... . His great-great-Grandfather was John Hathorne, who was one of the judges in the infamous Salem Witch Trials and mercilessly sentenced many innocent people to their deaths ("Nathaniel Hawthorne - Biography"). Despite living a very different life, his ancestor's involvement in the events of the trials had a very significant impact on Hawthorne. Originally the family name was "Hathorne"; ... published Twice-Told Tales, a collection of his short stories, many of which had previously been published anonymously. The book was a great success and received exceptionally positive feedback ("Nath...

• Word Count: 1129
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... of Young Goodman Brown. The town is not only known for its witch trials in 1692, a series of executions of people accused of witchcraft, among them also Sarah Cloyse and Martha Corey, mentioned in the story as "Goody Cloyse" (68) and "Goody Cory" (68) and its hostility towards the Quakers, a religious group imprisoned, tortured and even executed ... ...

• Word Count: 762
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... inherited evil and sin of humanity. Hawthorne was a firm believer in human imperfection, falls from grace, and generational curses. Although understanding Hawthorne's works can be challenging, by closely examining Hawthorne's biography, along with the subjects and themes of his writings, the reader will better understand how Hawthorne's personal demons inspired him to deliver his messages of human imperfections through his writings ... ...

• Word Count: 646
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate