Nathaniel Hawthorne

a cura di I. Bruschi
 
 Set in the 17th century Puritan Boston, it is a classic of American literature.
 Hester Prynne has preceded her husband to Massachusetts, and has had a daughter from an illicit love affair. She is sentenced to wear a scarlet A (adultery) forever. She refuses to reveal her lover’s name but her husband will find out who he is. The ending is rich in dramatic turns of events.
 The Scarlet Letter is a psychological novel which faces themes such as love and hatred, guilt and punishment, rebellion and double-dealing.
 Stimulating inserts about the period and the themes of the novel enrich the book. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Key to Summing-up Activities.
 
 È un classico della letteratura statunitense, ambientato nella Boston puritana del XVII secolo. Hester Prynne ha preceduto nel Massachusetts l’anziano marito, e ha avuto una figlia da una relazione illegittima. È condannata a portare sul petto la lettera A (adultera). Si rifiuta di rivelare il nome dell’amante, ma il marito riuscirà a scoprirlo. Romanzo psicologico ricco di colpi di scena e personaggi dalle forti tinte.

Chapter 1 – The Punishment

Chapter 2 – Hester and Pearl

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: The Puritans’ Way of Life

Chapter 3 – The Leech and His Patient

Chapter 4 – Hester and the Doctor

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: The native Americans in Puritan New England

Chapter 5 – A Forest Walk

Chapter 6 – Conclusion

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Superstition and Witchcraft in Puritan New England

Summing-up activities

Glossary

2  Hester and Pearl Chapter BEFORE READING 1 You have already met Hester. Who do you think Pearl is? ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 Which of the qualities below do you associate with pearls? Tick from the following list. c beauty c difficulties c happiness 3 c preciousness c misfortune c brightness c mystery c richness c uniqueness The pictures below show supernatural creatures which are often associated with the most inconsistent of the elements   air. Write their names under each picture. elf   fairy   imp   witch ........................................................ ....................................................... ........................................................ ....................................................... 22 

The Hester Scarlet Letter and Pearl Chapter 2 H Hester Prynne s imprisonment was now at an end. The prisondoor was opened and she came out into the sun. In spite of the shame and the pain of the scarlet letter, she was supported by an unnatural nervous tension and by all the force of her character. Hester Prynne went to live with her infant child on the outskirts of the town, in a small, solitary cottage on the shore. The spot immediately became suspiciously mysterious. Hester managed to earn a living for herself and her child thanks to her ability at needle-work. The curiously embroidered letter on her breast was an example of her delicate and imaginative skill. Little by little, her handiwork became what would now be termed  the fashion . Her own dress was of the most humble materials and the most somber1 color, with only that one ornament   the scarlet letter   which was her fate to wear. The child s clothes, on the other hand, were fantastically creative and intensified the airy2 charm3 that soon began to develop in the little girl. Hester gave all her extra earnings to the poor, who often insulted the hand that fed them. In this manner, Hester Prynne came to have a role in the world. But in spite of her natural energy, force of character and rare ability, every gesture, every word, and even the silence of those with whom she came in contact   great ladies, children, strangers   showed that she was banished4. She was like a ghost that only causes terror, horrible feelings and insults. She never responded to such people s attacks. She was patient   a martyr, indeed   but she could not pray for her enemies, more often she silently cursed5 them. Then there was the wellknown eye of her husband, whose cool but familiar stare was 1. somber: dark and depressing. 2. airy: having the substance or quality of air. 3. charm: attractiveness. 4. banished: sent way, isolated. 5. cursed: wished evil. 23 

Esplora il classico della letteratura statunitense "La lettera scarlatta" con Hester Prynne condannata per adulterio nella Boston puritana delXVII sec

The Scarlet Letter Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

The Scarlet Letter

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