The Scarlet Letter Chapter Presentation Assignment

Greetings F Block Students.

Over the course of the next 2-3 weeks we will be reading Nathaniel Hawthorne's acclaimed novel, The Scarlet Letter. Your mission will be be to work with your peers to present the nightly reading assignments to the class. The goal is to analyze the work of fiction for literary elements, thematic development, and connections (gossamer threads) to our lives.  Each group member is expected to lead discussion on the nightly reading assignment.  You must work with your fellow group members in order to avoid redundancy and confusion.  Every group member must also be prepared to defend their analysis and answer questions from the rest of the class.

Blog Post Requirements:

• Write a detailed and well-developed paragraph response based on your impression of the chapter.  What did you find interesting?  What questions do you have?
• Answer your assigned question.
• Reference specific evidence from the novel in support of your commentary.
• Cite direct quotations from the novel.
• Provide an outside connection to the text.  This connection can come from popular culture, literature, politics, current affairs, music, etc.

Suggested Topics:
1.  Character and Conflict Development.  How does Hawthorne develop particular characters and for what greater purpose.  What do they represent?  Characters are often symbols.  What are their internal and external conflicts?  How do their actions in relation to these conflicts help to develop central themes?

2.  Use of imagery and symbolism:  How does Hawthorne use imagery to develop characters, settings, and themes.  Identify particular descriptions and symbols, make reference to particular passages, and analyze Hawthorne's word pictures or "enchanted objects" for the deeper meaning.

3.  Development of Motifs:  Hawthorne develops a number of intriguing motifs throughout the course of the novel.  A theme is a recurring symbol, object, phrase, or theme.  Some to consider and take note of are:  the scarlet letter, sea imagery, nature imagery, Hesster's daughter, Pearl, and the use of light and darkness.  These a are general ideas but you should seek to develop them in greater detail.

4.  Development of Hawthorne's social criticism regarding Puritan regulations, society, culture, and religion.  Identify social customs, laws, and practices identified in the novel and how Hawthorne develops his criticism.

5.  Development of the Concept of Secret Sin, Guilt and The Ultimate Effect Upon the Individual.