The Minister’s Black Veil by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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The Ministers Black Veilby Nathaniel Hawthorne

• The Beginning of the Romantic Period in American
  Literature

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Discussion Questions
What are the top three things people use to
identify us?
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Discussion Questions
What kind of masks do we wear?
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Discussion Questions
Do we wear masks for ourselves or other people?
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Discussion Questions
How well do you stand up to peer pressure?
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Discussion Questions
How far would you would go to stand up for
something you sincerely believe in?
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About the Author

• In imaginative, allegorical fashion, he dealt
  with themes of guilt and secrecy, and
  intellectual and moral pride
• His work shows Hawthorne's constant preoccupation
  with the effects of Puritanism in New England,
  with recognition of its decadence.

• Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) Salem,
  Massachusetts
• From prominent Puritan family
• He felt guilty for sharing the blood of
  witchcraft judge John Hathorne he added w to
  change name.
• A childhood reader of poets and romances, he
  became a novelist whose tales dealt with moral
  conflicts in Colonial New England.

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What is Nathaniel Hawthornes best known work?

• The Scarlet Letter
• Set in the Puritan community, Hester Prynne bears
  an illegitimate child
• Prynne is introduced to the ugliness, complexity,
  and ultimately the strength of the human spirit.
• The novel contrasted Puritan morality with
  passion and individualism.

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The Ministers Black Veil Plot Graph
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Symbolism vs. Allegory

• What is the difference between symbolism and
  allegorical characters/objects?
• A symbol can simply represent something besides
  itself, but an allegory may have a deeper meaning
  or lesson.
• See the Scarlet Letter for an example
• The A simply means Adultery, but it has deeper
  meanings such as the battle between Puritan
  values and individualism.

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Symbolism vs. Allegory

• How can symbolism change in a story?

What is represented here? How can it change?
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Symbolism vs. Allegory

• A symbol can simply represent something besides
  itself, but a allegory may have a deeper meaning
  or lesson.

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Literary Elements Allegory

• Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which
  objects, persons, and actions in a story or play,
  represent particular qualities or ideas, related
  to morality, religion or politics.
• Characters are often personifications of abstract
  ideas as charity, justice, greed, or envy.
• For example In The Lord of the Flies, the conch
  represented civility and order while the
  character Simon represented peace and nature.

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Literary Elements Mood

• What is mood?
• Mood is the feelings or emotions created in the
  reader by the authors use of detail.
• For example, authors commonly use the setting to
  create the mood.
• The mood is not constant and can change during
  the story.

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Art and Romanticism
What does this art tell us about romanticism?
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More Background French Revolution

• Why is it important to know when and how the
  French Revolution took place?
• There are three major reasons why it is used.

• Helped to end the Spanish Inquisition
• A major factor in Romanticism
• Provides exotic setting (also Romanticism)

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What is Romanticism?

• Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual
  movement beginning in the late 18th century that
• Emphasized individual expression
• Emotion over Reason
• Rebellion against established rule and social
  conventions

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What is Romanticism?

• Spurred by the egalitarian ideas of the American
  French Revolutions
• (ex. all people are created equal)
• Belief in the innate goodness of humans
• Belief in the heroic

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What is Romanticism?

• Belief in nature (its beauty power)
• Emotion Senses over Reason and Intellect
• Interest in medieval exotic

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About Romanticism

• Note the contrast between Romanticism Realism
• Romanticism believes heroes die for a reason or
  cause Realism does not.
• Romantics believe we make our own choices and
  determine our own destiny Realism does not.
• Romanticism believes all men are good (or can be
  good) Realism does not.

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Art and Romanticism
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Clues for Quiz

• How is symbolism used in the story?
• How does symbolism change in the story?
• How is time important to the story?
• How does the protagonist affect other characters?
• How is the story allegorical?

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Clues for Quiz

• What is the mood of the story?
• Why is the veil worn?
• What are the internal or external conflicts in
  the story?
• What do we learn about the protagonist at the end
  of the story?
• How does this short story exhibit romanticism?

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The Ministers Black Veil Vocabulary

• Throng
• Venerable
• Countenance
• Deputation
• Subtle
• Antipathy
• Profaned
• Impertinence

• Sexton
• Plighted
• Ostentatious
• Pathos
• Placid
• Expedient
• Discern
• Visage

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In class writing assignment

• How does The Ministers Black Veil fit into the
  concept of Romanticism?
• Use the book and class notes to answer this
  question.
• Put into paragraph form examples, reasons, and
  explanations of how this story exhibits the
  Romantic philosophy.