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13 November 2008

ENG 122 Students,

As directed in today's class meeting, please discuss Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" below according to YOUR assigned question. Re-type your question.

Discussion Questions for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown”

 

1.     What is the significance of Brown’s full name?  Explain.

2.     What is the significance of Brown’s wife’s name? Explain.  What is unusual about Brown asking his wife if she has lost faith in him?

3.     Who was the old man walking with Brown? Did he have other guises? Most importantly, did Brown know he was going to meet this man or not? Give examples that support both sides.

4.     Well, after reading the story, do you now know if Brown was really a “good” man or not? Explain with examples from the text.

5.     Brown was called “silly” in the story by the old woman.  Why? Did the townspeople not like him?  Explain with examples from the text.

6.     We have discussed the concept of “foreshadowing” many times in this course. Was there evidence of a foreshadowing of what was to come in the story’s beginning? Explain with examples from the text.

7.     When Brown screams, “my Faith is gone!” what does he mean? Is there only one meaning to this passage or many? Explain.

8.     Think about all the “goodly” people Brown saw going “astray” in the story. What were their names? Any symbolism or irony? Also, f this was a dream, why do you think Brown was dreaming about or imagining these people living a life of sin?

9.     What do you think the old expression to dance or “walk with the devil” means/implies?  Is this notion something people can apply to their lives today? How so? Give examples.

10.  So, how do we answer Hawthorne’s question?  Was Brown only dreaming or  did he actually walk with the devil? Explain your answer.

11.  Why did the devil have such a “considerable resemblance” to Goodman Brown? Can you think of any other stories that have similarities to this “literary device” (technique)? What is significant about it?

12.  Are there any examples of intolerance mentioned in the story? Tell us where and why.

13.  What is the significance of Brown’s staff? Anything symbolic? Explain your answer.

*Don't forget to the second part of this assignment for Guy de Maupassant HERE: ">http://www.english-blog.com/archives/2008/11/maupassants_the_necklace_an_illuminating_class_discussion.php

If you are going to the Southern Journeys event for extra credit, I'll see you there Friday.

ALSO!

Just a little reminder of how papers 1 and 2 will factor in to your final overall score for the course (in case you missed a class meeting where I discussed it):

In short, per our syllabus breakdown, the sum of all the small formal papers for this class (including the annotated biblio.) count for 50% of the total final grade for the course. This is on the syllabus

As stated clearly on the syllabus, for this to “add up” correctly, each paper must count for 10 points.

With that in mind, what might seem “odd” to you (at first) is that on papers #1 and #2, you were scored on a “20 point scale” (instead of a 10-point scale). I did this on purpose to help you learn your way around a research paper. It was always my intention to convert these back to a 10-point scale to make theme fit the model.

So, now I’m doing it. To make Papers 1 and 2 compatible with everything else that is scored on a 10-point scale, they must be now be “converted.” That means that an A (20-19 on the 20-point scale) now becomes a 10 in the 10-point scale. A “B” (18-17 on the 20 point scale) becomes a 9 in the 10-point scale, and so. Just so you know, this benefits you. If you made the low end of a "C" on the 20-point scale (16-15) points, you now have a solid C (8 points) in the 10-point scale. Zeros still covert to Zeros (only received for incomplete submissions). Just so you know, on the 10-point scale, a 10=A, 9=B, 8=C, 7=D, and 6 & Below=F.

Conversion Table

 

New Numerical Score

Letter Grade

Old Numerical Score

10

A

20-19

9

B

18-17

8

C

16-15

7

D

14-13

6 & below

F

12 & below

 

After today, when you look at turnitin.com, you will that I converted papers #1 and #2 to the proper 10 point scale. If you are doing the OPTIONAL (not required) extra credit for me at the Southern Journeys, I will raise them up a grade after I get all of the pieces you are required to submit (response on the blog and the photo evaluation form).

Note that the annotated biblio. and paper #3 will be evaluated on a 10-point scale right from the start—no conversion involved. Remember that the final longer research paper has its own category (see the syllabus for details).

If you are confused, see me in my office. Don’t worry—all this works out to your advantage, not your loss.

With kind regards,

Dr. Hobbs

-------------------------------
Jenny Troutman
ENGL 121 – Humanities Literature
1/26/07

Dear Prof. Hobbs,

I was a Student Assistance today in class.

Sincerely,

Jenny T.

Mr. Hobbs,

I mean to address at least one question about Goodman Brown: how old he was and how this is supposed to be significant? It would be hard to accurately determine his age (since it is not actually mentioned in the text) but one clue from the story is that he IS, at least, of a marriageable age since he is married to Faith. With farms and a need for labor (not to mention the shorter life span) didn't people normally get married earlier back in the days of American colonialism/puritanism? With his overly expressed concern about his wife (and hers for him) I'm guessing that he is still young, maybe in his twenties. Does this matter?

Possibly, I think, since, like a lot of college students today at this age (early 20s), it seems like a time of self-discovery, exploration, experimentation, and generally just trying to figure out (make sense of) the world in which we live. You know, as children, living at home, we are usually just "told" how to think, what to do, etc. There are really very few things we can do for ourselves and decisions we are allowed to make until we are independent from our parents. Some young adults don't really experience this kind of independence until they first move away from home. And, as the old saying goes, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop!"

All kidding aside, in our case (as students), one way to get a sense of independence is to go to university and stay in dormitories. In Brown's case, it was to get married and get his own place. On his own, as a young man, for the first time in his life he ponders such esoteric things as good, evil and how we "ought" to live. On one's own, one needs/ has to decide these things for oneself.

Until next time when we get to discuss "Luck,"

I remain,

Dudley D.
ENGL 121.003 Humanities Literature MWF 11:45-12:45

I'm in Group 2 and here was our question:
What is the significance of Brown's staff? Anything symbolic? Explain.

He get's the staff from the man who is suppose to be "the devil". He makes it from a maple tree and when he touches it the branches kind of burn off. Everything in this story has a symbolic meaning to me. Just like his wifes name, Faith. The maple staff Brown gets from "the devil" I think relates to maybe a more biblical meaning like Mosses' staff.

For some reason I think that his name is Young “Goodman” Brown. On the last page young is not capitalized and Goodman Brown is. I think Goodman describes him as a good man. This may be what he is most refereed to as. I am not sure how they communicated back then so I am not going to act like I do.

Lyndsay Krall
Group 7

Group 6 question:

Think about all the “goodly” people Brown saw going “astray” in the story. What were their names? Any symbolism or irony? Also, if this was a dream, why do you think Brown was dreaming about or imagining these people living a life of sin?

Answer:

• Goody Cloyse- Goody was Brown’s spiritual advisor at one point in time and also her name was “Goody” but ironically she was evil
• Brown’s father and grandfather- All along Brown had no idea that both his father and grandfather were followers of evil
• Martha Carrier
• Faith
• Deacon Gookin
• Minister
• Others from his town

I feel that if this were a dream, Young Goodman Brown imagined these people living a life of sin because all along he thought of them as being true and faithful non-sinning people, but ironically they were the exact opposite.

Group 6, Question 5

Q: Are there any examples of intolerance mentioned in the story? Tell us where and why.

A: Intolerance seems to be the base of the story. Goodman Brown goes into the forest to complete his own wicked deed, praises himself for not doing it, but then becomes alarmed when he sees the members of his community committing sins just as he had been about to do. It is as though Goodman Brown can tolerate his own ill-deeds, but cannot accept that others in his village could also have wicked thoughts like his own. In this, he seems hypocritical. He comes to feel that he is above them in some way because he was ‘pious’ in not committing his act, but that they, because they complete theirs, are impious and thus inferior. Due to this ‘superiority complex’, Goodman Brown begins to view all others as terribly wicked people and that he is the only true good one. However, for condemning the bad in others to the extent that he does, Goodman Brown does not think once to condemn himself for the same actions. Thus, he condemns his own family, friends, community to suffer for his lack of forgiveness and tolerance.

Erin K.
Humanities Literature ENGL 121.003 MWF 11:45-12:45

28 January 2007
Mr. Hobbs,

I am in Group 4 and am addressing the question: What do you think the old expression to dance or “walk with the devil” means/implies? Is this notion something people can apply to their lives today? How so? Give examples.

I think that the expression to “walk with the devil” implies that one is doing work of the devil or in other words sinning. For one to “walk with the devil” they might fall into the temptations of doing something morally wrong or frowned upon. People in societies of all times and places are subject to such a situation. Everyday there are decisions to be made on whether to abide by the rules or laws, or to break them. There are many examples of situations in which someone may fall into the dark side and choose to do evil over good. A person may “walk with the devil” by being unfaithful to a spouse and participating in an affair. Someone may choose to cheat on a test by copying off of a neighboring classmate’s paper. More seriously, a person may decide to commit homicide and kill another human being to receive benefit for themselves. There is an infinite list of actions that could be classified into this category depending on the culture and class.
Sinning is a term to be open to interpretation. However, a general understanding of the word is to be doing an action that is wrong for the benefit of oneself. Since not everyone believes in the devil, the term “walking with the devil” may not be used by all to describe such behavior. Still, there is a general understanding in each society of what is accepted as good behavior and bad. Those who choose to stray from the good and give into the bad will usually be punished or found out in the end for their choices.

Bettina H.
ENG 121.003 MWF 1145-1245.

Mr Hobbs,

The question I am to address to you about Goodman Brown is When Brown screams, “My Faith is gone!” What does he mean? Is there more than one meaning to this passage or is there many? Explain.

I feel there is definitely more than one meaning for Brown screaming, “My Faith is gone!” Brown may be saying this in a literal way that his wife Faith, is really gone. He thinks the devil has taken her or she may have turned into a witch. Another meaning for his phrase is his faith is gone in a religious perspective because he feels that he has lost everything including his wife and he has devils around him in a haunted forest. He thought his faith could possibly hole himself together, but he has too much evil and devil around him that he has lost his faith religiously.

Thank You,

Deidra K.

Professor Hobbs,

Question 12.) What is the significance of Brown’s wife’s name? Explain. What is unusual about Brown asking his wife if she has lost faith in him?

In the story “Young Goodman Brown”, by Nathaniel Hawthorn, Mr. Goodman Brown’s newly found wife’s name is Faith. The word faith means ones confidence, reliance, or dedication without evidence to anything ranging from a friend to a higher power. At the beginning of the story, Goodman Brown leaves his wife, Faith, to attend a journey through the woods. During this journey, Brown is accompanied by a fellow traveler who is believed to either be the devil or to symbolize evil. This shows that Brown, being curious enough to join a journey with such evil representation, is questioning his own beliefs and leaving his “faith” behind. After seeing what he believes to be his wife leaving the woods with the devil himself, Brown cries out, “My faith is gone! There is no good on earth, and sin is but a name.” (Hawthorne, p. 227). Hawthorne wrote this line to show that Brown lost his wife and his own faith. In the beginning of this tale Brown indirectly questions if his wife still has faith in him. This is unusual because he ends up doubting his beliefs, becomes dark, depressed, and cannot trust much of anything in the end of the story.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Vrabel

I had question number 9. This was a very hard question to answer because the language in the story is difficult to understand. I believe the old woman said Brown was silly because he was blinded and didn't believe or want to believe that the people in the town followed evil. Later in the story it was proven to him that it was true.

Q: Are there any examples of intolerance mentioned in the story? Tell where and why.

The story of young Goodman Brown begins with him setting off to do an errand. It was somewhat contradicting though in the sense that he set out to do this errand, but accused everyone else of being devilish for doing the same thing. He seems as though he is intolerant of people doing devilish things, but is doing them himself.

Andy H.

Professor Hobbs,

6. Think about all the "goodly" people Brown saw going "astray" in the story. What were their names? Any symbolism or irony? Also, if this was a dream, why do you think Brown was dreaming about or imagining these people living a life of sin?

- The first character we encounter is Faith, Goodman's wife. Her name in the story symbolizes faith and good will, especially the faith of Goodman Brown himself. It is ironic that she is seen going astray considering her name and its meaning. It would be obvious to one that she would not be a character to go astray in this story.

- The second character we encounter is Goody Cloyse, Goodman's spiritual advisor when he was younger. In the story she is seen speaking and making contact with the devil himself. It is ironic that her name is Goody and that really she isn't good considering she follows the devil. It is also ironic that her job is to advise people to follow the path of the Bible and that she is truly following the path of the devil.

- The next character we see encountering the devil is the minister himself. It is very ironic that the village minister, one who follows and preaches the Bible, following the path of the devil.

- The final character Goodman encounters is Deacon Gookin, the minister's assistant. Since he assists the minister it would be most apparent that he too would follow the path of the Bible. Therefore it makes it ironic that he too follows the path of the devil.

- Goodman may have imagined these people living a life of sin because everyday they are seen following or symbolizing the path of the Bible. Most would never imagine them following the path of the devil in reality, but in dreams anything can happen. And in Goodman's case he believed his dream that they all lived a life of sin causing him to trust no one in reality once waking up.

Katie Kovac
Group 7
English 121 003

I was the S.A.

-Nicole Novak

What is the significance of Browns full name? Explain.

The name Young Goodman Brown gives great significance and details for readers before they begin the short story. Just by the name one can decipher that “Brown” represents common man. Under the social standing of gentlemen was Goodman, which was the middle class in Puritan society. This can give us insight on morals and qualities this character may posses before ever reading this story.

In Goodman Brown, the devil had a considerable resemblance to Goodman. He had many similar physical features as Goodman, but looked a considerable amount older. The devil appeared as though he could be Goodman’s father. The story describes that the devil had the temperament of an older person as well. He was confident in himself and very knowledgeable about many things. I think this is a very important part of the story. Because the devil looked and acted older and wiser than Goodman, it made him more believable. It was easy for Goodman to eventually believe what the devil was saying, because the devil reminded Goodman of his father. The role of a father is typically a knowledgeable person, whom is also very trustworthy.

Chicken Little is a story which reminds me somewhat of this relationship. Although it is not a father son relationship, it is similar in some ways. Because Chicken Little is young and naïve, it makes her more susceptible to a character such as a fox. If Chicken Little had been an old chicken, she may not have fallen into the trap. Eventually Chicken Little believed what the fox was telling her, because he seemed older and more knowledgeable. Those two traits often make a person seem more believable as they did in both “Goodman Brown” and “Chicken Little.”

Shayne Schmidt

Question 10:

I feel Brown was a really good man because at the beginning he was like his fathers be for him a good Christian. At the beginning his life was pure and had no evil in front of him. To me Brown was just like any another man temped by evil or the devil himself when you come face to face.

Question 12
What is the significance of Brown’s wife’s name? Explain what is unusual about Brown asking his wife if she has lost faith in him.

The word faith is defined as reliance, trust; belief in religious doctrine: loyalty, sincerity. This has significance in the story because Young Goodman Brown’s wife’s name is Faith. Throughout the story she wears a pink ribbon, but ends up losing it by the end. Does that signify Young Goodman Brown losing his wife faith, as well as his religious faith because of the devil tempting him in the woods? To have faith you believe in a higher power without question or proof. That’s why it’s ironic that he could be questioning the “faith” of either one.

Professor Hobbs,

To the question of whether or not Goodman Brown was dreaming or actually walking with the devil I say this: Goodman Brown, caught up in the news and happenings of the time, had a fitful and wholly unpleasant nightmare. I have never been to a witch’s coven, or the mass of an infernal church. However, of the dreams I can remember, I have had some very detailed and strange ones, the subjects of which were not unlike that of what Goodman brown experienced.

In many dreams, I have tended to incorporate people I have met and interacted with in grand or strange events: alien landings/abductions, attacks of the living dead, and other plots of popular movies, video games, and fiction. In the story, Goodman Brown seems to do something similar: he mixes the familiar people from his life with the popular folklore and happenings of the day: Good Cloyse, Deacon Gookin, and his wife Faith are all part in a gathering of evil folk or a witch’s coven.

At the same time, just because I have not been on the receiving end (to my knowledge) of a dark blessing, or stood at the altar of a satanic cult does not mean that it didn’t happen in Mr. Brown’s time or that it doesn’t happen now. Whether it was a dream, a drug induced trip, or something that actually happened, Goodman Brown believed it was true and lived the rest of his days in distrust of the people that he once loved. Any way you look at what happened the result is the same: Goodman Brown died a grumpy old man.

Justin Bleggi

Dr. Lee Hobbs

(question 1)So, how do we answer Hawthorne’s question? Was Brown only dreaming or did he actually walk with the devil? Explain your answer.

In the story Young Goodman Brown, I believe that he was in fact dreaming about actually walking with the devil. I developed my conclusion from the last paragraph of the story on page 230 in the book. After reading that part of the story I established that it was a dream Young Goodman Brown was having, it states in the book “it was a dream of evil omen for Young Goodman Brown,” (Writing about literature, Edgar V. Roberts.) He turned completely pale when the minister began to speak, because a sin came over him and he couldn’t focus on what was being said. When he died, his friends and family didn’t even write anything on his tombstone, and his death was dark and sudden. Like I previously stated I believe that Young Goodman Brown was dreaming the entire time about walking with the devil, because of how I interpreted the last paragraph of the story.

B. Decker

What is the significance of Brown's full name?
Well, back in those days, alot of people's first names started with Goodman or Goodwoman so maybe it just went with his well being. Brown, maybe dealing with his surrondings and how he was fine when he wasn't in the woods and the colors and atmosphere and how they deel with "Brown".

1.28.2007

Question 8: Look up the work “foreshadowing” in your dictionary if you don’t know it. Was there evidence of a foreshadowing of what was to come in the story’s beginning? Explain with examples from the text.

To foreshadow is to give notice or indication of in advanced. I believe there was foreshadowing in “Young Goodman Brown” in the very beginning of the story. Goodman Brown’s wife, Faith, begged him not to go on his journey that night, because she was having dreams that were troubling to her. When Goodman Brown decided to leave, he felt badly for leaving Faith, and he said, “Methought, as she spoke, there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what works is do be done tonight.” Faith developed apprehension about Goodman Brown’s journey through her dreams. This is an example of foreshadowing because not only did mysterious things happen during his journey, but the reader finds out at the end that it may have been just a bad dream, like the ones Faith discussed having earlier.
Jen N.

Q: Think about all the "goodly" people Brown saw going "astray" in the story. What were their names? Any symbolism or irony? Also, if this was a dream, why do you think Brown was dreaming about or imagining these people living a life of sin?

The first name that appears right off the bat in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown,” is his young wife Faith. There is obviously symbolism involved with her name, as Goodman Brown leaves his Faith as he is tempted to pursue the devil himself. A character which remained nameless throughout the story, the man that Brown met when he entered the forest, can also be seen as either the devil or someone associated with it. This thought was aroused because he leads the way almost as if to be tempting Brown more and more towards the devil. As Goodman Brown ventures farther and farther into the forest, he comes across many of the religious figures from his town of Salem such as Deacon Gookin, his reverend pastor, and multiple Indian priests. With the exception of the Indian priests, these are the people to which Brown went for religious advice throughout his life. A thought I had about Goodman Brown’s witnessing their attendance at the forest gathering was that the town in which they all lived was Salem, MA, known for its witch trials and executions. If this actually was a dream, although these people were strongly religious, they still felt it not to be sinful to kill some of the women of their own town. Thus, providing evidence that even seemingly religious people commit evil deeds.

Dear Mr Hobbs,

Group 05: Are there any examples of intolerance mentioned in the story? Tell us where and why.

In Nathanial Hawthorn’s Young Goodman Brown, Goodman is feeling very guilty about leaving his wife, and committing some sort of shady deed in the dead of night, and he believes that his family lived the lives of good honest Christians. When he brings this up to his mysterious (and likely evil) travel companion, the companion states that his family is not as righteous as Goodman believes, and that together the traveler and Goodman’s ancestors created acts of great intolerance and hate. He speaks of “smartly” lashing a Quaker woman as a spectacle, and the apparent demise of an Indian Village. Groups of people (i.e. the Quakers and the Indians) are specifically mentioned, which alludes to the fact that their race or religion is a factor of importance. In acts of intolerance, minority groups which hold different views than that of the majority are often chastised and mistreated.

--Erika Knox

English 121
Professor Hobbs
11:45-12:45

8) Foreshadow means to give notice or indication of in advance. I think that there was a pretty clear example of foreshadowing at the start of Young Goodman Brown. The foreshadowing is when he thinks to himself “Me thought, as she spoke, there was trouble in her face, as if a dream had warned her what work is to be done tonight.” This thought makes it pretty apparent that something bad is going down tonight and his wife is very troubled about it, so right at the start you know that this is probably not going to be a story with a happy ending.

Jeff Hoover

Prof. Hobbs,

QUESTION: What do you think the old expression to dance or “walk with the devil” means/implies? Is this notion something people can apply to their lives today? How so? Give examples.

The old expression to “dance or walk with the devil” means that a person is doing something that maybe considered sinful or wrong. The devil is said to be a cruel evil spirit or demon and if a person is to be dancing or walking with him they must be par taking in actions that are cruel or evil. An example of this could be if a person goes against the norm. People see the devil as something not normal because they may worship God. This maybe being a homosexual in the religious eye this is not a normal thing and they can say that a homosexual is walking with the devil.

Carlos R. Gonzalez

Brown’s staff was very significant in this story. I believe it represented the apple in the story of Adam and Eve. Brown’s fellow-traveler was trying to tempt him to take his staff, just as the serpent tempted Eve to eat the apple and she then gave the apple to Adam. They both ate the apple knowing it was wrong, just as Goodman Brown took the staff, knowing it was wrong. I also believe Brown’s fellow-traveler was a representation of the devil. He was like the serpent in the story of Adam and Eve.

Mr. Hobbs,

2. What is the significance of Brown’s staff? Anything symbolic? Explain.

The staff symbolizes the snake. The appearance of the staff represents that Brown’s companion is not trustworthy and sly. Brown refuses to hold the staff, because he thinks the staff represents evil in the world.

L. Wozniak

Group 09: Brown was called silly in the story by the old woman. Why? Did the townspeople not like him? Explain with examples from the text.

In the end of the story, I don’t think the townspeople liked Goodman Brown. I know this because on page 230 it says, “…a goodly procession, besides neighbors not a few, they carved no hopeful verse upon his tombstone, for his dying hour was gloom.” To me this shows that the townspeople didn’t like him much because there was hardly anyone at the funeral and there was nothing carved on his tombstone. It is hard to say whether the townspeople liked Goodman in the beginning of the story because I couldn’t find much evidence on that.
I think that the old woman called Goodman silly because he changed from the beginning of the story to the end of the story. I also think he was called this because he was tempted by Satan and gave in.

Brown uses his wife as he states “his love and his faith.” He portrays her as his strength uses her for support. The unusual part is she admits to him that she almost doesn’t trust her self, or at least doesn’t feel safe staying at home over night alone. Her name is the center point of the entire story.

The staff that the traveler was carrying and the staff that was made from the tree limb where both significant and symbolic. The traveler’s staff, which was crafted as if a live snake was wrapped around, was symbolic because of how it seemed to move back and forth in the hands of the “devil”. It represented the evil of the carrier and the witch craft that he practiced. When the traveler touched Goody Cloyse with the “serpent’s tail” she screamed “The Devil”. The snake has always been a historical and biblical representation of evil and Satan.

Mr. Hobbs,

Question: Why did the devil have such a “considerable resemblance” to Goodman Brown? Can you think of any stories that have similarities to this “literary device?” What is significant about it?

Goodman Brown is like any other adolescent man in the world trying to find their way in life. During his journey through the woods or hell you can consider it as, Goodman Brown is faced with pressure from the devil. Browns faith is tested continuously with different obstacles that he faces in the woods. The devil is a man who abides by his own morals and his own beliefs, which is to turn people like Goodman Brown against themselves. However, you could say that they have a “considerable resemblance,” to one another because they both have principles that they are set out for. A similar story that I have read earlier that relates to this short story would be The Ministers Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The significance of this story relates to one another in which that both men are faced with struggles from sinning. They both try and live the life they are set out for and they are faced with pressure from society. Overall these two short stories go hand and hand due to the simple fact that they are naïve young men who are trying to live their lives as best they can.

April H.

Students,

Friday, we read and analyzed Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown" from the appendix of our Edgar Roberts text. A hearty "good job!" to everyone who actively participated in the day's activities!

Here are some of the questions we had time to discuss below *:

Group 13: What is the significance of Brown’s full name? Explain.
Group 12: What is the significance of Brown’s wife’s name? Explain. What is unusual about Brown asking his wife if she has lost faith in him?
Group 11: Who was the old man walking with Brown? Did he have other guises? Most importantly, did Brown know he was going to meet this man or not? Give examples that support both sides.
Group 10: Well, was Brown really a “good” man or not? Explain with examples from the text.
Group 09: Brown was called silly in the story by the old woman. Why? Did the townspeople not like him? Explain with examples from the text.
Group 08: Look up the work “foreshadowing” in your dictionary if you don’t know it. Was there evidence of a foreshadowing of what was to come in the story’s beginning? Explain with examples from the text.
Group 07: When Brown screams, “my Faith is gone!” what does he mean? Is there one meaning to this passage or many? Explain.
Group 06: Think about all the “goodly” people Brown saw going “astray” in the story. What were their names? Any symbolism or irony? Also, f this was a dream, why do you think Brown was dreaming about or imagining these people living a life of sin?
Group 05: Are there any examples of intolerance mentioned in the story? Tell us where and why.
Group 04: Why did the devil have such a “considerable resemblance” to Goodman Brown? Can you think of any other stories that have similarities to this “literary device” (technique)? What is significant about it?
Group 03: What do you think the old expression to dance or “walk with the devil” means/implies? Is this notion something people can apply to their lives today? How so? Give examples.
Group 02: What is the significance of Brown’s staff? Anything symbolic? Explain your answer.
Group 01: So, how do we answer Hawthorne’s question? Was Brown only dreaming or did he actually walk with the devil? Explain your answer.

In class, your group discussed the question connected to your group's number (group 8 did question 8, and so forth). Before the discussions began, I asked you to write down the question of the group AFTER yours in your journal, for example group 13 had to write down the question for group 12 in their journal (exception: group 1, write down group 13’s). Here is where you'll need that information!

Type up your answer to the question you wrote down in your journal. Remember, this ISN’T the same question your group discussed in class. First, submit your "polished" answer (at least a good paragraph) to Turnitin.com. There will be a folder for the assignment called “Young Goodman Brown.” Upload it there. Second, after you upload your article to Turnitin.com, copy-and-paste it here as a comment (you may have to scroll down a bit to find the comment box). Be sure to follow a formal format, like Dudley D. did HERE on "The Necklace" article. I ask this so that I can be sure who you are, etc. for my grade book. You only need put your first name and last initial to preserve, at least, some degree of anonymity.

So, the answer you prepare for your question needs to show up in TWO places this time: in both the www.turnitin.com site AND here on the English-blog. You don’t need to e-mail me a confirmation.

NOTE: SAs don’t have to do the question assignment. They should just leave a comment that says “I was an SA today” on both places.

Now, just a few points I'd like to make about "Where We Are (thus far) In This Course"

1. Last Friday concluded the module “Introduction to Literature.” If you read the articles, came to class and participated in the class discussions and activities, you should have gotten a good idea of what literature is and what will be expected in this course.

2. Today (Friday) concludes the second module of our course, “How to Survive this Course.” With various assignments, you have now had practice using MS-Word, uploading files to the internet, using the Turnitin.com service, leaving comments on the English-Blog, receiving and sending email to and from me, participating in cooperative groupwork, how to address your instructor by introducing yourself each time, how to use your dictionary to clear an unknown or misunderstood word, how present an oral summary of a fragment from the text, and, finally, how to read a work of literature closely and analyze two short stories (by answering critical questions in written and oral form). So, you’ve really done a lot already!

3. Monday, we begin our first novel reading module with Watership Down. We’ll begin to discuss it in class by Wednesday, the 31st. I’ve deliberately picked an easy novel to get started since some of you may have never read a real novel before. But, it’s not as easy as it seems. I’ll want you to read it as carefully as you would any other text for this class and your other classes. Take notes in the margins, underline words you don’t know and look them up, write your thoughts in your journal after you do your readings. This will PAY OFF later when it is time to write about the novel. Better to have some notes already done than none!

Homework: In addition to the assignment outlined above (and given to you in today's class) don't forget to:

1. Read the readings on the itinerary WAL pages 181 – 185.5 and 242 – 245 “Luck”
2. Read/study/comment/take notes/pay special attention to "YOUR" chosen chapters of the Watership Down novel (from the list you signed in class).
3. The presenters for Wednesday are (chapter you need to cover is in parentheses): Tatiata (1), Deidra (2), Erin (3), Jeff (4), Justin (5), Melisa (6), Shayne (7), Lorin (8), Jennifer N. (9), Steph (10), Amber (11), Joe (12), Erin (13), Lyndsay (14)

For those of you who were absent today, you didn't' get to sign the list! I'll assign you to a day and a chapter and sent the whole list out as a group e-mail message later.

*Sources: Some awesome questions ideas by Mrs. Jane M. C. Buono and user "goneaway" at the Everything2 site HERE.

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*NOTE* The deadline for this assignment has now passed. Comments are no longer being accepted for this exercise

~Lee

5. Brown was called “silly” in the story by the old woman. Why? Did the towns people not like him? Explain with examples from the text.
Brown was called silly by the old woman because he had the held the belief that so many people that he held in such high regard could do no wrong. The towns people did like him. An example of this is the fact that Goody Cloyse had taught Brown catechism in his youth and she was one of his spiritual advisers. Another example of this was the fact that the towns people were prepared to welcome him into their wicket circle.

Question #7

I think it refers to the fact that he was confronted with shady devilish dealings and when he is screaming "my Faith is gone" refers not so much to his wife but his own faith in good things.

#2. I do believe that the fact that his wife's name is Faith does effect the story. He asks her if she has lost faith in him and whether or not that is true is not the point, the point is that he has lost faith in himself and he is going to lose Faith his wife. He has no faith because if he did he would not be walking with the Devil.

Discussion question number 10
It seems as though Goodman Browns journy into the woods is real, but his meeting with the devil is not. it seems as though his encounter with the devil is some what of a vision quest for him he needs to find answers to questions that have been bothering him.

1.) What is the significance of Brown’s full name? Explain.

The significance of Goodman Brown’s full name is that he’s not really a Goodman. He appears to be the ideal man on the surface but underneath he’s not. It says in the book that he walks with the devil. A Goodman does not walk with the devil. Many people in today’s society walk around pretending to be someone they’re not. Men especially, they could have a beautiful wife and family at home but it won’t be enough. The man would get “tired” of the boring routine and find themselves a mistress. The pretend to be “Goodmen” but in all reality they are quite the opposite.

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*NOTE* The deadline for this particular assignment has now passed. Any comments listed below are *ONLY* for the reposting of comments that I specifically asked to be revised or are ones from non-student posters. Any 'student' posts below that missed the assignment deadline will not get credit for the assignment.

~Dr. Hobbs

Michelle Youngblood
Professor Hobbs
English 122 CA 16
January 20, 2009
Young Goodman Brown: Author’s Main Point
Often time’s people who have known each other for years assume they know a person completely. Although someone may act a certain way in front of a group of people, he or she is not always letting that audience view them as who they truly are. Another subject of the author’s main point is listening to somebody else’s advice or opinion. Hawthorne illustrates these points in his short story Young Goodman Brown.
A person never knows who a person really is, is one of the author’s main points. For instance, when Young Goodman Brown was in the forest and he said he thought he heard two voices that sounded like the minister and Deacon Gookin while they were riding horses quietly in the forest (Hawthorne, 72); he thought it was not likely for them to be there because the forest was known as a place where people came to meet with the devil. What astounded him the most was when he learned of how many people from the village he recognized in the forest. Earlier in the short story, Young Goodman Brown was walking with a man with a staff. The man showed Goodman Brown a figure of a lady in the path whom he recognized as a lady from his church who was his moral and spiritual adviser (Hawthorne, 70). Of all people, Young Goodman Brown never thought in a million years he would find people from his church in the forest. These examples from the book aids in letting people know that even though we think we may know the people we interact with, we really do not.
Listening to someone else’s opinion can sometimes come in handy in particular situations. Previously in the short story, Young Goodman Brown’s wife was telling him he should not go into the forest because she had a bad feeling about it (Hawthorne, 67.) After experiencing his dream of being in the forest or his night in the forest, Goodman Brown was not the same. He became more strict, sad, distrustful and desperate (Hawthorne, 78.) It seems as though Goodman Brown was not into the church as he may have been before his walk in the forest. For example, on page 78 in the short story of Young Goodman Brown while he was in church he could not hear the people in the church singing due to an over-powering anthem of sin. Taking advice from other people pays off in the end from time to time; people just have to know when and when not to adhere to that information.
In conclusion, the author’s two main points were: Taking someone’s advice and a person never knows the other completely. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story Young Goodman Brown became vital in supporting details of the main points of the story. When a person shows concern by telling someone what he or she should or should not do, they should stop and think and take their opinion into consideration. When some people think they know it all, especially about people, he or she has another thing coming because they are going to be in shock to find out facts about the person they thought they knew so well.
 
Works Cited
Balkun, Mary McAleer. Young Goodman Brown. Upper Saddle River: New Jersey, 2005.

John Winans
Eng 122
Dr. Hobbs
21January2009
Young Goodman Brown
“Young Goodman Brown” is the title of a work by Nathaniel Hawthorne that reveals the main character, a man both young and good. The setting is Salem village in about the year of eighteen hundred and thirty five.
This young man is a general God fearing citizen with a wife whom carries the unforgettable name of Faith, one which is needed to continue throughout the life of Mr. Brown. The good young man is taken on a journey accompanied by a ghastly figure that is just out of the light of revelation throughout the story. This journey takes all who join into the darkest, deepest despairs of the human conscience both mind and body reaching the utmost realm of the soul.
The witching hour seems to be the starting point of this journey, as the bell tolls twelve and the darkness closes in, a somewhat familiar figure appears only within the cover of the shadows and heard only by the soul’s ear. The figure accompanies our Goodman on his travels winding along the beaten path that takes him through the wooded terrain which encircles the travelers, blocking out all attempt of light that may allow the inquisitive eye to pierce in or out. Both characters are described as relatively close in appearance to the point of even being father and son with the elder possessing a certain staff familiar to the priests and prophets of scripture mysteriously resembling a serpent known by some including Goodman’s father and father’s father all whom were decent Christian men.
As the men travel side by side they encounter other characters that appear and disappear in the shadows in and out of sight and sound throughout the cover of night. An elderly woman is one such proof, known by the young man as a religious teacher of his and very aware of him and his companion to the surprise of Brown. The woman is eager to attend to the task at hand and continues as well as the two. Coming upon the path a little further is the trotting of horses two of which bring forth two more characters known to Brown as a deacon and minister both who lend their support of the task. These familiar and even unfamiliar men and women from all walks of life both sinner and saint making way along the same path to the final destination adding singing, wailing and prayer heard from afar while the glow off in the distance becomes brighter as the travelers continue along the winding path to an apparent ending where the glow reveals it’s purpose.
Young Goodman Brown reaches the finale with much contemplation and support of the outside presence of those he’d had the pleasure to know through the years both of the dead and undead. Young Goodman Brown has seen his end and it has finally found him as the living witness his travel from this life to the afterlife where he is greeted by the past for it is in the present that Young Goodman Brown was on the path from life to death and he has seen it through from start to finish.

I am home schooling my 8th grader and this is the story we are studying! This is excellent! We have to chuckle though at the comments made about the grading system because we don't have one like that! But it will prepare my child for college courses!!!!

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Note from Dr. Hobbs:

Thank you for your comments LC! Please feel free to have your 8th grader leave remarks on the blog as well. This is a public-forum (this is done intentionally for the college students) so both they and I enjoy seeing what the world outside OUR classroom thinks and feels about this work and their observations of it.