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About the Author

January 11, 2009 admin 0

It was almost inevitable that Nathaniel Hawthorne would grow up to write fiction about the New England past. Born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, […]

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Overview and Setting

January 11, 2009 admin 0

OVERVIEW The Scarlet Letter is one of the few American works of literature that has justifiably earned the accolade “classic.” Primary among the novel’s virtues […]

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Themes and Characters

January 11, 2009 admin 0

In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne explores two important themes, the first of which has been described by critics as the conflict between “heart” and “mind.” […]

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Literary Qualities

January 11, 2009 admin 0

Hawthorne carefully structures his novel, using three climactic scenes that take place on the scaffold outside the Boston prison as centerpieces to highlight key revelations […]

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Social Sensitivity

January 11, 2009 admin 0

The subject of The Scarlet Letter, adultery, is a sensitive topic. Hawthorne focuses on the effect of adultery on individuals and on the community. Though […]

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Ideas and Topics for Papers

January 11, 2009 admin 0

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Explain how Hawthorne uses nature and the natural world as a means of exposing the hypocrisy and oppressiveness of Puritan society. […]

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Related Titles and Adaptations

January 11, 2009 admin 0

The Scarlet Letter has been filmed a number of times, with two particularly outstanding versions. The 1926 silent film version starring Lillian Gish (Hester) and […]