Curriculum / ELA / 11th Grade / Unit 7: The Scarlet Letter / Lesson 2
ELA
Unit 7
11th Grade
Lesson 2 of 26
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Describe the mood, tone, and setting as established by Hawthorne in Chapter 1.
Analyze Hawthorne’s use of symbolism to introduce a major theme of the novel.
Book: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne — Chapter 1: The Prison Door
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What does the phrase, “have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison,” suggest about the Puritans depicted here?
It can be reasonably inferred from Hawthorne’s descriptions that the prison door represents the ways in which Puritan society is
Hawthorne’s description of the rosebush as showing a condemned prisoner that “the deep heart of Nature could pity and be kind to him” indicates that the bush mostly symbolizes
Describe how Hawthorne juxtaposes the prison door and the rosebush to reveal some of the central conflict and themes of the novel. Use evidence to support your answer.
Questions about the text that will help guide the students understanding
Suggestions for teachers to help them teach this lesson
Lesson 1
Lesson 3
Explain the lifestyle and values of Puritan New England in the mid-1600s.
Make inferences about the author’s potential tone and purpose in the novel.
Analyze Hawthorne’s portrayal of Hester and her situation in Chapter 2.
Identify the significance of the scarlet letter in Chapters 2 and 3.
Analyze the narrator’s characterization of Dimmesdale in Chapter 3.
Identify and analyze Hawthorne’s development of the themes of shame, judgement, and isolation in Chapter 2.
Compare Hawthorne’s treatment of these themes with a modern podcast on a similar theme.
Analyze Hawthorne’s characterization of Roger Chillingworth.
Analyze Hester’s decision to stay in Boston.
Analyze how Hawthorne develops the theme of isolation in Chapter 5.
Analyze and explain Pearl’s role as a symbol in the novel.
Compare Hester’s scarlet letter and her daughter, Pearl.
Synthesize two assessments of Hester’s motherhood.
Explain how name reveals character in the novel.
Describe the author’s characterization of Dimmesdale.
Analyze the developing relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth
Analyze how Hawthorne uses the relationship between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale to develop the theme of evil and sin.
Analyze the author’s characterization of Dimmesdale at this point in the novel.
Compare the two scenes that have occurred on the scaffold, analyzing their significance in the novel.
Analyze the “other views” of Hester that the author presents in this chapter.
Analyze how the author develops the idea of isolation in the podcast.
Explain techniques Hawthorne uses to develop theme in this chapter.
Describe Hester’s feelings toward Chillingworth and the reasons for these feelings.
Analyze the significance of Hester’s desire to find Dimmesdale in the woods.
Analyze how the author develops the theme of sin and redemption in this chapter.
Identify and analyze the significance of Hester’s decision to remove the scarlet letter from her breast.
Explain the significance of Pearl’s reaction to Reverend Dimmesdale.
Analyze and explain how Hawthorne uses this chapter to convey Dimmesdale’s internal conflict and foreshadow his fate.
Identify and analyze Hawthorne’s use of juxtaposition in “A New England Holiday.”
Analyze the author’s development of the plot, symbols, and themes of the novel in Chapter 22.
Explain the significance of Hester’s return to the Puritan community at the end of the novel.
Review
Initiate and effectively participate in whole-class discussion about the major themes of the novel.
Assessment
Discussion
Listen to, analyze, and evaluate podcasts by two or three other students.
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