The Scarlet Letter

Lesson 24
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ELA

Unit 7

11th Grade

Lesson 24 of 26

Objective


Initiate and effectively participate in whole-class discussion about the major themes of the novel.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne  — Entire Text

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Target Task


Choose one of the thematic topics below and answer the question using evidence from the text and some of the reasoning and explanations you heard during the discussions today.

  • Sin and Redemption: What is sin? Are sin and evil synonymous? Can one be redeemed for one’s sins? If so, how?
  • Compassion and Forgiveness: Do compassion and forgiveness have the power to overcome sin and evil? Who has the power to forgive: the victim? God? Society? 
  • Isolation: How does isolation from others impact an individual? What is the impact on a society when it isolates some of its members?
  • Female Identity: Must women be “good wives” or “evil witches”? Is it possible, in the eyes of society, to allow women to be some combination of the two or something entirely different? Are men also held to this standard?
  • Hypocrisy: What is the price of hypocrisy? Can one be hypocritical and still be a positive contributor to society?

Key Questions


  • Students should discuss the thematic questions for the novel.
      Sin and Redemption: What is sin? Are sin and evil synonymous? Can one be redeemed for one’s sins? If so, how? Compassion and Forgiveness: Do compassion and forgiveness have the power to overcome sin and evil? Who has the power to forgive: the victim? God? Society?  Isolation: How does isolation from others impact an individual? What is the impact on a society when it isolates some of its members? Female Identity: Must women be “good wives” or “evil witches”? Is it possible, in the eyes of society, to allow women to be some combination of the two or something entirely different? Are men also held to this standard? Hypocrisy: What is the price of hypocrisy? Can one be hypocritical and still be a positive contributor to society?
  • Sin and Redemption: What is sin? Are sin and evil synonymous? Can one be redeemed for one’s sins? If so, how?
  • Compassion and Forgiveness: Do compassion and forgiveness have the power to overcome sin and evil? Who has the power to forgive: the victim? God? Society? 
  • Isolation: How does isolation from others impact an individual? What is the impact on a society when it isolates some of its members?
  • Female Identity: Must women be “good wives” or “evil witches”? Is it possible, in the eyes of society, to allow women to be some combination of the two or something entirely different? Are men also held to this standard?
  • Hypocrisy: What is the price of hypocrisy? Can one be hypocritical and still be a positive contributor to society?
  • Sin and Redemption: What is sin? Are sin and evil synonymous? Can one be redeemed for one’s sins? If so, how?
  • Compassion and Forgiveness: Do compassion and forgiveness have the power to overcome sin and evil? Who has the power to forgive: the victim? God? Society? 
  • Isolation: How does isolation from others impact an individual? What is the impact on a society when it isolates some of its members?
  • Female Identity: Must women be “good wives” or “evil witches”? Is it possible, in the eyes of society, to allow women to be some combination of the two or something entirely different? Are men also held to this standard?
  • Hypocrisy: What is the price of hypocrisy? Can one be hypocritical and still be a positive contributor to society?

Notes


  • The teacher may wish to focus on one or all of the thematic questions for the novel during this discussion. The discussion could be small or large group depending on the needs of the particular class.
  • Encourage students to write their own discussion questions as homework the night before. These questions can be used in addition to or in lieu of the unit questions.
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Lesson 23

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Lesson 25

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