Nathaniel Hawthorne

1
Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet LetterGlobal
Introductions
2
Surviving High School

• Discuss one unwritten rule for surviving in high
  school?
• What might be an unwritten rule to survive in a
  Puritan town?

3
Clique

• What comes to mind when you hear the word
  clique?
• What cliques are present in The Scarlet Letter?

4
Left Out

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

5
Puritan Era

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

6
Conformity

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

7
New Girl

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

8
Fitting In

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

9
Guilt

• What does guilt look like? If you had to draw a
  symbol of guilt, what would it be?
• Who shows guilt in the novel thus far?

10
Parental Influence

• How instrumental is a parents influence on their
  childs development?
• Is Hester responsible for Pearls behavior?

11
Angry Friends

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

12
Scapegoat

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

13
Silent

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

14
Worst Sin

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

15
Novels End

• As we approach the end of the novel, what do you
  predict will happen? Consider the following
  elements
• Hester and Dimmesdales relationship
• Chillingsworth and Dimmesdales relationship
• Pearl

16
Running Away

• Chillingsworth is about to reveal the truth to
  the community. Dimmesdale is ready to give up
  and die instead of facing the truth. Hester
  proposes that they run away to a different
  country.
• Do you agree with Hesters plan? Will it solve
  their problems?

17
Book Banning

• The Scarlet Letter is ranked 4 on Banned
  Books.
• Why do you think the book was banned when it was
  first published in 1850?
• Why would individuals try to ban the book even in
  the 1970s?
• Should books be banned? Why or why not?

18
Theme/ Life Lesson

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

19
Chillingsworths Plan

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

20
End of Novel

• How do you feel about Dimmesdales death?
• Do you agree with the way Hawthorne ended the
  book? Why or why not?

21
Character Descriptions

• Choose a character from the novel (Hester, Pearl,
  Dimmesdale, or Chillingsworth)
• Write down as many descriptions of this character
  that you can (mischievous, courageous, kind,
  coward, etc.)

22
Symbolism

• Hawthorne uses symbolism throughout the book.
  How could the following items be a symbol?
• Pearls name
• The Rose Bush beside the prison door
• The Scarlet Letter
• The constant use of light and dark (sunlight and
  shadows)

23
Favorite Character

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