"Young Goodman Brown" Plot Diagram

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.

"Young Goodman Brown" Plot Diagram Example

Exposition

The story begins when Goodman must say goodbye to his wife, Faith, to go on an errand. Faith tells Brown that she is not comfortable staying by herself and wished he would not go.

Major Inciting Conflict

Brown leaves without stating the purpose of the journey, yet the reader infers that the reason is related to dark matters. On his way he encounters the devil who attempts to woo him.

Rising Action

Despite numerous persuasive tactics, Brown refuses the devil; until he thinks he hears Faith’s scream. Using the devil’s staff, Brown is transported to the devil's forest ceremony.

Climax

At the ceremony the fire lights the faces of good pious people in his community: the Deacon Gookin, Goody Cloyse, and others. Suddenly, he realizes that Faith is among them. As he tells her to resist the devil and look towards the heavens he is transported back through the forest alone.

Falling Action

The next morning, Brown returns to the village unaware if what he experienced was real or a dream. He sees the same members of the community that were at the fire and cries out, defaming them in wickedness.

Resolution

For the rest of his life, he is changed, trusting no one, especially not his wife, Faith.