Chapter summaries the custom house introductory to the scarlet letter. Chapter 1 opens with description of one wooden building made of oak with iron spikes. To deny those qualities, as the puritans do, is to deny ones identity. The scarlet letter opens with a description of the prison in which hester has been incarcerated for adultery. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and. Hester has been getting back into helping the homeless, sick, and the scarlet letter a now stands for able instead of.
Hawthornes novel is concerned with the effects of the. In front of the prison stands an unsightly plot of. The leech by renaming himself upon his arrival in boston, chillingworth has hidden his past from everyone except hester, whom he has sworn to secrecy. Start studying the scarlet letter chapter 14 summaries. As you read, youll be linked to summaries and detailed analysis of quotes and themes. When she is convicted of having committed adultery, hester prynne is forced to wear the scarlet letter a on her breast as a mark of shame. Founders of the new colony decided to turn a portion of its lot it into cemetery, and another portion into a prison. She has stitched a large scarlet a onto her dress with gold thread, giving the letter an air of elegance. Quick and easy the scarlet letter synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the novel. Hawthorne blends supernatural elements with psychological insight in his story of one womans public punishment for adultery. Published in 1850, the scarlet letter is considered nathaniel hawthornes most famous noveland the first quintessentially american novel in style, theme, and language. The scarlet letter chapter 14 summaries flashcards quizlet. The scarlet letter pdf summary by nathaniel hawthorne is a captivating novel that tells the everyday life of a woman accused of adultery. The door is studded with iron spikes and is surrounded with overgrown weeds and one rosebush.
In chapter vii of scarlet letter, hawthorne develops his symbolic a with imagination. The prison door the first chapter pretty much sets the scene for the rest of the book. Hawthorne offers many possible meanings for the rosebush outside the prison, but ultimately. In midseventeenth century boston, a young wife gives birth to a child that is not her husbands.
A throng of bearded men, in sadcoloured garments and grey steeplecrowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes. Chapter summary for nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter, chapter 2 summary. Hawthorne explains this with the use of metaphor and imagery. Set in puritan massachusetts bay colony during the years 1642 to 1649, the novel tells the story of hester prynne who conceives a daughter through an affair and then struggles to create a new life of repentance and dignity. The narrator begins to retell the story of hester and the scarlet letter. Nathaniel hawthornes classic literature novel the scarlet letter tells a tale of an.
Her first awareness as a child is hesters scarlet letter, and the letter continues to be a center of pearls attention. Certain citizens bellieved the scarlet letter was self inflicted as a sacrifice for sin. Set in seventeenthcentury puritan massachusetts, the novel centers around the travails of hester prynne, who gives birth to a daughter pearl after an adulterous affair. Hester is forced to wear the letter a on her gown at all times. Check out nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter video sparknote. Hawthorne immediately implements symbols that will likely play a role throughout the rest of the book. Explore a character analysis of hester prynne, plot summary, and important quotes. This 61page guide for the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 24 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. These free notes consist of about 52 pages 15,407 words and contain the following sections. The scarlet letter chapters 14 summary and analysis gradesaver.
The scarlet letter chapter 1 summary and analysis nathaniel. Some citizens belived still that it was naturally occuring as if his internal suffering and remorse birthed the scarlet letter upon his. The prison door the first scene of the scarlet letter begins with a description of a dull, dusty, dark prison cell. The scarlet letter chapter summaries chapter of the scarlet letter study guide course is the most efficient way to study the summaries of each chapter from this text. A young woman, hester prynne, has been found guilty of adultery and must wear a scarlet a on her dress as a sign of shame. The scarlet letter has many themes that can be discussed in creative ways. She is the physical manifestation of the rebellion against traditional ways and values.
The scarlet letters moral is that people must accept and forgive their own and other peoples worst qualities. Pearl makes imaginary playmates into enemies, not friends. Scarlet letter summaries and analysis 1544 words cram. Scarlet letter summaries and analysis chapter 1 this chapter sets the scene for the following chapter and partially introduces us to our protagonist. Brief chapter summaries of the scarlet letter for study or. Nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter chapter summary. Chapter 6this chapter describes pearl as an impish and uncontrollable child. The scarlet letter, novel by nathaniel hawthorne, published in 1850. The scarlet letter summary the scarlet letter summary after a brief authorial digression about how his stuffy coworkers at the custom house kept him from writing this book until he was fired, hawthorne starts us off with a tour of the jail of the mid17th century massachusetts bay colony. The scarlet letter chapter summaries flashcards quizlet. It is june, and a throng of drably dressed puritans stands before a weatherbeaten wooden prison. Use the activities below to support students reading of the novel and help them better. While not recognized by hawthorne himself as his most important work, the novel is regarded not only as his greatest accomplishment, but frequently as the greatest novel in american literary history. Well here is chapter by chapter summary of the book.
See a complete list of the characters in the scarlet letter and indepth analyses of hester prynne, roger chillingworth, arthur dimmesdale, pearl, governor bellingham, and mistress hibbins. The scarlet letter book summaries, test preparation. The only living and colorful item described in the scene is a rosebush at the. Start a free trial of quizlet plus by thanksgiving. Read the full text of chapter 4 of the scarlet letter on shmoop. The scarlet letter book summaries and study materials. Nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter is famous for presenting some of the greatest interpretive difficulties in all of american literature.
This book was titled the scarlet letter because the plot of the novel is centered around the question of who, besides hetser is the other adulteress. In chapter 1 of the scarlet letter the author begins with setting up the scenery. The mindblowing turn of events is just icing on the cake. The scarlet letter chapter 2 analysis freebooksummary. It describes a door, the door to the prison in seventeenth century boston. Nathaniel hawthorne, publication in 1850 significance of the title. The narrator is an official at the custom house, which was once an important meeting house, but because the port is no longer bustling, the custom house is not what it used to be. The free the scarlet letter notes include comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Nathaniel hawthornes 1850 historical novel the scarlet letter explores guilt. A crowd of somber, drearylooking people has gathered outside the door of a prison in seventeenthcentury boston. Furthermore, she must stand on the scaffold for three hours, exposed to public humiliation. The scarlet letter chapter summary in under five minutes.
Start studying the scarlet letter chapter summaries. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The scarlet letter chapter 1 summary and analysis by. Much the same sort of descriptive analyses that can be written about the rosebush could be ascribed to the scarlet letter itself or to little pearl or, perhaps, even to the act of love that produced them both.
Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. The scarlet a, unimaginative symbol of itself is magnified in the breastplate as well as in pearl, the. The scarlet letter quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. The novel is considered a masterpiece of american literature and a. Summary in this first chapter, hawthorne sets the scene of the novel boston of the seventeenth century. Book summary a young woman, hester prynne, has been found guilty of adultery and must wear a scarlet a on her dress as a sign of shame. Finally, it is a predominant image throughout the romance. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Find a summary of this and each chapter of the scarlet letter. Here are some of the best or most noteworthy versions of the scarlet letter to help you study and better understand the work. The nameless narrator was the surveyor of the customhouse in salem, massachusetts. Her partner, the reverend dimmesdale, unidentified as hesters lover, goes unpunished by the puritan society and is little help to hester in her long and continuous attempt to confront her problem and its consequences, including their daughter pearl. The work centers on hester prynne, a married woman who is shunned after bearing a child out of wedlock but displays great compassion and resiliency.
In front of the prison stands an unsightly plot of weeds, and beside it grows a. The scarlet letter pdf summary nathaniel hawthorne. Another view of hester seven years pass since hesters first time on the scaffold with pearl. Chapter summaries 24 the scarlet letter and all its. Book summary in june 1642, in the puritan town of boston, a crowd gathers to witness an official punishment. The scarlet letter chapter summaries chapter of the scarlet letter study guide course is the most efficient way to study the summaries of each. The prisondoor this first chapter contains little in the way of action, instead setting the scene and introducing the first of many symbols that will come to dominate the story.
Every description pertaining to the people or the society has a sense of depression that is dark and bland. In this first chapter, hawthorne sets the scene of the novel boston of the seventeenth century. Need help with chapter 1 in nathaniel hawthornes the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter summary hester is being led to the scaffold, where she is to be publicly shamed for having committed adultery. Summary of the scarlet letter pearl 893 words bartleby. This section can be done in a bulleted format with brief 23 sentences summaries by chapter if that works for the book. He incorporates himself into society in the role of a doctor, and since the townsfolk have very little access to good medical care, he is welcomed and valued.
The nameless narrator working in the custom office finds a bunch of documents, a manuscript with the scarlet letter embroidered on the cloth among them. Rich hauser not rated made for tv by pbs this is a truly well done adaptation of hawthornes work from the folks. Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
The scarlet letter chapters summary the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne chapters summary and analysis. The governors hall hester goes to the governors mansion after hearing he wishes. The scarlet letter study guide contains a biography of nathaniel hawthorne, literature essays, a complete etext, quiz questions, major themes. A romance is a work of historical fiction by american author nathaniel hawthorne, published in 1850.
Although introductions are usually short notes that help readers understand the background of the novel, the introduction of the scarlet letter is rather long, explaining thoroughly how the book came to be written. Ap short form scarlett letter ap english language and composition title. In the scarlet letter by nathaniel hawthorne, hester prynnes first appearance in the novel is described in a way that characterizes her with an individualistic appearance and the refusal to be shamed by society. Nathaniel hawthornes 1850 historical novel the scarlet letter explores guilt, revenge, and redemption in colonial america. The scarlet letter opens with a description of the prison in which hester has been. The elfchild and the minister the governor, chillingworth and reverends wilson. This chapter introduces a town prison, where all of the citizens are watching the next prisoner being escorted.
He then goes into some background history and that is the extent of this chapter. Analysis of the book the scarlet letter 1404 words. In the customhouses attic, he discovered a number of documents, among them a manuscript that was bundled with a scarlet, goldembroidered patch of cloth in the shape of an a. Chapter 24 begins with the mysterious letter a on dimmesdales chest. Chapter summaries 112 the scarlet letter and all its glory. Find summaries for every chapter, including a the scarlet letter chapter summary chart to help you understand the book. Hawthorne goes into descriptive details about the prison door and all of the people surrounding it. The scarlet letter opens with a long preamble about how the book came to be written.
848 540 441 667 1430 1087 1116 827 908 1277 1222 1007 502 1486 572 41 377 1252 1141 179 731 1013 649 729 178 1134 776 1453 781 1310 1448 125 236 602 917 731 18 389 223 507 539 444 863 677 696