The Scarlet Letter 高等教育出版社 美国文学选读课件.pptVIP

The Scarlet Letter —— A romance of psychological paradox Objectives About the romance Textual study Nathanial Hawthorne as a paradox The ambiguity of the novel 1. autobiography or not? 2. of Calvinism or transcendentalism? 2.1 the symbolic letter A 2.2 the implication of protagonists’ names Questions for discussion 1. How much real autobiography is in the romance? 2. 3. About the romance attained an immediate and lasting success in the literary chorus of the New England school. The Scarlet Letter and Nathaniel Hawthorne were firmly ensconced in the canon of great American literature. represents the height of Hawthornes literary genius. It remains relevant for its philosophical and psychological depth, and continues to be read as a classic tale on a universal theme. the first America’s true psychological novel, conveying some ideas of transcendentalism, contrasting puritan morality with passion and individualism addresses spiritual and moral issues from a uniquely American standpoint About the romance Hillis saw The Scarlet Letter not only as a psychological novel, but as a moral and religious commentary, titling his essay on The Scarlet Letter, “Conscience and the Retributive Workings of Justice. A Study of the Necessity and Nobility of Repentance, and the Confession of Sin.” ( http:// www. uwm. edu/Library/ special/exhibits/clastext/clspg145.htm ) George Macy wrote that as a a somber romance of the conscience, The Scarlet Letter represents the first great psychological novel in American literature. To create an appropriate presentation for the work was a difficult proposition in 1941. (http:// www. uwm. edu/Library/special/exhibits/ clastext/clspg148.htm) Duyckinck, a prominent nineteenth century American editor and the co-author of the Cyclopedia of American Literature, highly praised the novel, and labels the novel “a psychological romance” and concludes that there is “no truer products of the America