Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

Global IntroductionsGlobal Introductions

Surviving High SchoolSurviving High School

Discuss one unwritten rule for Discuss one unwritten rule for surviving in high school?surviving in high school?

What might be an unwritten rule to What might be an unwritten rule to survive in a Puritan town?survive in a Puritan town?

CliqueClique

What comes to mind when you hear What comes to mind when you hear the word “clique”?the word “clique”?

What cliques are present in What cliques are present in The The Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter??

Left OutLeft Out

How would you feel if you were How would you feel if you were ostracized from the members of your ostracized from the members of your school or community? What would school or community? What would you do about it?you do about it?

Puritan EraPuritan Era

List one characteristic of the Puritan List one characteristic of the Puritan era and briefly explain how things era and briefly explain how things are now similar or different.are now similar or different.

ConformityConformity

In what ways do you conform to what In what ways do you conform to what is expected of you?is expected of you?

New GirlNew Girl

A new girl has transferred to your A new girl has transferred to your school. As she passes through the school. As she passes through the hall, you overhear some boys and hall, you overhear some boys and girls in your class whisper that she is girls in your class whisper that she is promiscuous. What is your response?promiscuous. What is your response?

Fitting InFitting In

Given the generalization “Everybody Given the generalization “Everybody wants to fit in,” identify a specific wants to fit in,” identify a specific example where you have seen this to example where you have seen this to be true or identify an example that be true or identify an example that refutes the generalization.refutes the generalization.

GuiltGuilt

What does guilt look like? If you had What does guilt look like? If you had to draw a symbol of guilt, what would to draw a symbol of guilt, what would it be?it be?

Who “shows” guilt in the novel thus Who “shows” guilt in the novel thus far?far?

Parental InfluenceParental Influence

How instrumental is a parent’s How instrumental is a parent’s influence on their child’s influence on their child’s development?development?

Is Hester responsible for Pearl’s Is Hester responsible for Pearl’s behavior?behavior?

Angry FriendsAngry Friends

Your friends are angry at you. Would Your friends are angry at you. Would you rather get the silent treatment or you rather get the silent treatment or be angrily confronted. Explain your be angrily confronted. Explain your choice.choice.

ScapegoatScapegoat

What is a “scapegoat”? Who appears What is a “scapegoat”? Who appears to be a scapegoat in this novel?to be a scapegoat in this novel?

SilentSilent

What are some possible reasons What are some possible reasons someone might not speak up for someone might not speak up for themselves when they are being themselves when they are being treated unfairly or are simply treated unfairly or are simply misunderstood?misunderstood?

Worst SinWorst Sin

In your opinion, who has committed In your opinion, who has committed the “worst sin” in the novel? Hester, the “worst sin” in the novel? Hester, Dimmesdale, or Chillingsworth? Dimmesdale, or Chillingsworth? Explain your answerExplain your answer

Novel’s EndNovel’s End

As we approach the end of the novel, As we approach the end of the novel, what do you predict will happen? what do you predict will happen? Consider the following elements:Consider the following elements:

Hester and Dimmesdale’s Hester and Dimmesdale’s relationshiprelationship

Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale’s Chillingsworth and Dimmesdale’s relationshiprelationship

PearlPearl

Running AwayRunning Away

Chillingsworth is about to reveal the Chillingsworth is about to reveal the truth to the community. Dimmesdale truth to the community. Dimmesdale is ready to give up and die instead of is ready to give up and die instead of facing the truth. Hester proposes facing the truth. Hester proposes that they run away to a different that they run away to a different country.country.

Do you agree with Hester’s plan? Will Do you agree with Hester’s plan? Will it solve their problems?it solve their problems?

Book BanningBook Banning

The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter is ranked #4 on is ranked #4 on “Banned Books.” “Banned Books.”

Why do you think the book was Why do you think the book was banned when it was first published in banned when it was first published in 1850?1850?

Why would individuals try to ban the Why would individuals try to ban the book even in the 1970’s?book even in the 1970’s?

Should books be banned? Why or why Should books be banned? Why or why not? not?

Theme/ Life LessonTheme/ Life Lesson

What is one “life lesson” that we can What is one “life lesson” that we can learn from this novel?learn from this novel?

Chillingsworth’s PlanChillingsworth’s Plan

Now that we know Chillingsworth Now that we know Chillingsworth plans to go to England with Hester, plans to go to England with Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl, what do you Dimmesdale, and Pearl, what do you think he’ll do once he’s on the ship? think he’ll do once he’s on the ship? What is his plan?What is his plan?

End of NovelEnd of Novel

How do you feel about Dimmesdale’s How do you feel about Dimmesdale’s death?death?

Do you agree with the way Do you agree with the way Hawthorne ended the book? Why or Hawthorne ended the book? Why or why not?why not?

Character DescriptionsCharacter Descriptions

Choose a character from the novel Choose a character from the novel (Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale, or (Hester, Pearl, Dimmesdale, or Chillingsworth)Chillingsworth)

Write down as many descriptions of Write down as many descriptions of this character that you can this character that you can (mischievous, courageous, kind, (mischievous, courageous, kind, coward, etc.)coward, etc.)

SymbolismSymbolism

Hawthorne uses symbolism Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the book. How could the throughout the book. How could the following items be a symbol?following items be a symbol?– Pearl’s namePearl’s name– The Rose Bush beside the prison doorThe Rose Bush beside the prison door– The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter– The constant use of light and dark The constant use of light and dark

(sunlight and shadows)(sunlight and shadows)

Favorite CharacterFavorite Character

Who is your favorite character in the Who is your favorite character in the novel? Explain your answer.novel? Explain your answer.

Who is your least favorite character Who is your least favorite character in the novel? Explain your answer.in the novel? Explain your answer.