American Literature
Assignment sheet #1: Romanticism
M. D'Antonio
Each reading / writing assignment is due on the date listed below. Remember that there may be
unannounced reading quizzes. Feel free to read ahead, but always review the assigned reading before
class. You must bring your text to class with you. The questions that accompany each assignment will
guide your reading and prepare you for class discussion.
September 9
Brief introduction to the Colonial Period
Read "The Puritans in New England" and Anne Bradstreet poems (handout).
What Puritan values are reflected in these three poems?
September 12
Introduction to Hawthorne
Read "Young Goodman Brown" in Great American Short Stories (53-68)
How would you define the central conflict of the story? What does his journey symbolize?
What does the story suggest about human nature? What distinction does Hawthorne make
between nature and civilization?
September 13
Introduction to The Scarlet Letter
Read chapters 1-4 in The Scarlet Letter (45-70)
What does the opening description of the setting tell the reader about the society in which the story takes place?
Describe the layers of punishment that Hester Prynne is experiencing.
September 14
Read chapters 5-8 in The Scarlet Letter (71-103)
What can you discover about the Puritan concept of sin? How does Hawthorne view sin and sinners?
September 16
Vocabulary quiz #1 [abashed-adroit]
Read chapters 9-11 in The Scarlet Letter (104-128)
How is Dimmsdale punished for his sin? Whose punishment is worse - his or Hester's?
September 19
Your summer reading journal is due.
Read chapters 12-15 in The Scarlet Letter (129-158)
What important symbols surface in this section? Explore how these symbols are interpreted by different
characters.
September 20
Read chapters 16-19 in The Scarlet Letter (159-186)
What is Hawthorne suggesting about the natural world in this section?
September 21
Distribute essay topics for The Scarlet Letter
Read chapters 20-22 in The Scarlet Letter (187-214)
What is the role of appearances and clothing in this section? What does it tell you about Puritan society?
September 23
Vocabulary quiz #2 [adulation - amenity]
Read chapters 23-24 in The Scarlet Letter: (215-228)
Hawthorne equates love and hate (225) - how does this concept play out in the relationships of the characters in
the novel?
September 26
Final discussion of The Scarlet Letter
Thesis statements for The Scarlet Letter due
September 27
Introduction to Romanticism
The Scarlet Letter as a Romantic novel (Hawthorne as a Dark Romantic)
Read Bryant's "Thanatopsis", Poe's "Sonnet to Science", and Whitman's "When I Heard the
Learn'd Astronomer"
September 28
Read "Rip Van Winkle" in Great American Short Stories (33-51)
What elements of Romanticism do you recognize in this story?
September 30
Vocabulary quiz #3 [amorous - apocalypse]
Read "The Fall of the House of Usher" in Great American Short Stories (69-91)
How does Poe's Romanticism compare with Hawthorne's? Identify specific examples of overlap
and of difference.
October 3
Test on Romanticism, including The Scarlet Letter , poems, and short stories