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.

PASSAGE 1 The great black forest—stern as it showed itself to those who brought the guilt and troubles of the world into its bosom—became the playmate of the lonely infant, as well as it knew how. Sombre as it was, it put on the kindest of its moods to welcome her. It offered her the partridge-berries, the growth of the preceding autumn, but ripening only in the spring, and now red as drops of blood upon the withered leaves. These Pearl gathered, and was pleased with their wild flavor. The small denizens of the wilderness hardly took pains to move out of her path. A partridge, indeed, with a brood of ten behind her, ran forward threateningly, but soon repented of her fierceness, and clucked to her young ones not to be afraid. A pigeon, alone on a low branch, allowed Pearl to come beneath, and uttered a sound as much of greeting as alarm. A squirrel, from the lofty depths of his domestic tree, chattered either in anger or merriment,—for a squirrel is such a choleric and humorous little personage that it is hard to distinguish between his moods,—so he chattered at the child, and flung down a nut upon her head. It was a last year’s nut, and already gnawed by his sharp tooth. A fox, startled from his sleep by her light footstep on the leaves, looked inquisitively at Pearl, as doubting whether it were better to steal off, or renew his nap on the same spot. A wolf, it is said,—but here the tale has surely lapsed into the improbable,—came up, and smelt of Pearl’s robe, and offered his savage head to be patted by her hand. The truth seems to be, however, that the mother-forest, and these wild things which it nourished, all recognized a kindred wildness in the human child.


PASSAGE 2 The road, after the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula to the mainland, was no other than a footpath. It straggled onward into the mystery of the primeval forest. This hemmed it in so narrowly, and stood so black and dense on either side, and disclosed such imperfect glimpses of the sky above, that, to Hester’s mind, it imaged not amiss the moral wilderness in which she had so long been wandering. The day was chill and sombre. Overhead was a gray expanse of cloud, slightly stirred, however, by a breeze; so that a gleam of flickering sunshine might now and then be seen at its solitary play along the path. This flitting cheerfulness was always at the farther extremity of some long vista through the forest. The sportive sunlight—feebly sportive, at best, in the predominant pensiveness of the day and scene—withdrew itself as they came nigh, and left the spots where it had danced the drearier, because they had hoped to find them bright.



PRODUCE In this section, you will answer several analytical questions about the passages. Use specific references and/or quotations from the passages to support your answers. Be complete in your response.

1. Which passage is more Romantic? What specific details lead you to this decision? (Cite them specifically and explain how they demonstrate romantic ideas.)
2. Which passage is more Gothic? What specific details lead you to this decision? (Cite them specifically and explain how they demonstrate gothic ideas.)
3. What theme does passage #1 communicate about nature? Answer with one complete sentence
. 4. What theme does passage #2 communicate about nature? Answer with one complete sentence.

Answer 1

1. Pass 1 is more romantic. In passage 1 we are presented with the forest as a living element, a character with great influence, in addition to being a scenario. This is a strong element of romantic literature, which used to show nature as a living element within history. In addition, we can see another element of romantic literature, escapism, characterized by the flight from the real self and all the problems that surround it.

2. Passage 2 is more Gothic. In this passage we see the forest being portrayed as a dark and mysterious scenario that causes a certain terror and discomfort in its passengers. This is a strong element of Gothic literature that used to show nature as a place that can cause a lot of terror, melancholy and fear.

3. Passage 1 communicates that nature is welcoming, kind and invigorating.

The text shows how nature welcomed the boy in a maternal way, causing strong fun, joy and pleasure, even if he had problems and bad experiences.

4. Passage 2 communicates a chaustrophobic, somber and limiting theme about nature.

The text expresses a sense of imprisonment the moment the characters enter the forest. Passing a dark, mysterious and caustrophobic feeling, as if the forest was not there to do any good.