Rather than writing a traditional analytical essay, you will identify essential elements of the book The Scarlet Letter and respond to the following questions. Be sure to use specific examples from the book and to cite the chapters from which you pull your examples (to accommodate differing publication versions). Also, your paper must be in 12-point Times New Roman font and a minimum of 750 words (or about 10 solid paragraphs). You may choose the spacing.
Author: Research the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Identify five facts about him that you think readers should consider when reading his book. You may list these, but be sure to cite the sources you consulted. (10 points)
Historical Context: Briefly evaluate the historical context of The Scarlet Letter. In which time period is the novel set? How does this compare to when the novel was published? What considerations might we need to make when taking modern perspectives on the past? (20 points)
Early New England Communities: Explain what we learn about Puritan New England society from this book. How does this book portray New England in the 17th century? What did this community value? How did this community function? What were important roles people played in the community? Consider these and related questions as you identify and analyze at least three examples from the book that help you better understand early New England society. (30 points)
Would You Rather: In this book, we see different approaches to wrongdoing. On one hand, Hester Pryne lives with the public shame that resulted from her sin. In contrast, Arthur Dimmesdale faces no public shame but struggles with his conscience. Which approach do you think is more admirable? What about more liveable? How would you react if caught in a similar situation? Use at least two examples from the novel to back up your viewpoint. (20 points)
Modern Application: If you were to rewrite this book for the 21st century, what might you change? What would be modern issues that cause someone to be outcast? How do our societys values and accepted behaviors compare to those portrayed in the book? Rewrite at least two aspects or scenes from the novel into a 21st century setting. (20 points)
Include a bibliography/works cited list! I am not picky about format on this as long as you are letting me know where you got any information that didnt come from your own thoughts. If you want to be a true historian, use Turabian format. I will not accept or grade your paper without this portion included!
