Silas Marner Summary

A common student activity while reading is to create a plot diagram of the events from a novel. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but also to reinforce major events and help students develop greater understanding of literary structures.

Students can create a storyboard that captures the concept of the narrative arc in a novel by creating a six-cell storyboard that contains the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene from the novel in the sequence: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Example Silas Marner Plot Diagram

Exposition

The novel starts in the present and flashes back to when Silas was a young man in Lantern Yard. In this religious community, Silas was revered, had friends, and a fiance. However, he was soon framed by his best friend and expelled from the town. He moved to Raveloe to begin a new life.

Major Inciting Conflict

Silas has been hurt badly, so he has become a reclusive miser, full of anger and despair. This makes him the subject of rumors and lies.

Rising Action

Readers are introduced to the Cass family: The Squire and his three sons, Godfrey, Dustan, and Bob. Godfrey, the eldest son, is hiding a scandalous secret, which his brother, Dustan, is aware of and uses as blackmail against Godfrey. Godfrey is secretly married to an opium-addicted woman from a neighboring town. After squandering all his money and unable to get more from Godfrey, Dunstan robs Silas Marner, leaving him with nothing for the second time in his life. But one night, Molly decides to get revenge on Godfrey by showing up with their child at the Squire's party. She never makes it. Instead, she dies in the snow, and her baby wanders to Silas’ house.

Climax

Relieved that Molly is dead, Godfrey marries his true love, Nancy, a woman he was courting during his marriage. Silas ends up raising the child as his own, and it changes his life for the better; he gains friends, respect, and a replacement for his robbed gold: true love. Godfrey, however, vows that he will never forget the child, Eppie, and promises to keep an eye on her. After 16 years, Godfrey and Nancy, who were unable to have children of their own, try to take Eppie from Silas. For the third time, Silas is faced with despair.

Falling Action

Unable to leave Silas, her true father, and the life she has known, Eppiem, now 18, passes on the Cass’ offer to be their child. This makes Silas the happiest he’s ever been, and he knows now that he will trust her for the rest of his life. Silas also has his gold returned to him after the Cass family finds Dunstan’s dead body at the bottom of a dried-up quarry near Silas’ cottage, with Silas' gold next to him.

Resolution

With all things having been restored to him, Silas decides to go back to Lantern Yard to see if any light was shed on his innocence. However, when he and Eppie get there, the town is gone. After they return to Raveloe, Eppie marries Aaron Winthrop. Silas, Eppie, and Aaron live happily in Silas’ cottage for years to come.