The Great Stone Face
Overview
'The Great Stone Face' is a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne about a boy named Ernest who grows up in a valley dominated by a magnificent rock formation shaped like a human face. Ernest spends his life gazing at the face and believing that one day a great man resembling it will appear. Through patience, kindness, and wisdom, Ernest himself becomes the living image of the Great Stone Face without realising it.
Typed Notes
Ernest and the Prophecy
Ernest is a young boy who lives in a valley with his mother. The valley is overlooked by a huge rock formation called the Great Stone Face, which looks like a kind and wise human face. Ernest's mother tells him an old prophecy: one day a great man will be born in the valley who will look exactly like the Stone Face. Ernest is deeply moved by this and spends his childhood gazing at the face, hoping to meet this great person. The face becomes his teacher and ideal.
Three False Claimants
As Ernest grows up, three men are each believed to be the fulfilment of the prophecy. The first is Gathergold, a rich merchant who returns to the valley. The second is Old Blood-and-Thunder, a famous general. The third is Old Stony Phiz, a celebrated politician. Each time, the excited people compare the man to the Stone Face, but Ernest looks carefully and feels disappointed — none of them truly resembles the noble, gentle, and wise expression of the Great Stone Face. Their characters do not match the face's goodness.
Ernest — The True Likeness
Ernest lives a simple life as a farmer, helping neighbours, reading, and thinking deeply. He occasionally speaks to gatherings of people, sharing his wise and kind thoughts. A famous poet visits the valley and spends time with Ernest. The poet is moved by Ernest's wisdom and goodness. One evening, as Ernest speaks to a crowd, the setting sun lights up his face. The poet suddenly sees that Ernest's face perfectly matches the Great Stone Face. He cries out that Ernest is the man of the prophecy. Ernest is humble and hopes someone worthier will come.
Theme and Moral
The central theme of the story is that true greatness lies in a person's character — their kindness, wisdom, honesty, and goodness — not in wealth, military power, or political fame. Ernest never sought greatness; he simply lived well and kept the noble image of the Stone Face in his heart. The story also shows the power of a good ideal or role model. By constantly looking up to something noble and beautiful, Ernest gradually became noble and beautiful himself. The moral is: we become what we truly and sincerely admire.
Key Concepts
Revision ke liye ek nazar — exam se pehle yahi padhna hai.
- 01Ernest grows up believing a prophecy that a great man resembling the Stone Face will one day appear in the valley.
- 02Three men — Gathergold, Old Blood-and-Thunder, and Old Stony Phiz — are mistakenly believed to be the fulfilment of the prophecy.
- 03A poet visits Ernest and recognises that Ernest himself is the true likeness of the Great Stone Face.
- 04Ernest's noble character is shaped by years of gazing at the Stone Face and living a simple, honest, and kind life.
- 05The story teaches that greatness comes from inner goodness, not wealth, power, or fame.
Questions & Solutions
Pehle khud try karo — phir solution kholo. Yahi tariqa topper banata hai.
Why did Ernest keep gazing at the Great Stone Face throughout his life?
Why was Ernest disappointed when Gathergold, Old Blood-and-Thunder, and Old Stony Phiz appeared?
How did the poet recognise that Ernest was the true likeness of the Great Stone Face?
What does the story suggest about how Ernest's character was formed?
What is the central message or moral of 'The Great Stone Face'?
Ernest grows up in a valley gazing at the Great Stone Face, a rock formation resembling a wise and kind human face. He awaits the great man of an old prophecy. Three famous men — a merchant, a general, and a politician — are each mistakenly believed to be the one. Finally, a poet recognises that Ernest himself, through his simple, good, and wise life, has become the true likeness of the Great Stone Face.
Chapter-end quiz
4 MCQsOption tap karo — turant pata chalega sahi ya galat, explanation ke saath.
Q1.Who first told Ernest about the prophecy of the Great Stone Face?
Q2.Which of the following best describes Gathergold?
Q3.What was Ernest's occupation in life?
Q4.Which literary device is most clearly used in the title 'The Great Stone Face'?
Mark karo — dashboard par progress dikhega.