Question

Read the following passages from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter. Though this work is set in a puritan society, it’s very much a Romantic-era work. In the following passages, you should see elements of both Romanticism and Gothicism. As you read the passages, annotate them for elements of both Romanticism and Gothicism.1. Which passage is more Romantic? What specific details lead you to this decision? (Cite them specifically and explain how they demonstrate romantic ideas.)

Answer 1

1. Passage 1 is the most romantic.

2. The passage shows details such as: the influence of nature in history, being a living part of the narrative and escapism.

Step-by-step explanation:

Passage 1 can be considered a more romantic passage from the Gothic and this is noticeable right at the beginning of the paragraph, where it shows that the lonely child escaped his sadness and problems when he went to the forest. This is a feature called "escapism" that is very common in romantic literature. This characteristic refers to the distraction from reality and pleasant daydreams that the character has.

In addition, the passage shows nature as something alive, in addition to being a statistical setting. In this passage, nature has a great influence, in addition to the text showing that it is a palpable organism capable of establishing great deeds and capable of interacting with the character. This is also a striking feature of romanticism.