Topics for DiscussionTopics for Discussionin in The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

►Topic 1: tropes/figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, imagery, sentence structure, inverted sentence structure)

Topic 2Topic 2

►Group 2: (a) biblical (b) historic allusions

Topic 3Topic 3

►Thematic development of Sin and Guilt Thematic development of Sin and Guilt as develop through characterization, as develop through characterization, setting, and conflict (internal and setting, and conflict (internal and external)external)

Topic 4Topic 4

►The theme of Individuality as The theme of Individuality as developed through the characters, developed through the characters, setting and conflicts.setting and conflicts.

Topic 5Topic 5

►SymbolismSymbolism

(scaffold, rosebush, the letter)(scaffold, rosebush, the letter)

Topic 6Topic 6

►Gothic and Romantic elementsGothic and Romantic elements

Topic 7Topic 7

►Who is the Romantic Hero? Who is the Romantic Hero?

The Romantic Period The Romantic Period in American in American LiteratureLiterature

1800-18601800-1860

In the words of Ralph Waldo In the words of Ralph Waldo EmersonEmerson

““For all men live by truth, and stand in For all men live by truth, and stand in need of expression. In love, in art, in need of expression. In love, in art, in avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, avarice, in politics, in labor, in games, we study to utter our painful secret. we study to utter our painful secret. The man is only half himself, the other The man is only half himself, the other half is his expression.” half is his expression.”

After the Bill of RightsAfter the Bill of Rightsandand

Before the Civil WarBefore the Civil War

City vs. CountryCity vs. Country

►To the Romantic, the city is corrupt To the Romantic, the city is corrupt and ugly.and ugly.

►To the Romantic, the country To the Romantic, the country represents independence, moral represents independence, moral clarity, and healthy living.clarity, and healthy living.

The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter

►Nathaniel HawthorneNathaniel Hawthorne►Published in 1850Published in 1850►““The Custom House Essay”The Custom House Essay”

“The Custom House” was added by Hawthorne because the original text of the novel was too short for publishing.

Imagination over ReasonImagination over Reason

►Romanticism is a reaction against Romanticism is a reaction against rationalism which brought about the rationalism which brought about the sooty, squalid cities of the Industrial sooty, squalid cities of the Industrial Revolution.Revolution.

► Imagination was able to apprehend Imagination was able to apprehend truth the rational mind could not truth the rational mind could not reach.reach.

Romantics vs. Romantics vs. Rationalists (Age of Rationalists (Age of Reason)Reason)

►ImaginationImagination►SpontaneitySpontaneity►Individual Individual

feelingsfeelings►Wild natureWild nature

► ReasonReason► LogicLogic► PlanningPlanning► CultivationCultivation

The Age of Reason in the United States is best exemplified through the revolutionary writings of Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry.

Gothic NovelsGothic Novels

►Allowed Romantics to explore the Allowed Romantics to explore the exotic nature of the supernatural exotic nature of the supernatural realm and the psychological realm and the psychological exploration of the human mind.exploration of the human mind.

Edgar Allan Poe published “The Raven” in 1845.

Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891)

The American JourneyThe American Journey

►Takes reader to the literal countryside Takes reader to the literal countryside and the countryside of the and the countryside of the imagination.imagination.

►A journey away from corruption of A journey away from corruption of civilization and rational thought.civilization and rational thought.

►A journey toward the integrity of A journey toward the integrity of nature and the freedom of the nature and the freedom of the imagination.imagination.

Romantic PoetsRomantic Poets

►Believed poetry was the greatest Believed poetry was the greatest witness to the power of imagination.witness to the power of imagination.

►Still modeled themselves after the Still modeled themselves after the European poets.European poets.

►Fireside poets known for their Fireside poets known for their comfortable subjects appealing to comfortable subjects appealing to families—love, patriotism, nature, families—love, patriotism, nature, family, God and religion.family, God and religion.

►Their literary conservationism kept Their literary conservationism kept them from being truly innovative.them from being truly innovative.

Romantic HeroRomantic Hero

► Is innocent and pure of purposeIs innocent and pure of purpose►Has a sense of honor based Has a sense of honor based notnot on society’s on society’s

rules but on some higher principlerules but on some higher principle►Has a knowledge of people and of life based Has a knowledge of people and of life based

on deep, on deep, intuitive intuitive understanding, not on understanding, not on formal learningformal learning

► Loves natureLoves nature► Avoids town lifeAvoids town life

Romantic Heroes Portrayed Romantic Heroes Portrayed in Film and Televisionin Film and Television

Television series Sleepy Hollow inspired by a Romantic short story by Washington Irving

Film The Last of Mohicans starring Daniel Day Lewis based on a novel by James Fenmore Cooper

5 I’s of Romanticism5 I’s of Romanticism

► ImaginationImagination► Intuition Intuition ► Innocence Innocence ► Inner Experience Inner Experience ► Inspiration from nature and the Inspiration from nature and the

supernaturalsupernatural

When I heard the Learn’d When I heard the Learn’d AstronomerAstronomer

When I heard the learn’d astronomer;When I heard the learn’d astronomer;

When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me;before me;

When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure thedivide, and measure the

When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,with much applause in the lecture-room,

How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;

Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself,

In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,

Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

(Walt Whitman)(Walt Whitman)

Important DatesImportant Dates►Thurs. Oct. 3 quiz on Ch. 1-4Thurs. Oct. 3 quiz on Ch. 1-4►Wed. Oct. 9 quiz through Ch. 9Wed. Oct. 9 quiz through Ch. 9►Mon. Oct. 14 quiz through Ch. 16Mon. Oct. 14 quiz through Ch. 16►Tues. Oct. 22 quiz through 22Tues. Oct. 22 quiz through 22►Discussion Days Oct. 22-24Discussion Days Oct. 22-24►Test on Fri. Oct. 25Test on Fri. Oct. 25►Every week—two passages of Applied Every week—two passages of Applied

PracticePractice