CliffsNotes on Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

Description

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, you explore life in 17th-century Massachusetts as you follow the ordeal of Hester Prynne, who has been found guilty of adultery and sentenced to wear a scarlet letter A on her dress as a sign of shame. The Scarlet Letter is considered to be Hawthorne's finest work, depicting a world where the real meets the unreal, the actual meets the imaginary — in a classic story that is difficult to forget. This study guide carefully walks you through every step of Hester's journey by providing summaries and critical analyses of each chapter of the novel. You'll also explore the life and background of the author, Nathaniel Hawthorne,... Life and Background of the Author. Introduction to the Novel. Critical Commentaries. The Custom House. Chapter 1: The Prison--Door. Chapter 2: The Market--Place. Chapter 3: The Recognition. Chapter 4: The Interview. Chapter 5: Hester at Her Needle. Chapter 6: Pearl. Chapter 7: The Governor's Hall. Chapter 8: The Elf--Child and the Minister. Chapter 9: The Leech. Chapter 10: The Leech and His Patient. Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart. Chapter 12: The Minister's Vigil. Chapter 13: Another View of Hester. Chapter 14: Hester and the Physician. Chapter 15: Hester and Pearl. Chapter 16: A Forest Walk. Chapter 17: The Pastor and His Parishioner. Chapter 18: A Flood of Sunshine. Chapter 19: The Child at the Brook--Side. Chapter 20: The Minister in a Maze. Chapter 21: The New England Holiday. Chapter 22: The Procession. Chapter 23: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter. Chapter 24: Conclusion. Character Analyses. Critical Essays. CliffsNotes Review. CliffsNotes Resource Center. Index.