Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
— Mother Teresa
Unit Goals
After learning the unit, students are expected
·to learn the philosophy and influence of American puritanism,
·to know Nathaniel Hawthorne and his references to America’s puritan past in his new-England-setting works,
·to understand the theme of faith and other minor themes in the given selections,
·to learn some useful words and expressions from the unit, and
·to improve English language skills, communication skills and critical thinking.
Before You Read
1. What do you know about the Puritans?
This print from 1884 shows a Puritan husband and wife walking through snow on their way to church.
Is this how you picture the Puritans of New England when you hear about them? What features of this drawing fit with the ideas about the Puritans you have heard or read about?
Have you ever heard anyone criticize someone or something as “too puritanical”? What do they mean? Do you think the actual Puritans of New England were“too puritanical”? Where have your own ideas about the Puritans come from?
How did Puritanism relate to literature? Who are the prominent Puritan writers?
2. Puritanism, in the 16th and 17th cent., is a movement for reform in the Church of England that had a profound influence on the social, political, ethical, and theological ideas of England and America. Study American Puritanism and then fill in the table below.
3. Form groups of three or four students. Try to find, on the Internet or in the library, information about Nathaniel Hawthorne and his works. Get ready for a 5-minute presentation about him and the historical context of Young Goodman Brown in the class.
Start to Read