THE HOLLOW OF THE
THREE HILLS
NATHENIAL HAWTHORNE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR –
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short
story writer.
He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel
Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. He
entered Bowdoin College in 1821. He published various
short stories in various periods which he later titled as
Twice Told Tales in 1837. His fiction works are considered
part of the Romantic movement and, more specifically,
dark romanticism. His themes often center on the inherent
evil and sin of humanity, and his works often have moral
messages and deep psychological complexity.
OVERVIEW
THIS STORY IS ABOUT A YOUNG WOMAN WHO BECOMES OVERCOME WITH
GRIEF AND SADNESS AND GOES TO A WITCH TO LEARN WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TO HER FAMILY. THE WITCH SHOWS HER THREE DIFFERENT VISIONS OF
REALITY. IN THE FIRST ONE, SHE SEES HER PARENTS WHO ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW MUCH DISAPPOINTED THEY ARE IN HER. THE SECOND VISION IS
OF HER HUSBAND WHO IS SEEN WEEPING AT HER FUNERAL. THE THIRD ONE
SHOWS HER OWN SON TO HER, WHO SHE SEES HAS DIED AND HIS COFFIN IS
BEING CARRIED TO HIS GRAVE.
VOCABULARY
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REVERIES-A STATE OF BEING PLEASANTLY LOST IN ONE'S THOUGHTS; A DAYDREAM
DECREPIT- WORN OUT OR RUINED BECAUSE OF AGE OR NEGLECT
RESORT-THE ACTION OF RESORTING TO A COURSE OF ACTION IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
VICISSITUDES- STATE OF BEING DECEITFUL AND UNTRUSTWORTHY.
PERFIDY- STATE OF BEING DECEITFUL AND UNTRUSTWORTHY.
MIRTH- AMUSEMENT, ESPECIALLY AS EXPRESSED IN LAUGHTER.
BLIGHT- HAVE A SEVERELY DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON.
VOCABULARY
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FRINGED- HAVING A NATURAL BORDER
PLIGHTED- PLEDGE OR SOLEMNLY PROMISE
SEPULCHRE- A SMALL ROOM OR MONUMENT, CUT IN ROCK OR BUILT OF STONE
OBSCURITY- DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.
YONDER- THE FAR DISTANCE
SOMBRE- A FEELING OF DEEP SERIOUSNESS AND SADNESS
BODING- A FEELING OF EVIL TO COME
WRUNG- SQUEEZE AND TWIST (SOMETHING)
REVILING- TO CRITICIZE SOMEONE STRONGLY
SYMBOLICAL MEANING , MOOD AND THEME
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THIS STORY SYMBOLIZES SACRIFICE, DEATH, REGRET, GUILT, DESPERATION
AND BRAVERY. NARRATED IN THE THIRD PERSON BY AN UNNAMED NARRATOR
WE REALIZED AFTER READING THE STORY THAT HAWTHORNE MAY BE
EXPLORING THE THEME OF SACRIFICE.
• IT OVERALL HAS A DARK THEME AND THE MOOD IS OF GUILT AND SADNESS
AND A DULL TONE IS CARRIED THROUGHOUT THE STORY.
FORM AND STRUCTURE
• THE STRUCTURE OF THE STORY IS THAT MOSTLY COMPLEX AND COMPOUND
SENTENCES ARE USED TO DESCRIBE AND CREATE THE WHOLE IMAGE OF THE
SCENE AND OF THE THREE VISIONS
• THE TOPIC ITSELF SAYS THREE WHICH DEPICTS THE THREE VISIONS THAT THE
WOMAN SEES.
• ARCHAIC WORDS ARE USED WHICH SHOWS THE TIME IN WHICH IT WAS WRITTEN
• MANY ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS ARE USED WITH HIGH DICTION FOR AN
ELABORATED DESCRIPTION.
LITERARY DEVICES
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SIMILE
“LIKE LAMPLIGHT ON THE WALL OF A SEPULCHRE”
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PERSONIFICATION
“THE CHILL BEAUTY….. WAS NOW GLIDING THE THREE HILL TOPS”
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IMAGERY
“GREEN AND SLUGGISH WATER”
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ONOMATOPIEA
“THE CRACKLING OF A FIRE”
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TRIPLE STRUCTURE
“WITHERED, SHRUNKEN AND DECREPIT...”