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The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter. Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne. Themes. Justice Hypocrisy Freedom Moral Choices Man v. Nature Legality v. Morality Individual v. Society. Historical Background. Puritanism Theocracy v. Separation of Church and State Witchcraft 1208-1682 Europe England Since 1990

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The Scarlet Letter

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  1. The Scarlet Letter Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

  2. Themes • Justice • Hypocrisy • Freedom • Moral Choices • Man v. Nature • Legality v. Morality • Individual v. Society

  3. Historical Background • Puritanism • Theocracy v. Separation of Church and State • Witchcraft • 1208-1682 • Europe • England • Since 1990 • Africa • India • Saudi Arabia

  4. Literary Elements • Romanticism • Irony • Foreshadowing • Personification • Symbolism

  5. Literary Elements • Symbolism • Flowers – rose, wild rose, wild flowers • Platform/pillory – frames the story – beginning and ending • Role of color – including light and shadow • Gold chain • Hand over heart • Significance of names

  6. Character Development • Dynamic/static characters • Trees/forest as a character – use of light and shadow • Significant actions and insight to character • Interactions with other characters • Motivation for their behavior • How the characters change

  7. Nathaniel Hawthorne • Born in Salem in 1804 • Related to Judge Hathorne from The Crucible • Was the most widely read 19th Century American author. • Known for development of character – secret motivations, guilt, hope, fears, human heart

  8. Author notes continued • In 1848, President Taylor eliminated his job as surveyor at The Custom House. This is when he wrote the book. • The Custom House includes background of the Whig Party/political climate 1847-1849. • Within this section the inspiration to write the Scarlet Letter is revealed. • Book published in 1850

  9. Scarlet Letter notes • Hawthorne and Hester Prynne…a connection? • What does the “A” represent? Does it change meaning as the novel progresses? • Structure of novel • Layered symbols • Scaffold scene 1-3, 12, 23 = all characters present • Narrator

  10. Romanticism • Gained strength during European industrialization • Revolt against Age of Enlightenment and scientific rationalization of nature • Emphasized intuition, imagination, feeling • In literature = emphasis on women and children, heroic isolation of the artist, a respect for nature and focus on supernatural and human psychology

  11. Puritanism - History • Critical name given to those who led reformations of the Church of England, thought to be too much like the Catholic Church • Accepted the interpretations of John Calvin (1509-64) on the nature of man, free will and predestination, and other basic concepts. • Split into three major denominations after 1660–the Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist sects. • http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_18c/defoe/puritanism.html

  12. Puritanism - Beliefs • Providence • Free will and predestination • Other key concepts • Covenants – God’s promises • Covenant of grace – God—given faith • Covenant of works – reward for perfect obedience (lost) • Glorification – soul united with God • Justification – conversion • Natural depravity – sinfulness of man • Regeneration vs. Reprobation – predestined (good/evil) • Sanctification – leading the life of a saint in gratitude • Unregenerate – alienated from God • Vocation – using talents to fulfill God’s call • http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_18c/defoe/puritanism.html

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