young goodman brown questions and answers

1. What do you think Hawthorne's purpose was for writing this story?
2. Hawthorne states that Brown's wife is "aptly named" Faith.  After reading the story, do you agree?  Does Faith's name fit her personality?  Does Brown have true faith in her?
3. What do you think the pink ribbons signify?
4. Was everything Brown witnessed real, a figment of his imagination, something conjured by evil, or a dream?  Support your answer with passages from the text.
5. Who do you think the old man really is?  What textual clues tell you this?
6. What does the staff represent?  Do you think the staff leads Brown onward or is the primary motivator Brown's own conscience/mind?
7. If Brown had not ventured into the forest, how would his life be different?  If he'd stayed home,would Brown still have Faith?  Would he still trust his wife and his fellow townspeople

ANSWERS

1. I think Hawthores's purpose for writing the story was to tell us what he thought was important about nature and how nature can be evil. Also how all people sin at once.

2. I think her name fit her perfectly. Yes Brown has faith in her.

3. I think the pink ribbon means faith, happiness, Joy, innocent, and her personality.

4. I think that what Brown witnessed was real because the magic of evil put in Brown to make him think it was all a dream. Also how he see everyone will be different.

5. I think the old man is the devil.

6. The staff represent the devil. Yes I feel like the staff lead him onward by temptation.

7. If he would of never went on his journey he would of still trusted everyone. He would also see everyone the same . Lastly there wouldn't be evil.