Questions
1. Hawthorne begins the short story with a tone created, of course, by his selection of diction. Explain the how the tone shifts from the first paragraph to the remaining story. Be sure to focus on connotation and association of specific words.
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer.
3. Hawthorne builds anticipation and suspense into the story by the very syntax of the many of his sentences. Find at least one sentence in which the natural subject-verb-direct object order is inverted and discuss how and why Hawthorne does this.
4. Mr. Hooper has something to hide. That much is for sure. Explain the significance of the incident when Mr. Hooper leans over the casket of the dead young girl. Be very attentive to weird stuff right here. If you think there's something to this, you're probably right.
5. Discuss the significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding of two young people on the very same day as a funeral of a young maiden. What, if anything, does Hawthorne imply with this juxtaposition?
6. Build an argument that explains how certain a reader may be that Hawthorne knew of and understood the power of rhetoric. Choose specific passages from the text to support your claims. (This one is all about rhetorical analysis. You're welcome!)
7. Hawthorne was not a small critic of Transcendentalism, with its constant proddings for people to tap into the inner-light, and avoid conformity as individuals tap into Nature and the over-soul. How does Hawthorne seem to criticize the basic tenants of Transcendentalism with "The Minister's Black Veil"? What argument does Hawthorne seem to be most critical? Be sure to use specific pieces from the text to support your claims.
8. Finally: Hawthorne carefully avoids ever mentioning what Hooper has hidden. That said, from what you can tell, what is the most likely sin that the Reverend Hooper has committed? Explain the basis for your claim with solid argumentation. (Syllogism, enthymeme, logical reasoning).
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer.
3. Hawthorne builds anticipation and suspense into the story by the very syntax of the many of his sentences. Find at least one sentence in which the natural subject-verb-direct object order is inverted and discuss how and why Hawthorne does this.
4. Mr. Hooper has something to hide. That much is for sure. Explain the significance of the incident when Mr. Hooper leans over the casket of the dead young girl. Be very attentive to weird stuff right here. If you think there's something to this, you're probably right.
5. Discuss the significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding of two young people on the very same day as a funeral of a young maiden. What, if anything, does Hawthorne imply with this juxtaposition?
6. Build an argument that explains how certain a reader may be that Hawthorne knew of and understood the power of rhetoric. Choose specific passages from the text to support your claims. (This one is all about rhetorical analysis. You're welcome!)
7. Hawthorne was not a small critic of Transcendentalism, with its constant proddings for people to tap into the inner-light, and avoid conformity as individuals tap into Nature and the over-soul. How does Hawthorne seem to criticize the basic tenants of Transcendentalism with "The Minister's Black Veil"? What argument does Hawthorne seem to be most critical? Be sure to use specific pieces from the text to support your claims.
8. Finally: Hawthorne carefully avoids ever mentioning what Hooper has hidden. That said, from what you can tell, what is the most likely sin that the Reverend Hooper has committed? Explain the basis for your claim with solid argumentation. (Syllogism, enthymeme, logical reasoning).