Stylistic Features in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay

Stylistic Features in â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† Henry Seidel Canby in â€Å"A Skeptic Incompatible with His Time and His Past† states: â€Å"And indeed there is a lack of consistence between the scorn that our younger critics shower upon Hawthorne’s moral creations and their respect for his style. They admit a dignity in the expression that they will not allow to the thing expressed† (62). The style found in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† has not only a â€Å"dignity in the expression† as stated above, but also many other interesting aspects, discussed in the following essay. Canby continues: Hawthorne’style has a mellow beauty; it is sometimes dull, sometimes prim, but it is never for an instant cheap,†¦show more content†¦Sculley Bradley, Richmond Croom Beatty and E. Hudson Long in â€Å"The Social Criticism of a Public Man† state: â€Å"Beyond his remarkable sense of the past, which gives a genuine ring to the historical reconstructions, beyond his precise and simple style, which is in the great tradition of familiar narrative. . . .† (49). The â€Å"precise† style mentioned by Bradley may be the â€Å"detailed† style stated by Clarice Swisher in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography†; she says: â€Å"In his journal – a kind of artist’s sketchbook – he recorded twenty-five thousand words describing people and places in detail† based on two brief visits (18). The author’s attention to detail may be the reason that every word seems to be meaningful in his sentences. Can you discard any words from the opening sentences of â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† without sacrificing some meaning: Young Goodman Brown came forth at sunset, into the street of Salem village, but put his head back, after crossing the threshold, to exchange a parting kiss with his young wife. And Faith, as the wife was aptly named, thrust her own pretty head into the street, letting the wind play with the pink ribbons of her cap, while she called to Goodman Brown. Dearest heart, whispered she, softly and rather sadly, when her lips were close to hisShow MoreRelatedHistory of the Development of the Short Story.3660 Words   |  15 Pagesstory-telling traditions which originally produced epics such as Homers Iliad and Odyssey. Oral narratives were often told in the form of rhyming or rhythmic verse, often including recurring sections or, in the case of Homer, Homeric epithets. Such stylistic devices often acted as mnemonics for easier recall, rendition and adaptation of the story. Short sections of verse might focus on individual narratives that could be told at one sitting. The overall arc of the tale would emerge only through the tellingRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesthe process of change. So-called initiation novels, such as David Copperfield, Huckleberry Finn and the Great Gatsby, are examples. In each case the author has arranged the events of the plot so that they reveal the slow and painful maturing of the young protagonist coming into contact with the world of adult experience. Static characters leave the plot as they entered it, largely untouched by the events that have taken place. Although static characters tend to be minor ones, because the author’s principal