“The Minister’s Black Veil”by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Beginning of the Romantic Period in American

Literature

Discussion Questions

What are various ways people express heroism?

Discussion Questions

What kind of masks do we wear?

Discussion Questions

How far would we go to stand up for something we believe in?

About the Author

• Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) Salem, Massachusetts

• From prominent Puritan family

• He felt guilty for sharing the blood of witchcraft judge John Hathorne; he added w to change name.

• A childhood reader of poets and romances, he became a novelist whose tales dealt with moral conflicts in Colonial New England.

• In imaginative, allegorical fashion, he dealt with themes of guilt and secrecy, and intellectual and moral pride

• His work shows Hawthorne's constant preoccupation with the effects of Puritanism in New England, with recognition of its decadence.

What is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s best known work?

• The Scarlet Letter• Set in the Puritan community, Hester Prynne

bears an illegitimate child • Prynne is introduced to the ugliness, complexity,

and ultimately the strength of the human spirit. • The novel contrasted Puritan morality with

passion and individualism.

“The Minister’s Black Veil” Plot Graph

Exposition

Inciting

Incident

Ris

ing

Act

ion

Falling Action

Climax

Resolution

Symbolism vs. Allegory• What is the difference between

symbolism and allegorical characters/objects?

• A symbol can simply represent something besides itself, but an allegory may have a deeper meaning or lesson.

• See the Scarlet Letter for an example The “A” simply means Adultery,

but it has deeper meanings such as the battle between Puritan values and individualism.

Symbolism vs. Allegory• How can

symbolism change in a story?

What is represented here? How can it

change?

Symbolism vs. Allegory

• A symbol can simply represent something besides itself, but an allegory may have a deeper meaning or lesson.

Literary Elements: Allegory

• Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a story or play, represent particular qualities or ideas, related to morality, religion or politics.

• Characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, justice, greed, or envy.

• For example: In The Lord of the Flies, the conch represented civility and order; while the character Simon represented peace and nature.

Literary Elements: Mood

• What is mood?

• Mood is the feelings or emotions created in the reader by the author’s use of detail.

• For example, authors commonly use the setting to create the mood.

• The mood is not constant and can change during the story.

Art and Romanticism

What does this art tell us about romanticism?

Art and Romanticism

What is the difference between the painting & photograph?

Art and Romanticism

What is the difference between the painting & photograph?

More Background: French Revolution

1. Helped to end the Spanish Inquisition

2. A major factor in Romanticism

3. Provides exotic setting (also Romanticism)

Why is it important to know when and how the French Revolution took place?There are three major reasons why it is used.

What is Romanticism?

Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement beginning in the late 18th century that

What is Romanticism?

1. Began with egalitarian ideas of the American & French Revolutions (ex. all people are

created equal)

2. Belief in the innate goodness of humans

3. Belief in the heroic

What is Romanticism?4. Belief in nature (its

beauty & power)5. Emotion & Senses

over Reason and Intellect

6. Emphasized individual expression (not community’s)

7. Interest in medieval & exotic

About Romanticism

Note the contrast between Romanticism & Realism

• Romanticism believes heroes die for a reason or cause — Realism does not.

• Romantics believe we make our own choices and determine our own destiny — Realism does not.

• Romanticism believes all men are good (or can be good) —Realism does not.

Art and Romanticism

Clues for Quiz

1. How is symbolism used in the story?

2. How does symbolism change in the story?

3. How is time important to the story?

4. How does the protagonist affect other characters?

5. How is the story allegorical?

Clues for Quiz

6. What is the mood of the story?

7. Why is the veil worn?

8. What are the internal or external

conflicts in the story?

9. What do we learn about the protagonist

at the end of the story?

10.How does this short story exhibit

romanticism?

“The Minister’s Black Veil” Vocabulary

1. Throng

2. Venerable

3. Countenance

4. Deputation

5. Subtle

6. Antipathy

7. Profaned

8. Impertinence

9. Sexton

10. Plighted

11. Ostentatious

12. Pathos

13. Placid

14. Expedient

15. Discern

16. Visage

In class writing assignment

• How does “The Minister’s Black Veil” fit into the concept of Romanticism?

• Use the book and class notes to answer this question.

• Put into paragraph form examples, reasons, and explanations of how this story exhibits the Romantic philosophy.