Introduction

In this unit, you will be reading the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Throughout this unit, you will be completing four major types of assessment:

  • vocabulary,
  • symbolism charts,
  • chapter questions,
  • quiz.

At the end of the unit, you will take the Unit 5 test and write a literary analysis essay.

Before starting the novel, it is important to understand Hawthorne as a writer, to understand the Puritan society, to learn the major symbols of the novel, and to understand the language of the novel, which at times can be confusing.

As you learned in Unit 4, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Puritan society settings to focus on feelings of fear; he is obsessed with moral and psychological themes.

Hawthorne is known as the first American author to incorporate symbolismSymbolism is something that has meaning in itself and also stands for something more than itself.
Example: A heart may symbolize love.
Example: The American flag may symbolize freedom. into his writing, and just like “The Minister's Black Veil” was a parable about secret sin, The Scarlet Letter can be viewed as an allegoryAn allegory is a story which can be read on both a literal level and a symbolic level. about secret sin.

Hawthorne uses the darker side of Romanticism by focusing on the pessimistic side of the individual. He saw life as catastrophic.

discussion Discussion


Before you start studying this novel, it is also important to understand where you stand as a reader on certain moral and ethical issues. Consider the following questions:

  • Are there two sides to every story? Explain.
  • Is it ever okay to let someone else take the blame for something in which you are responsible? Explain.
  • Is it embarrassing to be ridiculed by people? Why?
  • Is it okay, if you don't love your spouse, to cheat on him/her? Why?
  • Is it ever okay to label people? Are labels ever accurate? Explain.
  • Do you think everyone has good in him or her? Explain.
  • Do you think revenge is justified in some cases? Explain.

Post your responses to the above questions to 5.01 The Scarlet Letter Discussion. Be sure to respond to at least two other student's responses.

 

This lesson is aligned with ACOS4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone)., ACOS31Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one–on–one, in groups, and teacher–led) with diverse partners on Grade 10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively., ACOS40Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple–meaning words and phrases based on Grade 10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. and ACOS42 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain–specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or phrase important to comprehension or expression.. At the end of this lesson, student will be able to:

  • Participate in a collaborative discussion about the moral and ethical questions posed in The Scarlet Letter,
  • Understand the vocabulary and language of The Scarlet Letter,
  • Understand the background of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the symbolism of The Scarlet Letter, and the characters in The Scarlet Letter.

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