1.15.08 | Hawthorne (day 2)
• Business
• The letter A
• HW
– Read through “The Minister’s Vigil” chapter for
Thurs.
The Letter “A”
• title of the book.
• first mentioned in Custom House:
"Certainly there was some deep meaning in it,
most worthy of interpretation, and which, as it
were, streamed for from the mystic symbol, subtly
communicating itself to my sensibilities, but
evading the analysis of my mind.“ [28-29]
• So, the text itself raises the question:
What does the letter A mean?
Storyboards
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
42-43
44-45
46-47
48-49
50-51
52-53
54-55
56-57
58-59
60-61-62
• Group of 3-4
– Quote finder
– Drawer
– Presenter
• Two boards per group, on
per page
• Procedure
– Find more important passage
on the page.
– Draw picture that represents
it
– Write quotation as caption
– Post on the wall w/ tape.
– Explain the quotation you
picked, why you picked it, and
what you drew
• You have 20mins.
• "It seemed to me, -- the reader may smile, but
must not doubt my word, -- it seemed to me,
then, that I experienced a sensation not
altogether physical, yet almost so, as of
burning heat; and as if the letter were not of
red cloth, but red-hot iron. I shuddered, and
involuntarily let it fall upon the floor.“
• Why write this?
first mention in the story:
“On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth,
surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and
fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter
A. It was so artistically done, and with so much
fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had
all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the
apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor
in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly
beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary
regulations of the colony" 47
– my footnote says "sumptuary regulations" were rules of decorum
intended to enforce class distinction.
next mention:
– "it had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the
ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing
her in a sphere by herself.”
– crowd is impressed with her needle work:
• "but did ever a woman, before this brazen hussy,
contrive such a way of showing it! Why, gossips, what is
it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and
make a pride out of what they, worthy gentlemen,
meant for a punishment?” [48]
next mention:
While on the stage, her mind wanders to other scenes. The
chapter concludes with her returning to the present
circumstance and the A:
“Lastly, in lieu of these shifting scenes, came back the rude
market-place of the Puritan settlement, with all the
townspeople assembled and levelling their stern regards at
Hester Prynne, -- yes, at herself, -- who stood on the
scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter
A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread,
upon her bosom!
Could it all be true? She clutched the child so fiercely to her
breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes
downward at the scarlet letter, and evne touched it with
her fing, to assure herself that the infant and the shame
were real. Yes! -- these were her realities, -- all else had
vanished!” [53]