"The Birthmark" Summary

Activity Overview

A common activity for students is to create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of a plot, but 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 story by creating a six-cell storyboard which contains the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in a sequence using Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.

Example Plot Diagram for "The Birthmark"

Exposition

In the story of “The Birthmark”, the narrator introduces Aylmer, a brilliant scientist, and his wife Georgiana.

Major Inciting Conflict

Aylmer loves his wife, but she has a small birthmark on the side of her left cheek that he despises.

Rising Action

Aylmer becomes obsessed with Georgiana’s birthmark. He seems to be the only person who finds the mark disturbing. His wife along with the rest of the townspeople find Georgiana to be beautiful. Yet, Aylmer says that her almost perfect face is what makes the mark so shocking. Eventually he wears Georgiana down and she agrees to allow him to attempt removing it.

Climax

The couple moves to his apartment where he performs his scientific experiments. As Georgiana studies the various aspects of her husband's profession she finds herself captivated by what he can do. Although, she reads his journals and finds out that all his experiments never quite reach their full goal.

Falling Action

Without hesitation Almyer comes up with a potion which he believes will cure Georgiana and make her perfect.

Resolution

She drinks the potion and the mark fades; however, she too fades with the mark. Upon her death the reader is left with the blunt reality that man is flawed and the sin of perfection leads to death.