3.10 Honors: The Scarlet Letter
1. Why does Hawthorne use the phrase "But, one idle rainy day . . . "?
What types of novels and stories often begin with such descriptions?
By using this statement he wants to set the mood of the story. The types
of novels that start like this are horror stories or mystery ones.
2. The unopened documents Hawthorne describes are part of the fiction
he creates. What details does he include to persuade his reader he is
describing actual, historical documents?
He includes details of everyday life, like work. This, in turn, makes the
letters more personal and relatable.
3. In the paragraph describing the scarlet letter, Hawthorne combines
concrete descriptive details with a concluding sentence focusing on the
strange feeling the letter evokes in him. What effect is created by this
combination of concrete and mystical language?
This gives the letter personality. It makes us believe that the letter is
cursed and that it is an evil thing to have. It goes against the norms of
society, which is a bad this in those times.
4. What does Hawthorne mean to signify by his account of the "burning
heat" of the letter? How does this detail affect his pose as a historian
presenting an account of actual events?
He means to suggest that the guilt and power of the letter that is meant
to cause extreme emotions. Here he puts himself in that position and
gives us insight in the emotions of some of the characters. He makes
the story more personal.
5. What view of Hester Prynne's character does the old Surveyor's
document convey? What does Hawthorne claim are the similarities and
differences in The Scarlet Letter and the historical artifacts he
discovered? Why do you think Hawthorne made up this story claiming a
historical basis for The Scarlet Letter?
The letter conveys Hester as “noteworthy” and “solemn” and a kind
person. Hawthorne claims that similarities are that of a geographic
nature and the he claims they are all true but then leaves us with the
doubt of the “A”. He made up this story as a persuasive piece of
literature to make people aware of the event of this time period. It is an
inspirational piece make to evoke emotion. .
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Option Two: Writing an Autobiographical Sketch
Write an autobiographical sketch by Pearl on her 20th birthday, 13 years after
the events of The Scarlet Letter. Show how she feels about Hester, her own
childhood, Dimmesdale, and the events of the story.
My name is Pearl. My mother was otherwise significant to the history of the world. She
was forced to wear an “A” to make people aware of the consequences of her actions.
People make mistakes. But as a result of my mother’s mistake I did not have a normal
child. I was often viewed as an abomination. I could not play with the other children and
spent my early childhood alone until we moved away from our home.
It has been 13 years since that time and now I am 20 years old. I did not know my father
until his confession and death. He died because the guilt drove him to that point. Before
his death and confession there was the affair. After which, Hester, my mother, was
forced to wear that dreadful “A” as punishment. The governor threatened to take my
away from my mother. What is a mother without a child? I wanted Dimmesdale to
acknowledge me but I was denied that. My mother tells me that Dimmesdale was
supposed to come to Europe with us to the guilt caught up to him and Chillingworth got
to him too. He confesses publicly and passes away in front of us. I kiss him and say my
goodbyes.
My mother comes to Europe and stays for many years and then goes back to Boston to
resume her charity work. I did not come because I am married and have a family of my
own here in Europe. My mother spent her final days there in Boston and was buried
there next to her lover. The tomb reads: “A” in scarlet.