Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Chapter 4 Analysis
"It may seem marvellous that, with the world before her--kept by no restrictive clause of her condemnation within the limits of the Puritan settlement, so remote and so obscure--free to return to her birth-place, or to any other European land, and there hide her character and identity under a new exterior, as completely as if emerging into another state of being"
It is quite grand that there is no restriction beyond the Puritan settlement that is so far away from civilization. She could start her life over as if she is a brand new person without any taint.
It is quite grand that there is no restriction beyond the Puritan settlement that is so far away from civilization. She could start her life over as if she is a brand new person without any taint.
Chapter 3 Quote
While this passed, Hester Prynne had been standing on her pedestal, still with a fixed gaze towards the stranger--so fixed a gaze that, at moments of intense absorption, all other objects in the visible world seemed to vanish, leaving only him and her. Such an interview, perhaps, would have been more terrible than even to meet him as she now did, with the hot mid-day sun burning down upon her face, and lighting up its shame; with the scarlet token of infamy on her breast; with the sin-born infant in her arms; with a whole people, drawn forth as to a festival, staring at the features that should have been seen only in the quiet gleam of the fireside, in the happy shadow of a home, or beneath a matronly veil at church.
This quote is the 15th paragraph of chapter 3. This stranger kept saying good stuff for Hester Prynne. Now she fixed her gaze towards the stranger-so fixed a gaze that all other objects in the visible world seemed to vanish. This maybe hinting that the stranger might be the one who got her pregnant. This might be the man who got her in jail. That is why he is trying to help her and she fixed her gaze toward him.
ch. 3-6 quote
"I pray you, good Sir," said he, "who is this woman? --and wherefore is she here set up to public shame?"
"You must needs be a stranger in this region, friend," answered the townsman, looking curiously at the questioner and his savage companion, "else you would surely have heard of Mistress Hester Prynne and her evil doings. She hath raised a great scandal, I promise you, in godly Master Dimmesdale's church. "
This quote is the 5th and 6th paragraph of chapter 3. This shows just how much the Puritan society looked down on adulterers. The townsman refers to adultery as a "great scandal" and "evil doings" and is surprised that the newcomer had not known about the event beforehand. This is a kind of foreshadowing of the attitude that many of the people will have towards Hester for her sinful acts.
Tony Chapter 3 quote
"It behoves him well if he be still in life," responded the townsman.
"Now, good Sir, our Massachusetts magistracy, bethinking themselves that
this woman is youthful and fair, and doubtless was strongly tempted to
her fall, and that, moreover, as is most likely, her husband may be at
the bottom of the sea, they have not been bold to put in force the
extremity of our righteous law against her. The penalty thereof is
death. But in their great mercy and tenderness of heart they have doomed
Mistress Prynne to stand only a space of three hours on the platform of
the pillory, and then and thereafter, for the remainder of her natural
life to wear a mark of shame upon her bosom."
Chapter 3, 11th paragraph
This townsman gives his opinion about the severity of Hester Prynne's punishment for the sin she has committed. As we all know, Mistress Prynne got a scarlet letter "A" sewed onto her chest part of her dress to represent "Adultery". According to this townsman, a woman is normally to be executed for such crime, but for Prynne, the punishment seems to be much less severe. Reason being that her husband's whereabout is unknown and speculated as sunken along the ship he was on. Bring understanding that her husband may not exist in this world anymore, the punishment was decreased from death to life time shame. The death sentence for adultery in my opinion is way overboard. I think adultery is a very overrated sin to be made big deal out of. Scarlet letter, a life time shame, for adultery may well be the appropriate punishment for that era.
Chapter 3, 11th paragraph
This townsman gives his opinion about the severity of Hester Prynne's punishment for the sin she has committed. As we all know, Mistress Prynne got a scarlet letter "A" sewed onto her chest part of her dress to represent "Adultery". According to this townsman, a woman is normally to be executed for such crime, but for Prynne, the punishment seems to be much less severe. Reason being that her husband's whereabout is unknown and speculated as sunken along the ship he was on. Bring understanding that her husband may not exist in this world anymore, the punishment was decreased from death to life time shame. The death sentence for adultery in my opinion is way overboard. I think adultery is a very overrated sin to be made big deal out of. Scarlet letter, a life time shame, for adultery may well be the appropriate punishment for that era.
Ch.3
“Woman, transgress not beyond the limits of Heaven’s mercy!” cried the Reverend Mr. Wilson, more harshly than before. “That little babe hath been gifted with a voice, to second and confirm the counsel which thou hast heard. Speak out the name! That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast.”
Through this quote you can tell how from the past, the society as a whole treated women pretty harsh with traditional rules. Yet, the society seems to still believe in the whole concept of "second chance". However, this will relate to life in general because people nowadays also follow a set of popular rules set by the society. People blindly follow the rules because of its popularity, they never really pause and reconsider the consequences or the reason why they are doing it.
Through this quote you can tell how from the past, the society as a whole treated women pretty harsh with traditional rules. Yet, the society seems to still believe in the whole concept of "second chance". However, this will relate to life in general because people nowadays also follow a set of popular rules set by the society. People blindly follow the rules because of its popularity, they never really pause and reconsider the consequences or the reason why they are doing it.
Chapter 3 Page 82 6th paragraph
“’I will not speak!’ Answered Hester,
turning pale as death, but responding to this voice, which she too surely
recognized ‘And my child must seek a heavenly father; she shall never know an
earthly one!’”
Page 82 6th paragraph
This quote shows Hester’s strong ability of
not cracking under pressure. As she is being questioned and forced to speak of
who the father was, it clearly shows that Hester will simply not tell them.
This is a good life lesson because it shows you that if you committed a crime,
do not drag down the other’s with you, even if it means that you could get into
more trouble. It teaches you how to be a good, loyal friend. The quote uses a simile as well, “pale as
death”. I am just like Hester, as I have been in a few situations when I had to
tell about who was with me as I committed some wrong doings, I never cracked,
as I only took blame for myself.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Chapter 4 Quote p.71
"'...I might have foreseen all this. I
might have known that, as I came out of the vast and dismal
forest, and entered this settlement of Christian men, the very
first object to meet my eyes would be thyself, Hester Prynne,
standing up, a statue of ignominy, before the people. Nay, from the moment
when we came down the old church-steps together, a married pair,
I might have beheld the bale-fire of that scarlet letter blazing at
the end of our path!'
'Thou knowest,' said Hester,--for, depressed as she was, she could not endure this last quiet stab at the token of her shame,--'thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any.'
'True!' replied he. 'It was my folly! I have said it. But, up to that epoch of my life, I had lived in vain. The world had been so cheerless! My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire. I longed to kindle one! It seemed not so wild a dream,--old as I was, and sombre as I was, and misshapen as I was,--that the simple bliss, which is scattered far and wide, for all mankind to gather up, might yet be mine. And so, Hester, I drew thee into my heart, into its innermost chamber, and sought to warm thee by the warmth which thy presence made there!'"
'Thou knowest,' said Hester,--for, depressed as she was, she could not endure this last quiet stab at the token of her shame,--'thou knowest that I was frank with thee. I felt no love, nor feigned any.'
'True!' replied he. 'It was my folly! I have said it. But, up to that epoch of my life, I had lived in vain. The world had been so cheerless! My heart was a habitation large enough for many guests, but lonely and chill, and without a household fire. I longed to kindle one! It seemed not so wild a dream,--old as I was, and sombre as I was, and misshapen as I was,--that the simple bliss, which is scattered far and wide, for all mankind to gather up, might yet be mine. And so, Hester, I drew thee into my heart, into its innermost chamber, and sought to warm thee by the warmth which thy presence made there!'"
Chapter 6 quote p. 177
"that little creature (Pearl), whose innocent life had sprung, by the inscrutable decree of Providence, a lovely and immortal flower, out of the rank luxuriance of a guilty passion. ... But she names the infant "Pearl," as being of a great price - purchased with all she had - her mother's only treasure!"
Chapter 6 quotation
"Child, what art thou?" cried the mother.
"Oh, I am your little Pearl!" answered the child.
But while she said it, Pearl laughed, and began to dance up and down with the humoursome gesticulation of a little imp, whose next freak might be to fly up the chimney.
"Art thou my child, in very truth?" asked Hester.
Nor did she put the question altogether idly, but, for the moment, with a portion of genuine earnestness; for, such was Pearl's wonderful intelligence, that her mother half doubted whether she were not acquainted with the secret spell of her existence, and might not now reveal herself.
"Yes; I am little Pearl!" repeated the child, continuing her antics.
"Thou art not my child! Thou art no Pearl of mine!" said the mother half playfully; for it was often the case that a sportive impulse came over her in the midst of her deepest suffering. "Tell me, then, what thou art, and who sent thee hither?"
"Tell me, mother!" said the child, seriously, coming up to Hester, and pressing herself close to her knees. "Do thou tell me!"
Ch. 3 Quote
"When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips."
Through this quote you can tell that both Hester and the man knew each other and knew what each other were thinking. Even back then people knew how to recognize facial, especially eye contact, expressions. Nowadays, more people understand eye contact, especially girls. With just one expression from a friend, you'll know what they're thinking or trying to say. You can also tell when it's the right time to say certain things or the right time to not say anything. For example, a common "look" that girls give each other is a look when they see a cute guy. When I see a cute guy, I turn around to my friend, raise my eyebrow, and smile. Without saying anything, my friend would know exactly what and who I'm talking about. An example more suitable for this quotation would be when I tell my friends something and I don't want my parents to know, I would look at them and nudge or put a finger up to my mouth to show what not to talk about when my parents are there. Eye contact and small hand gestures really do go a long way.
Through this quote you can tell that both Hester and the man knew each other and knew what each other were thinking. Even back then people knew how to recognize facial, especially eye contact, expressions. Nowadays, more people understand eye contact, especially girls. With just one expression from a friend, you'll know what they're thinking or trying to say. You can also tell when it's the right time to say certain things or the right time to not say anything. For example, a common "look" that girls give each other is a look when they see a cute guy. When I see a cute guy, I turn around to my friend, raise my eyebrow, and smile. Without saying anything, my friend would know exactly what and who I'm talking about. An example more suitable for this quotation would be when I tell my friends something and I don't want my parents to know, I would look at them and nudge or put a finger up to my mouth to show what not to talk about when my parents are there. Eye contact and small hand gestures really do go a long way.
Chapter 3 Analysis
Quotes Analysis (Chapter3~6)
“A wise sentence!” remarked the stranger, gravely bowing his head. “Thus she will be a living sermon against sin, until the ignominious letter be engraved upon her tombstone. It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known!—he will be known!—he will be known!”
Ch 3 quote
"Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him; for,
believe me, Hester, though he were to step down from a high place, and
stand there beside thee, on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it
so, than to hide a guilty heart through life."
This quote can be connected to people's lives in general. Once in a period of time we commit something that we tend to try to conceal it to maintain our reputations or our relationships with others. However, we've always been taught that we should tell the truth despite the fact that certain punishments might be enforced upon us - that it is the right thing to do.
As the story went on Hester refused to reveal the father of the baby, which is totally understandable to me because I would be doing the same thing if what I am trying to protect is greater than my life or my reputation, although I can't really commit an adultery and get pregnant due to physical restraint.
This quote can be connected to people's lives in general. Once in a period of time we commit something that we tend to try to conceal it to maintain our reputations or our relationships with others. However, we've always been taught that we should tell the truth despite the fact that certain punishments might be enforced upon us - that it is the right thing to do.
As the story went on Hester refused to reveal the father of the baby, which is totally understandable to me because I would be doing the same thing if what I am trying to protect is greater than my life or my reputation, although I can't really commit an adultery and get pregnant due to physical restraint.
Ch.4
"Why dost thou smile so at me?" inquired Hester, troubled at the expression of his eyes. "Art thou like the Black Man that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?"
"Not thy soul," he answered, with another smile. "No, not thine!"
The first smile that Roger Chillingworth gives to Hester tells us that Roger is very confident that he will find the baby's father. When Hester asks Roger about if he is going to take revenge and ruin her soul, Roger answers "not thy soul", which foreshadows he is not going to ruin her soul but the man's. Roger Chillingworth smiles again at the end and that shows his excitement for taking the revenge.
"Not thy soul," he answered, with another smile. "No, not thine!"
The first smile that Roger Chillingworth gives to Hester tells us that Roger is very confident that he will find the baby's father. When Hester asks Roger about if he is going to take revenge and ruin her soul, Roger answers "not thy soul", which foreshadows he is not going to ruin her soul but the man's. Roger Chillingworth smiles again at the end and that shows his excitement for taking the revenge.
Ch.3 P.66 quote
"With the same hard demeanor, she was led back to prison, and vanished from the pubic gaze within its iron-clamped portal. It was whispered, by those who peered afteer her, that the scarlet letter threw a lurid gleam along the dark passageway of the interior"
I think the author wrote the scarlet letted "threw a lurid gleam" for 2 purposes:
1. It's a symbol that Hester would be always labeled with the sin of adultery by the public. When she immerged in the darkness of the prison, only the scarlet letter "gleamed". It created an effect that the person, Hester Prynn, had disappeared, what left about Hester Prynn was the sin of adultery.
2. The gleaming scarlet letter is foreshadowing something. It infers that there might be some change to the scarlet letter. The red "A" perhaps would not no longer stand for "adultery" but something honor.
I think the author wrote the scarlet letted "threw a lurid gleam" for 2 purposes:
1. It's a symbol that Hester would be always labeled with the sin of adultery by the public. When she immerged in the darkness of the prison, only the scarlet letter "gleamed". It created an effect that the person, Hester Prynn, had disappeared, what left about Hester Prynn was the sin of adultery.
2. The gleaming scarlet letter is foreshadowing something. It infers that there might be some change to the scarlet letter. The red "A" perhaps would not no longer stand for "adultery" but something honor.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Chapter 2 Questions
analysis:
Why didn't the other women and girls support and stand for her since they are all the same gender?
evaluation:
How effective do you think is the punishment for Hester, what punishment do you think she deserves?
prediction:
Who is the man that are asking around about Hester, and what is his relationship with her?
Why didn't the other women and girls support and stand for her since they are all the same gender?
evaluation:
How effective do you think is the punishment for Hester, what punishment do you think she deserves?
prediction:
Who is the man that are asking around about Hester, and what is his relationship with her?
PAS American Literature Honors 2012-2013 Analysis: Analysis: Why were women live in the puritan socie...
What caused the sexism during puritan era?
To what extent should Hester be punished?
Will her family ever be rid of this title?
To what extent should Hester be punished?
Will her family ever be rid of this title?
PAS American Literature Honors 2012-2013 Analysis: Analysis: Why were women live in the puritan socie...
What caused the sexism during puritan era?
To what extent should Hester be punished?
Will her family ever be rid of this title?
To what extent should Hester be punished?
Will her family ever be rid of this title?
3 Question
Analysis
What do you think about the punishment? Good or bad?
Evaluation
If you were Hester, do you think this punishment is right or wrong?
Creation
Will people learn from her mistake?
What do you think about the punishment? Good or bad?
Evaluation
If you were Hester, do you think this punishment is right or wrong?
Creation
Will people learn from her mistake?
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
ScarL Ch. 2 - Tony Ohu
Analysis:
The crowd kept mentioning 'gossips' throughout the chapter. Does the gossip mentioned referring to the gossip itself or toward people?
Evaluation:
So an illegitimate baby has born resulting from Hester's adultery. Does that baby deserve to be what may him becoming of?
Prediction:
The old misshapen scholar which Hester had married to was mentioned. What may have become of him and what will he do?!?????!
The crowd kept mentioning 'gossips' throughout the chapter. Does the gossip mentioned referring to the gossip itself or toward people?
Evaluation:
So an illegitimate baby has born resulting from Hester's adultery. Does that baby deserve to be what may him becoming of?
Prediction:
The old misshapen scholar which Hester had married to was mentioned. What may have become of him and what will he do?!?????!
The Scarlet Letter Ch. 2 Questions
Analysis: Why did the crowd laugh at Hester instead of humiliating her with vicious words?
Evaluation: How would you feel if you were in Hester's position on the scaffold?
Prediction: How will Hester's parents think of her after she gets condemned in public? Will they be ashamed of her or is she still their beloved daughter?
Evaluation: How would you feel if you were in Hester's position on the scaffold?
Prediction: How will Hester's parents think of her after she gets condemned in public? Will they be ashamed of her or is she still their beloved daughter?
Socratic Seminar: Chapter 2
Analysis - The author described the letter A was artistically done, "but greatly beyond what was
allowed by sumptuary regulation of colony." What is the "sumptuary regulation?"
Evaluation - By looking at Hester's personality, do you think letter A on her clothes can really
embarrass her?
Prediction - Will letter A make Hester become a stronger person? Or letter A will make her become a
weaker person?
allowed by sumptuary regulation of colony." What is the "sumptuary regulation?"
Evaluation - By looking at Hester's personality, do you think letter A on her clothes can really
embarrass her?
Prediction - Will letter A make Hester become a stronger person? Or letter A will make her become a
weaker person?
Ch.2 Questions
ANALYSIS:
if the ladies of the church who said that Hester would have gotten a worse punishment if they were the ones to choose, would they still stand by their opinions if it were one of them?
how do the church ladies see Hester?
PREDICTION:
how will Hester handel the situation of the A?
EVALUATION:
how did the people of the town (men) choose to punish Hester?
Ch.2
analysis: Instead of having letter A sewn on Hester's clothes, why did people want to put harsh punishment on her?
evaluation: Why does Hester took her baby on her arm after she clasp her baby closely?
prediction: Will people attitude toward Hester change if judge put her to death?
ch 2 questions
Analysis: Why is school close early on the day Hester walks out of jail? Don't the parents feel that watching public humiliation will cause long lasting effects in the child's heart?
Evaluate: What kind of personality can we inferred from Hester's actions since she walked out of the cell?
Create: What will happen to Hester's child in the future?
Evaluate: What kind of personality can we inferred from Hester's actions since she walked out of the cell?
Create: What will happen to Hester's child in the future?
3 questions 20120911
Analysis question: Why did the women display such hatred toward Hester through the words they used to condemn her?
Evaluation question: Was the practice of Christianity entirely dogmatic and bigoted in the Puritan society during the American colonial period?
Prediction question: Would the women who criticized Hester eventually changed their views toward her in the end of the story?
3 questions
Analysis: Why some women wanted Hester to be punished harshly?
Evaluate: Do you think wearing the Scarlet Letter is an appropriate punishment?
Creat: How would Hester's life in the future be?
Evaluate: Do you think wearing the Scarlet Letter is an appropriate punishment?
Creat: How would Hester's life in the future be?
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