Odd One Out Have you ever felt shunned by people you love and respect because of something you did, whether intentionally or accidentally? Who felt worse about it you or your friends and family? Hester Prynne, the main character of Nathaniel Hawthorne s early American novel, The Scarlet Letter, must live her entire life with a label that causes everyone she knows to avoid her company. Will she ever feel that she belongs anywhere? And what about the young daughter who must share Hester s shame? Be a Better Reader As you work through the study guide for The Scarlet Letter, you ll also practice these skills, which will help you when you read novels in the future, for school assignments or just for fun. 1. Describe the development of the main character. 2. Discuss how the plot develops throughout the novel. 3. Describe themes in the novel and trace their development throughout the text. 4. Cite textual evidence to support discussion of the novel. 5. Describe and analyze the role of setting in the novel. Behind the Scenes Nathaniel Hawthorne called The Scarlet Letter a psychological romance because of its focus on the inner turmoil of its characters. Hawthorne wrote and published the novel in 1849 and 1850, but he set it in the Massachusetts Bay Colony of the 1600s. Hawthorne, himself a descendent of the colony s first residents, portrays Puritans as unforgiving people who see the world in very narrow terms and enforce a rigid code of morality, harshly punishing anyone who dares stray outside those boundaries. In Hawthorne s story, though, readers are invited to make their own judgments about the goodness of each character and also about the value of Puritan beliefs and practices. Get This! 1. The Scarlet Letter is awash in symbolism. Be sure to notice and try to figure out the symbolism of the scarlet letter, the meteor, the scaffold, and Hester s daughter, Pearl. 2. Throughout the novel, Hawthorne explores the nature of evil from the perspective of several characters. As you read, determine if you agree with Puritan society s view that Hester Prynne has committed the greatest act of evil in the town, or if another character better embodies evil itself. 3. Notice how Hawthorne uses characters names, night and day, and civilization and society to enhance and tell the story.
The Plot The Scarlet Letter begins when Hester Prynne is forced to wear an embroidered scarlet letter A on her chest as an outward symbol of her adultery Hester s crime is discovered when she becomes pregnant and gives birth to her daughter, Pearl. As you read the novel, fill in the boxes for each element of the plot. Climax Falling Action 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Rising Action 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Resolution
The Characters In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne delves into the inner lives of the four main characters, and in so doing, reveals the motivations for their behavior. For each character, locate a specific quote from the novel something said by or about him or her, and then explain what Hawthorne is trying to convey about the character. Character 1. Hester Prynne Quote by or about the Character What Hawthorne is Trying to Convey 2. Arthur Dimmesdale 3. Roger Chillingworth 4. Pearl Select one of the characters above and write a brief character sketch about him or her:
The Setting Nathaniel Hawthorne set his novel in Puritan Massachusetts, one of the few places where Hester s sin would be so forcefully addressed. Within this setting, the author creates numerous symbolic locations that mirror the characters psychological states. For each location, provide a specific quote from the novel, and then explain what Hawthorne is trying to convey about that particular setting. Location 1. Puritan Massachusetts Quote Describing the Location What Hawthorne is Trying to Convey 2. Scaffold 3. Forest 4. Day and Night 5. Select one of the settings above and explain how Hawthorne uses it symbolically:
Tracking Themes In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne addresses the themes related to sin and the nature of evil, while he also explores the individual s dependence on society for his or her identity. See if you can identify and analyze those themes in the novel. Step 1: What parts of the plot seem related to a possible theme in the novel? (Think about the main conflict and how it get resolved or worked out.) Step 2: Which characters seem related to a possible theme? Which characters change, and what do those changes suggest about sin, evil, or identity? Step 3: How does the author use symbols to hint at the novel s themes? What objects, people, or places stand for something bigger in the story? Step 4: What does the novel s title suggest about the novel s theme? Step 5: Write one or two of the novel s main themes in your own words.
Talk About It What do you think about The Scarlet Letter? Did you notice Hawthorne s use of color? Did you empathize with or dislike any of the characters? In the space below each question, write an answer based on your own understanding of the novel. Include some textual evidence or examples that helped you arrive at your answer. 1. In addition to using night and day to great effect, Hawthorne also utilizes color, especially the color red, as a symbol. Using examples from the book as textual evidence, explain how Hawthorne uses color to convey meaning in The Scarlet Letter. Textual Evidence: 2. Who do you believe is the most evil character in The Scarlet Letter Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, Roger Chillingworth, or Puritan society itself? Use specific examples from the novel to support your answer. Textual Evidence:
Represent! Show what you know about The Scarlet Letter and its relevance to your life. Choose one of these projects to complete and share with your teacher, classmates, and others. Choice 1: Reputation and Society Hester Prynne s sin and her punishment forced her to be separated from the society in which she lived. While this consequence may seem rather harsh to us in the 21 st century, people today must still deal with the consequences of their actions, even if it is only some damage to their reputations or their relationships with others. Hester Prynne is not the first literary character to start a story with a reputation. Think of other films, plays, short stories, or novels that focus on a character s reputation. Create an art project that illustrates some of these characters and their reputations. In your visual display, include objects that symbolize each character s reputation. Be prepared to explain why you selected each character, as well as how the character dealt with the blow to his smeared reputation. Choice 2: Hester Prynne today While the themes of good and evil extend across time, some of the specific plot points addressed in The Scarlet Letter could only occur in Puritan Massachusetts. Think about how Hawthorne s novel could be updated for a modern-day audience. What situation could you use to symbolize sin? How would the protagonist be made to atone for his or her sin? Would the legal system or society itself be the main arbiters of justice? Create a modern-day version of The Scarlet Letter. You may create a written or a video version. Be sure to think about how to translate the novel into the present day. Your version does not have to focus on adultery, just a sin that you believe would draw a similarly strong rebuke from society.