1.15.08 | Hawthorne (day 2)

• Business• The letter A• HW – Read through “The Minister’s Vigil” chapter for

Thurs.

The Letter “A”

• title of the book.• first mentioned in Custom House:

"Certainly there was some deep meaning some deep meaning in it, most worthy of interpretationmost worthy of interpretation, and which, as it were, streamed for from the mystic symbolmystic symbol, subtly communicating itself to my sensibilities, but evading the analysis of my mind.“ [28-29]

• So, the text itself raises the question:What does the letter A mean?

Storyboards1. 42-432. 44-453. 46-474. 48-495. 50-516. 52-537. 54-558. 56-579. 58-5910. 60-61-62

• Group of 3-4– Quote finder– Drawer– Presenter

• Two boards per group, on per page

• Procedure– Find more important passage

on the page.– Draw picture that represents

it– Write quotation as caption– Post on the wall w/ tape.– Explain the quotation you

picked, why you picked it, and what you drew

• You have 20mins.

• "It seemed to me, -- the reader may smile, but must not doubt my word, -- it seemed to me, then, that I experienced a sensation not altogether physical, yet almost so, as of burning heat; and as if the letter were not of red cloth, but red-hot iron. I shuddered, and involuntarily let it fall upon the floor.“

• Why write this?

first mention in the story:

“On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A. It was so artistically done, and with so much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance of fancy, that it had all the effect of a last and fitting decoration to the apparel which she wore; and which was of a splendor in accordance with the taste of the age, but greatly beyond what was allowed by the sumptuary regulations of the colony" 47

– my footnote says "sumptuary regulations" were rules of decorum intended to enforce class distinction.

next mention:

– "it had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.”

– crowd is impressed with her needle work:• "but did ever a woman, before this brazen hussy,

contrive such a way of showing it! Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they, worthy gentlemen, meant for a punishment?” [48]

next mention:

While on the stage, her mind wanders to other scenes. The chapter concludes with her returning to the present circumstance and the A:

“Lastly, in lieu of these shifting scenes, came back the rude market-place of the Puritan settlement, with all the townspeople assembled and levelling their stern regards at Hester Prynne, -- yes, at herself, -- who stood on the scaffold of the pillory, an infant on her arm, and the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread, upon her bosom!

Could it all be true? She clutched the child so fiercely to her breast, that it sent forth a cry; she turned her eyes downward at the scarlet letter, and evne touched it with her fing, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real. Yes! -- these were her realities, -- all else had vanished!” [53]