Pearl: the title is emblematic, giving more emphasis to the symbol of the girl. As the writer writes, pearl has a double meaning: the valuable object and the little child. The only thing she actually has is the girl, and is both the only thing as the most valuable thing (as a pearl) she has. The great contrast is between this little child and her parents. It seems that her mother is the symbol of shame, uglyness, compared to the little perfect "angel". we can see another comparison with angels , seen already at the end of chapter 4: here hester is the "mortal man", inferior, but Pearl is even above the magistrates (angels) because she ahd been brought to Eden to stay with them.
on pg 81 L9 we can see the link with angels, light, maybe also with a saint? (hester, saintlike)
L 14 wild flower: compare rose, wild rose and perfection of nature.
pg 82, L 15 "LONELY MOTHER OF THIS ONE CHILD" compare to ch 4 "had she sinned alone?" why does H. remark her being alone in the sin?
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
9 DJ
ph 79 L 16 - end
these lines and the whole chapter show the ignominy of carrying such a letter on the breast, and these line in particular are the evidence of what importance had this kind of punishment in the puritans' age.
these lines and the whole chapter show the ignominy of carrying such a letter on the breast, and these line in particular are the evidence of what importance had this kind of punishment in the puritans' age.
8 DJ
pg 72 L 1-18
will be taught to look at her... shame.
First of all, Hester's thoughts are seemed to focus not on her sin, but on the symbol she has become for the community: a sinner. She does not want to be one, she is ashamed to be, but she does not wonder about her action but the impression given to the others. So the wish is to escape (go away, back to Europe), expressed in a comparison with the nature again.
will be taught to look at her... shame.
First of all, Hester's thoughts are seemed to focus not on her sin, but on the symbol she has become for the community: a sinner. She does not want to be one, she is ashamed to be, but she does not wonder about her action but the impression given to the others. So the wish is to escape (go away, back to Europe), expressed in a comparison with the nature again.
7 DJ
pg 67 L 3
"a gaze that made her heart shrink..... cold"
This line shows how Helen is still scared from her husband, and does not know him well although they had spent years together. this might help us to understand that of course there was no love in the relatioship, since one should feel safe in the other's eyes and that the reticent man kept many secrets for himself, making Hester scared of the things he might hide.
"a gaze that made her heart shrink..... cold"
This line shows how Helen is still scared from her husband, and does not know him well although they had spent years together. this might help us to understand that of course there was no love in the relatioship, since one should feel safe in the other's eyes and that the reticent man kept many secrets for himself, making Hester scared of the things he might hide.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
5 DJ
Pg 61, L 18 "Mr Dimmesdale; a young clergyman...speech of an angel" Nathaniel H. is pointing out Dimmesdale's great personality and tenderness of charachter. He is a sinner, but still his qualities are well described. Is it possible that H. feels sympathy for this man? The comparison with the angel is maybe opposite to the evil face of Hester's husband (snake).
6 DJ
Pg 66, L 21 "Here!...father's"
We can understand that Helen's husband does not want to be recognized as the child's father, because of "paying" the "dishonor of a faithless woman". Maybe from his speech it is possible to assume that he does not love the woman, otherwise he would have helped her and recognized the child: they both define their marriage as a mistake. But if there is no love, no intenction in living a love/family story, why coming back and risk to be recognized as her husband, to be ashamed?
We can understand that Helen's husband does not want to be recognized as the child's father, because of "paying" the "dishonor of a faithless woman". Maybe from his speech it is possible to assume that he does not love the woman, otherwise he would have helped her and recognized the child: they both define their marriage as a mistake. But if there is no love, no intenction in living a love/family story, why coming back and risk to be recognized as her husband, to be ashamed?
4 DJ
"it was sufficiently evident...hear it" pg 56
In a couple of lines H. describes the relation between Helen and her husband (he does mark out this man because of the mentioned deformed figure) and he tells the reaction of the woman at his sight. We can so understand that Hester is scared by this man, but we don't know why. We can imagine that there is not a good relationship between the twos, but what I think is important to highlight is the very physical reaction of the woman: she pushes Pearl against her bosom, as to protect her from her very husband.
In a couple of lines H. describes the relation between Helen and her husband (he does mark out this man because of the mentioned deformed figure) and he tells the reaction of the woman at his sight. We can so understand that Hester is scared by this man, but we don't know why. We can imagine that there is not a good relationship between the twos, but what I think is important to highlight is the very physical reaction of the woman: she pushes Pearl against her bosom, as to protect her from her very husband.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
new sentences
obtuse: the girl was so obtuse that she didn't understand any lesson.
adroit: his adroit skills made him one of the most clever students among the 7th graders
deleterious: the fat foods are deleterious for models' bodies.
adroit: his adroit skills made him one of the most clever students among the 7th graders
deleterious: the fat foods are deleterious for models' bodies.
3 DJ
"the grim rigidy that petrified... in hand" pg 47, l 6.
Hawthorne here describes visually the scene: people are terrified by the person in the prison, as if s/he were a bloody murderer. To me, this sentences shows the mentality of that period: something against the Church was harshly punished and considered impure, criminal. But the great contrast is developed in the next pages: the ferocious outlaw is a beautiful girl, fierce and proud despite people's believes, and whose outstanding beauty leaves crowd without many words.
Hawthorne here describes visually the scene: people are terrified by the person in the prison, as if s/he were a bloody murderer. To me, this sentences shows the mentality of that period: something against the Church was harshly punished and considered impure, criminal. But the great contrast is developed in the next pages: the ferocious outlaw is a beautiful girl, fierce and proud despite people's believes, and whose outstanding beauty leaves crowd without many words.
Friday, September 17, 2010
2 DJ
"the founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetry, and another portion as the site of a prison"
The purpose with which the colony was founded was completed faded by reality when the colony started settling, and what they actually needed was not anymore a happy place, but a cemetry and a prison. So H. might indicate that the original thoughts of the Riform were actually not unfair, but they degenerated with the time because of people's perversion (avidity etc). Yet, the prison and the cemetry one next to the other, could symbolize the world viewed as a prison, and the only way to get out of it was death.
The purpose with which the colony was founded was completed faded by reality when the colony started settling, and what they actually needed was not anymore a happy place, but a cemetry and a prison. So H. might indicate that the original thoughts of the Riform were actually not unfair, but they degenerated with the time because of people's perversion (avidity etc). Yet, the prison and the cemetry one next to the other, could symbolize the world viewed as a prison, and the only way to get out of it was death.
1 DJ
"A throng of bearded men, in sad-colored garments and gay, steeple-crowned hats, intemixed with woman, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes"
Hawthorne is opening his book revealing in one sentence his criticism to the society: a group of people, not different one from the other, standing in front of a building.
But beyond the words, we can see what H. is trying to say: the confomity of the people, who did not tell their ideas, but they would just accept what they were supposed to believe and say, is actually criticized. This might be an anticipation to the contrast which will put Anne Hutchinson (defined a bright bush, "sainted") next to the uniformed society (black building).
Hawthorne is opening his book revealing in one sentence his criticism to the society: a group of people, not different one from the other, standing in front of a building.
But beyond the words, we can see what H. is trying to say: the confomity of the people, who did not tell their ideas, but they would just accept what they were supposed to believe and say, is actually criticized. This might be an anticipation to the contrast which will put Anne Hutchinson (defined a bright bush, "sainted") next to the uniformed society (black building).
questions the scarlet letter
What colony is the setting for the novel?
The setting for the novel is Boston, the Massachussets colony.
Where in the colony does the opening chapter take place?
It takes place in the vicinity of Cornhill, the author describes its prison-house.
For what 2 “practical necessities” did the new colony set aside land?
The colony set aside land for allotting a portion of the soil as a cemetery, and another portior as the side of the prison.
Who is Anne Hutchinson? How does Hawthorne feel about her?
Anne Hutchinson was a strong woman who had the courage to talk about her religious ideas, which were different from the Puritans' tradition. Therefore, she was banished because of her "blasphemy" and went to Rhode Island. It seems to me that Hawtorne likes this woman for her bravery to rebel to the corrupted tradition, and he calls her "sainted".
What 2 possible symbols does the rose have for the reader?
The rose might symbolize both the bright natural purity compared to the black and old human building, so simbolizing the purity of nature. But another possible explanation is that the bush represents yes, the purity, but Anne's one, put side by side to the society.
The setting for the novel is Boston, the Massachussets colony.
Where in the colony does the opening chapter take place?
It takes place in the vicinity of Cornhill, the author describes its prison-house.
For what 2 “practical necessities” did the new colony set aside land?
The colony set aside land for allotting a portion of the soil as a cemetery, and another portior as the side of the prison.
Who is Anne Hutchinson? How does Hawthorne feel about her?
Anne Hutchinson was a strong woman who had the courage to talk about her religious ideas, which were different from the Puritans' tradition. Therefore, she was banished because of her "blasphemy" and went to Rhode Island. It seems to me that Hawtorne likes this woman for her bravery to rebel to the corrupted tradition, and he calls her "sainted".
What 2 possible symbols does the rose have for the reader?
The rose might symbolize both the bright natural purity compared to the black and old human building, so simbolizing the purity of nature. But another possible explanation is that the bush represents yes, the purity, but Anne's one, put side by side to the society.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
sentences
alacrity: her main esteem was alacrity: she couldn't stop working.
timorous: he approched timorous and asked if he could talk to his recovered mother.
timorous: he approched timorous and asked if he could talk to his recovered mother.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
other sentences
reticent: You couldn't say he was not a reticent guy: he tried to avoid conversation about his life and his experiences.
rigor: the only skill he missed was rigor: he was too tender towards his students who often took advantage of him.
rigor: the only skill he missed was rigor: he was too tender towards his students who often took advantage of him.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
timorous: timid by nature or revealing timidity; (adj)
obtuse: slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; (adj)
adroit: quick or skillful or adept in action or thought; "an exceptionally adroit pianist"; an adroit technician (adj)
deleterious: harmful to living things (adj)
brevity (noun): the attribute of being brief or fleeting
obtuse: slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; (adj)
adroit: quick or skillful or adept in action or thought; "an exceptionally adroit pianist"; an adroit technician (adj)
deleterious: harmful to living things (adj)
brevity (noun): the attribute of being brief or fleeting
| adulation (noun(: servile flattery; exaggerated and hypocritical praise |
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
new sentences
Capitulate: Germany capitulated when its generals undestood that they were going to lose the war.
Celestial: the celestial aura that surrounded her instilled peace into the people she talked to
Celestial: the celestial aura that surrounded her instilled peace into the people she talked to
Friday, September 3, 2010
new sentences
Catalyst: the catalyst of the French Revolution is not known for sure, but the people had been unhappy for many years
Caustic: The caustic liquid burnt his right hand's living tissues, making him unable to write for that day on
Caustic: The caustic liquid burnt his right hand's living tissues, making him unable to write for that day on
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
answers - Iroquois constitution
1a. Dekanawidah and the five nation confederate lords plant and name the Tree of the Great Peace.
2a. Dekanawidah is speaking to the confederacy and Adodaroh is the Chief confederate lord of onondaga on whose land the council was lit
3a. A candidate shows his pledge to the council by furnishing "four strings of shells (or wampum) one span in length bound together at one end.": the object might symbolize the four nations, tight together in one knot which would represent the fifth nation, the one that the candidate is applying for.
4a. It incorporates all the surrounding nature when the candidate's speech comes to the acknowledgments since the nature was viewed evenly as origin of life.
5a. I think that the Iroquois Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever made: everything is set in order to guarantee people's well being and peace among the nations. For instance, the constitution says :" in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into oblivion". It means that all the members of the confederation must behave in their people's interest. A representative should be a datum point for its people, being always calm so that people can feel safe even listening to their representative talking. ("with endless patience you
shall carry out your duty and your firmness shall be tempered with tenderness for your people.") .
1.b The meeting's purpose is to "plant the Tree of the Great Peace" but also to establish the rules linked to the candidates' behavior and to officially gather Five Nations' chiefs. The oratory skills were fundamental since oral was the only way to communicate, and being a good speaker implied not being too emotional for example, thing that would have changed people's opinion and being calm also when the situation would become stretched.
2b. The assembled lords are not related to one other, but they feel as a family since they all share the same values, that's why Dekanawidah feels related to everyone.
3b. A candidate should be proof against anger, offensive reactions and criticism. His heart should be filled with peace and hood will and his mind filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the confederacy. He should carry out his duty and his firmness should be tempered with tenderness for his people. Neither angry or fury should find lodgment in his mind and all his words and action should be marked with calm deliberation (that's why a candidate should be a good orator, 1b), his self-interest should be cast into oblivion.
4b. The native Americans regarded Nature as Mother Nature, something from everything came. They viewed every event, every object as a gift from Mother Nature, that's why they honored so much the environment around them.
5b. The Iroquois Constitution seems to me a reasonable agreement. A lot of politicians now don't care very much about their people, that is especially way I would include the last part of the Constitution's extract (duties of a candidate). I would regulate by law also candidate's family behavior, and I would of course not consider the pledges Iroquois asked for, but I would make candidates swear.
2a. Dekanawidah is speaking to the confederacy and Adodaroh is the Chief confederate lord of onondaga on whose land the council was lit
3a. A candidate shows his pledge to the council by furnishing "four strings of shells (or wampum) one span in length bound together at one end.": the object might symbolize the four nations, tight together in one knot which would represent the fifth nation, the one that the candidate is applying for.
4a. It incorporates all the surrounding nature when the candidate's speech comes to the acknowledgments since the nature was viewed evenly as origin of life.
5a. I think that the Iroquois Constitution is one of the greatest documents ever made: everything is set in order to guarantee people's well being and peace among the nations. For instance, the constitution says :" in all your official acts, self-interest shall be cast into oblivion". It means that all the members of the confederation must behave in their people's interest. A representative should be a datum point for its people, being always calm so that people can feel safe even listening to their representative talking. ("with endless patience you
shall carry out your duty and your firmness shall be tempered with tenderness for your people.") .
1.b The meeting's purpose is to "plant the Tree of the Great Peace" but also to establish the rules linked to the candidates' behavior and to officially gather Five Nations' chiefs. The oratory skills were fundamental since oral was the only way to communicate, and being a good speaker implied not being too emotional for example, thing that would have changed people's opinion and being calm also when the situation would become stretched.
2b. The assembled lords are not related to one other, but they feel as a family since they all share the same values, that's why Dekanawidah feels related to everyone.
3b. A candidate should be proof against anger, offensive reactions and criticism. His heart should be filled with peace and hood will and his mind filled with a yearning for the welfare of the people of the confederacy. He should carry out his duty and his firmness should be tempered with tenderness for his people. Neither angry or fury should find lodgment in his mind and all his words and action should be marked with calm deliberation (that's why a candidate should be a good orator, 1b), his self-interest should be cast into oblivion.
4b. The native Americans regarded Nature as Mother Nature, something from everything came. They viewed every event, every object as a gift from Mother Nature, that's why they honored so much the environment around them.
5b. The Iroquois Constitution seems to me a reasonable agreement. A lot of politicians now don't care very much about their people, that is especially way I would include the last part of the Constitution's extract (duties of a candidate). I would regulate by law also candidate's family behavior, and I would of course not consider the pledges Iroquois asked for, but I would make candidates swear.
writing sentences with 'c' words
Callous: the old woman was callous because of her afflicted life
The killer was a callous man who had lost his family
Capricious: The man bought everything that the capricious woman wanted
The capricious little girl asked for toys everyday
Capitulate: At the end of the war, Germany capitulated.
The killer was a callous man who had lost his family
Capricious: The man bought everything that the capricious woman wanted
The capricious little girl asked for toys everyday
Capitulate: At the end of the war, Germany capitulated.
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