Data Sheet 1
English Data Sheets
Title: The Scarlet Letter_______________
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne__________
Date of Publication: 1850_____________
Source of Information: SparkNotes_____
Provide information about the time period
(literary, historical, philosophical, etc.):
The 1800s saw the passing of the Founding Fathers and marked
a rise in strife that would lead to the Civil War. As new states
were added to the growing Union, the fight over whether they
would be admitted as a free state or a slave state (thus
enhancing that faction’s power) raged in the halls of power.
The year the novel was published saw the passing of the
Fugitive Slave Law, which allowed owner’s to re-claim slaves
who had escaped north to freedom. Of course, not all those
captured under the auspices of the law had actually been
former slaves, driving up the tension.
Amazingly, Hawthorne chose to focus on the evils he perceived
in his own family history rather than the division occupying the
rest of the country.
Philosophically, this time also saw the publishing of Karl Marx’s
Communist Manifesto, a work that would shape the following
centuries.
Identify the genre and explain how this work
fits those characteristics:
1.
Historical fiction – the novel depicts life as it would have
been during the 1600s in Puritan communities. While the
descriptions are a more “modern” prose, the characters
speak as they would have during the time.
2.
Allegory – the novel also serves to function as an allegory,
teaching a lesson about the effects of various kinds of sin.
Each major character, then, becomes symbolic in order to
help achieve the author’s purpose.
3.
Romance – not in the modern sense of the word, but in a
more traditional sense. It features supernatural elements
and characters. The forest takes on a foreboding aspect;
Pearl wavers between being a real child and a “fairy child”
with preternatural senses. The novel is not depicting
reality.
Significant details about the author:
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts in
1804. He is descended from the infamous Judge Hathorn, who
was instrumental in convicting people of witchcraft during the
Salem Witch Trials. Many of his works focus on the Puritans,
and are harshly critical of them.
Hawthorne attended college with Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow, a famous poet, and Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth
President. He also became good friends with Herman Melville,
Robert Browning, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, all famous
writers.
Hawthorne died in 1864.
Provide the major plot points:
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A young Puritan woman, Hester Prynne, has committed
adultery in the absence of her husband. She is sentenced
to stand on a scaffold in the middle of town, holding her
baby, for most of the day. Thereafter, she must wear a
Scarlet Letter “A” for adultery on her chest. Though
offered the opportunity to have her sentence made easier
if she names the father, Hester refuses.
As she serves her penance, her husband arrives to see her
disgrace. He later talks her into concealing his presence,
not acknowledging him as her husband. He takes the
name Roger Chillingworth.
Hester lives on the outskirts of town. Her work as a
seamstress is in high demand. She raises her daughter,
Pearl, and tends to the less fortunate. Roger, meanwhile,
dedicates himself to discovering the identity of the father
in order to punish him.
The young town minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, is thought
to be a saint among his parishioners. He seems to be
suffering through a terrible ordeal. His congregation
believes God is testing him to prove he is a worthy saint.
The reader, however, knows that he is wracked with guilt
over having sinned with Hester and not admitting his guilt.
Roger rooms in the same boarding house with Arthur. He
eventually figures out the secret and torments the man,
as he said he would do.
Hester continues to minister to the less fortunate. Pearl
grows into a strange child, hardly seeming human at
times.
Finally, as he is dying, Arthur manages to confess his sins
in front of the entire town. He dies knowing that he will
receive forgiveness. Roger’s quest for revenge has
destroyed him. Roger dies knowing he has damned
himself for taking his revenge.
Hester and Pearl leave, but eventually Hester moves back
to continue taking care of those society would rather
ignore or cast off, just like it did to her.
Data Sheet 2
Identify, define, and explain the use and
effect of at least three literary techniques:
1.
2.
3.
Metonymy – this is where one word or phrase is substituted
for another with which it is closely associated; it provides a
more elegant or poetic way of saying something; it can also be
used to lend a feeling of authority. For example, saying, “The
orders came from the Oval Office” rather than just the
President.
Dramatic Irony – where the reader knows something that the
characters do not know; often used to heighten tension or to
emphasize a character trait. Here, the dramatic irony points
out Dimmesdale’s hypocrisy.
2.
3.
4.
1.
The age had not so much refinement, that any sense of
impropriety restrained the wearers of petticoat and
farthingale [emphasis added]from stepping forth into the
public ways” (47).
2.
“*T+he Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor,
takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should
have come upon his congregation” (48-9).
3.
“A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments, and
gray, steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women,
some wearing hoods and others bareheaded, was
assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which
was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron
spikes” (45).
Imagery – vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or
more of the senses; authors use imagery to create the mood
for the story. In his description of the Puritans, Hawthorne
creates a sense of oppression.
Cite and quote at least three significant
passages (use ellipses to abbreviate):
1.
Cite and Quote one example of each:
On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded
with an elaborate embroidery [ . . . .] greatly beyond that
allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony” (50).
“At his arrival in the market-place, and some time before
she saw him, the stranger had bent his eyes on Hester
Prynne [ . . . . ] When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne
fastened on his own [ . . . ] he slowly and calmly raised his
finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his
lips” (57).
In your own words, explain the significance
of each passage or explain how it relates to
the work as a whole:
1.
2.
“And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain
show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a
great horror of mind [ . . . . ] ‘A pure hand needs no glove
to cover it!’” (134 – 43).
3.
“He turned towards the scaffold, and stretched forth his
arms [ . . . . ] That final word came forth with the
minister’s expiring breath” (225 – 9).
4.
Hester has turned her badge of shame into a work of art.
Her actions tie into Hawthorne’s belief about revealed sin.
Because her sin is known, she has the strength to stand up
to the Puritan elders. As the novel progresses, she
continues to grow in strength until she is able to stand up
to her former husband.
Roger’s appearance as the stranger begins his role as the
symbolic representation of unpardonable sin. He asks
Hester to conceal his identity to allow him to discover the
father of Pearl. His curiosity will drive him throughout the
play as he strives to get his revenge. We also get the sense
of how terrified Hester is of him, which helps convey how
much her strength has grown when she finally stands up
to him.
Dimmesdale represents concealed sin, and as such his
attempts to atone are all done in secret. In this passage,
he stands on the scaffold where Hester stood, but he does
it in the middle of the night. The only ones to see him are
Hester, Pearl, and Roger. His physical body has decayed
due to the effects of his concealed sin, and it will continue
to destroy him until the end.
As his last act, Dimmesdale is finally able to reveal his sin.
Unfortunately, his actions are too late, and he dies. He is
able to resist the final temptation offered by Chillingworth
and bring his own sin out into the open.
Data Sheet 3
Describe the setting(s) and explain its
significance:
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Time: Middle 1600s.
Hawthorne sets his novel during Puritan times in order to
achieve his purpose of revealing their hypocrisy. Through the
allegory he constructs, he takes them to task for their concept
of “The Elect,” special people chosen by God to go to heaven.
Also, Hawthorne greatly regrets the role his great grandfather
played during the Salem Witch Trials. His novel allows him to
show the faults in the Puritans and distance himself from his
ancestor’s actions.
Identify and explain the given metaphors
(M), symbols (S) or motifs (F) in the work:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Write and explain at least three theme(s) of
the work:
Revealed Sin – represented by Hester. Hawthorne believes
that people whose sins are known gain in strength physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. Hester will do exactly that as the
novel progresses. Her experiences make her stronger than the
other characters.
Concealed Sin – Arthur Dimmesdale symbolizes this.
Hawthorne believes that people are destroyed by the sins they
conceal. As the novel progresses, Arthur looks increasingly
sickly. He tries to atone for his sin by beating himself or
standing on the scaffold in the middle of the night. However, it
is only by openly acknowledging his sins that he can gain
strength and forgiveness.
Unpardonable Sin – Roger Chillingworth serves as the
reperesentation; Roger usurps God’s role, taking it upon
himself to punish Arthur. Roger compounds his sin of seeking
revenge with the hubris of usurping the powers of God. Even
when he is warned, Roger continues to seek his revenge,
knowing that he is destroying himself at the same time.
Physically, his description becomes more menacing and evil as
the novel progresses to reflect the impact his unpardonable
sin has on him.
Puritan Hypocrisy – the Puritans supposedly believed in a
literal interpretation of The Bible; however, they would never
actual forgive others, even after they had paid their penance;
they looked down on Hester and treated her poorly, even
though many of them were guilty of far worse sins than she.
Hawthorne shows that they are hypocrites.
Civilization (F) – this is the town, and as such is represents
the control of the Puritans. Transgressions and wrongdoing are punished quickly and harshly. It also represents
restraint.
Wilderness (F) – this is the forest, and it represents
freedom, especially from the harsh Puritan judgment; only
when talking in the forest can Hester and Arthur be honest
Night and Day (F) – night ties into concealed sin, while day
ties to revealed sin
The Scarlet Letter (S) – though initially meant to represent
Hester’s shame, it transforms into a symbol of strength;
indeed, at the end of the novel, many of the younger
townspeople believe that the “A” stands for “Angel.”
Pearl (S) – she is a living indication of the sin shared by her
parents; indeed; her name is a reference to the impurity
that lies at the heart of a precious jewel; she often speaks
out a more than a child, serving as a conscience to Hester
and Arthur.
Names (S/F) – Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, Pearl; their
names are symbolic and tie directly into the themes
Hawthorne explores in the novel.
Write at least three questions or topics for
discussion:
1. Why does Hester not just leave after she gets
out of jail?
2. What, exactly, did Hester see in Arthur in the
first place?
3. Why do Arthur and Hester not follow through
on their plan to run away?
4. Why does Pearl seem so strange in places?
Data Sheet 4
List the given characters. For each character, explain their relationship to other characters,
provide at least three adjectives to describe the character, and explain the character’s purpose or
function in the story. Be sure to indicate if the character is round or flat, static or dynamic:
Considering that this novel is an allegory, Hawthorne could have easily given us flat characters that remain static throughout the
book. Instead, each character has more than one dimension, and each character undergoes a change from the beginning to the end
(though not all of the changes are for the better).
1.
Hester Prynne – She wears the Scarlet Letter of the title. As part of her punishment for committing adultery, Hester is
sentenced to spend several months in jail where she gives birth. She then has to stand on the scaffold in the center of town for
several hours. Finally, she is condemned to wear a large letter “A” on her breast for the rest of her life. At first, Hester seems to
be timid and meek, immediately caving into the demands of the Puritan council. Yet we see the first hint of her strength in her
refusal to name the baby’s father. When confronted by her husband, she stands firm despite the fact the she is obviously
scared of him. That strength grows throughout the novel as Hester uses her outcast state to bring comfort to others. When the
Puritan elders threaten to take her daughter from her, she is able to muster the courage to stand up for her rights. Even when
she is scorned by those others, she is there in their time of need. While Hester’s physical beauty suffers, her spiritual beauty
increases. She is compassionate, loyal, and determined.
2.
Arthur Dimmesdale – Hester’s minister, and the father of her child. First, his name is representation of his own moral
weakness. As a member of the Puritan “Elect,” the good Reverend should be above such mundane sins. However, he falls for
Hester and into the sins of lust and adultery. As the representation of concealed sin, Dimmesdale mirrors the spiritual
destruction he is under-going in his physical appearance. His health fails because his conscience is plaguing him for not
confessing his sin and facing his punishment openly. Instead, he scourges himself in secret and stand on the scaffold in the
middle of the night. His decay, ironically, makes him more sainted and beloved of his Puritan congregation. They see his decay
as indicative of his sainted status with God – obviously such a holy man will be called home soon. Even his final confession
before his death is taken symbolically by his flock. The Puritans make up their minds first, and refuse to change their opinion
when confronted with contrary facts. Instead, they force the facts to fit their pre-conceived notions.
3.
Roger Chillingworth – Hester husband, and an eminent scholar. We are never given his real name; he is initially identified as
“the stranger,” and thereafter by his chosen pseudonym. He brings a “chill” to Arthur’s life, just as his name indicates.
Chillingworth represents Unpardonable Sin, because he sets himself up as God, punisheing Dimmesdale for sinning with his
wife. Just as the others physically change to mirror their internal transformation, so too does Chillingworth become more
demonic as the novel progresses. From the curious scholar we meet at the beginning of the novel, Chillingworth slowly morphs
into almost a caricature of the devil. At one point, Hester muses as to why the grass and plants don’t wither around him as he
stalks through the forest. He has become a hollow shell, destroying anything but the desire for his revenge. When Arthur
grasps his last chance of redemption and confesses just before his death, Roger is totally destroyed, having sacrificed his own
soul for nothing.
4.
Pearl – as her name suggests, she is a precious jewel with a grain of impurity at the center of her creation. Pearl is often used
to act as a conscience for either Hester or Arthur. She often displays knowledge or understanding beyond her years, asking
pointed questions or making comments that strike at the heart of her listener. And yet she also is used to contrast with the
Puritan children. Pearl is happy, adventurous, and free in contrast to the others, who act out their parents’ roles in miniature.
She changes the most dramatically, as she loses her “other-worldly” qualities once they are no longer needed to become a
normal child.