in this forum?
Joining the Literary Conversation(a) What main points does Jules Zanger address in his article? (b) What does Zanger use to support those points? (c) Do you agree or disagree? Explain and support your ideas with specifics from the story.
Here are the sources you will use:
“Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)”
The Birth-Mark”
“Young Goodman Brown”
