PSYCHOANALYSIS
– How is this story an allegory for the human soul/mind/heart?
– Identify the symbolic Conscious, Unconscious, Id, Ego, and Super-Ego
– What are four real psychological hang-ups and problems (like defense mechanisms) that Brown may be dealing with?
HISTORICISM
– How, specifically, is this story inspired by historical events? Compare the two.
– What does the author seem to think about the historical events.
– How can the messages of this event be applied to the present time (through this story)?
RELIGIOUS ALLEGORY (GOOD VS. EVIL)
– How is this story an allegory for good vs. evil? What is it trying to say about that?
– How is this story an allegory for the Puritans’ Calvinist religion?
– What does this story have to say about human nature (particularly guilt, sin, evil, and shame)?