The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1
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The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 1 The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 2 Aim: What was life like during the Puritan times? Motivation: Copy the vocabulary on page 16 and the hierarchy chart on 14. vocabulary words from the Historical Context on page 16. 1. Black Man- the devil 2. canst- can 3. dost- do 4. fie- an expression of shock, like “Oh!” 5. forthwith- right away 6. gossips- women 7. hast- have; has 8. hither- here; this way 9. hold they peace- calm down; be quiet; be still 10. leech- a worm that sucks blood or eats flesh—one species has been used in medical treatments to remove bad blood or dead flesh; also, an archaic name for a doctor (who would have applied leeches for medical treatment) 11. nay- no 12. noontide- noon; 12 o’clock 13. prithee- please, I beg of you 14. Providence- God and heaven 15. savage- often refers to the Native American people and their way of life 16. skill-service 17. thither- there; that way 18. thou; thee- you 19. thy- your 20. toil- work 21. wherefore- why Independent Reading: Read the "Puritanism" Packet Independent Writing: Copy and answer the 10 questions on page 15. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 3 Aim: Who is Nathaniel Hawthorne and how does his life reflect his work? Motivation: What is your definition of a novel? Independent Reading: Read the "The Novel a Brief History" and the biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Independent Writing: Copy and answer the questions. 1. What two major factors contributed to the rise of the modern novel? 2. Why was the first form of a novel called a romance? 3. How did the definition of a novel change throughout history? 4. Do some research and find at least 2 other novels that fall into the gothic style and 2 novels that are in the romantic style. Be sure to give the story or novel’s title and fully explain why this particular story or novel is a good example for the element. 5. Copy and answer the questions for the "Author Biography" Comprehension check on page 11. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 4 Aim: A Deeper look at the life of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Motivation: Write down 5 facts you learned from the previous biography. Independent Reading: Read the additional biography about Nathaniel Hawthorne. Independent Writing: Answer the following text based questions based on today's reading. 1. Cite the textual evidence which strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text about how Nathaniel Hawthorne felt about his family. 2. Determine the meaning of the word keenly as it is used in the biography. 3. Evaluate the argument scholars have made in the text assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to the reason why Hawthorne wrote the Scarlet Letter. 4. Determine the meaning of the word pseudonym as it is used in the biography. 5. Determine the meaning of the word revered as it is used in the biography. 6. Analyze what makes Hawthorne's protagonist the first "true heroine" of American Literature. 7. Assess whether the reasoning of Henry James is sound, relevant and sufficient to the discussion of the background of the novel. 8. Discuss the effect that Hawthorne being raised in Salem might have on his writing of The Scarlet Letter. 9. Analyze how "The Time and Place" makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories) of the novel The Scarlet Letter. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 5 Aim: What is the historical background of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Motivation: When you hear the word Puritan what comes to your mind? Embedded Task #1: Historical Period Research W8.8: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources. Research your time period from at least 2 credible sources. Find at least 15 facts on the time period discussed in your novel. Facts must be from a credible source (NO WIKIPEDIA). Source must include a website and a book (could be a text book) Must have a bibliography/work cited. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 6 Aim: What information does "The Custom House" reveal in the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Motivation: Cite or summarize one interesting historical fact you found about the Puritans from your readings. Independent Work: Read "The Custom House" in The Scarlet Letter. Independent Writing: Answer the following questions. 1. Why is it important to read the introduction before reading the rest of the novel? 2. What is significant about Hawthorne’s mention of his ancestors in the introduction to the novel? 3. What does the focus on the Custom House and the description of his fellow workers reveal about Hawthorne? 4. Why do you think Hawthorne decided to write his introduction rather than including this information in the plot line of the story? 5. What is the importance of Hawthorne telling the audience about finding the papers and the tattered rag referring to Hester Prynne? 6. From the information given in the Introductory alone, write a 3-5 sentence prediction of what you think the story will be about. 7. How does Hawthorne feel about the new political party taking over at the end of the introduction? What are his political beliefs and affiliations? The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 7 Aim: To assess what we have learned from The Historical Background, Nathaniel Hawthorne's Biography and "The Custom House". Motivation: What additional information did "The Custom House" provide? Paired Writing: Work as a group to answer the assessment questions. Copy and answer the questions. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 8 Aim: How does the exposition of the novel set up the conflict in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? Word Work: 1. beadle-a parish officer having various subordinate duties, as keeping order during services, waiting on the rector 2. contumely-a humiliating insult 3. edifice- n. building 4. ensue- v. to take place afterward 5. feign- v. to pretend 6. gesticulation- n. expressive gesture 7. ignominy- n. deep humiliation; disgrace 8. inauspicious- adj. unfavorable 9. mien- someone's demeanor (showing character or feeling) 10. panoply- n. full suit of armor; impressive array 11. physiognomies-the outward appearance of anything, taken as offering some insight into its character 12. pillory-a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision 13. remonstrance-a protest 14. sagacity-soundness of judgment 15. tribuna n. court or meeting at which a trial is carried out 16. vie- to strive in competition or rivalry with another; contend for superiority Independent Reading: Read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne chapters 1-3. Independent Writing: Answer the following text based questions based on chapters 1-3. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 9 Chapter 1 1. Discuss what Hawthorne describes in detail in this first chapter. Write a short description of it in your own words. 2. Cite the textual evidence of the first two things the Puritans built upon arriving to the new colony. What does this reveal about the needs and views of Puritan culture? 3. What does the narrator say he hopes the rose bush will symbolize? In your own words, predict the ending of the novel based upon this statement. Chapter 2 1. Analyze how the incident of the townspeople gathering in the center of town propels the action, reveal aspects of: Master Dimmesdale, Hester Prynne & the townspeople's character and provokes a decision. 2. Describe how the women in New England are different from the generations of women before them. 3. Discuss Hester Prynne’s relationship to Arthur Dimmesdale. 4. Characterize Hester Prynne the way Hawthorne uses characterization to describe her. 5. Discuss Hester’s crime and what the letter A symbolizes. 6. Determine why the women were upset when they saw Hester’s embroidered letter? 7. In the following statement what is a scaffold? What is it used for? "Be that at as it might, the scaffold of the pillory was a point of view that revealed to Hester Prynne the entire track along which she had been treading since her happy infancy." (56) 8. Cite the textual evidence of what is on Hester’s mind as she serves out the first part of her punishment. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 10 Chapter 3 1. Discuss what Hester noticed immediately about the strange man being accompanied by an Indian? 2. Discuss the gesture the stranger makes to Hester when he realizes that she recognizes him. 3. Cite the textual evidence which shows what the stranger tells one of the townspeople about himself. 4. What does the townsman tell the stranger about Hester’s crime? What do we learn about Hester’s husband? 5. Describe Reverend Dimmesdale. 6. Discuss what the magistrates and ministers want Hester to tell them. What does she do? 7. Discuss what Dimmesdale does and says after Hester firmly states that she will not reveal the name of her lover. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne 11 Aim: What allusions does Hawthorne incorporate in chapters 1-3? Artifact- Allusions in Chapters 1-3 Chapter One 1. utopia - a non-existent place where the political, social, and economic systems in place are fair and just and seek to serve the best interests of the people 2. Isaac Johnson - (1803-1853); one of the first Boston settlers; upon his death he was buried on his own farm, which later became a cemetery 3.