1. Hawthorne begins the short story with a tone created, of course, by his selection of diction. Explain the how the tone shifts from the first paragraph to the remaining story. Be sure to focus on connotation and association of specific words. - Hawthorne uses diction to create a tone thus creating a mood which accurately describes the transition of mood of the story as a whole beginning with the first paragraph and then later on to the rest of the paragraph. In the first paragraph, the tone is very bright, positive, and upbeat. The words that Hawthorne uses gives off a happy vibe with sentences like "Children, with their bright faces, tripped merrily beside their parents, or mimicked a graver gait, in the conscious dignity of their sunday clothes." Later on although, as the story progresses, the tone gets gravely and moody. The mood is very mysterious and dark thu creating suspension and tension while Hawthorne uses descriptive imagery to give off this mood. Hawthorne says "that mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read the scriptures; and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance". Hawthorne does so by using words that go from positive connotation to negative connotation.
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer. - Hawthorne uses light and dark imagery to contrast the difference between the first paragraph and the rest of the story. In the first paragraph, he uses light imagery to describe "the sabbath sunshine that made them prettier on the weekdays" to describe the women. This radiates a feeling of love and optimism. Later on though, Hawthorne begins to use dark imagery where he uses dark words that give off mystery when he describes the darkness of the Minister.
3. Hawthorne builds anticipation and suspense into the story by the very syntax of the many of his sentences. Find at least one sentence in which the natural subject-verb-direct object order is inverted and discuss how and why Hawthorne does this. - Hawthorne uses anticipation and suspense by using carefully articulated syntax throughout many of his sentences in order to prevail to the audience. In doing so, the readers will be awed. He uses the emotions and reactions of the church members and the details of the black veil to get his point across.
4. Mr. Hooper has something to hide. That much is for sure. Explain the significance of the incident when Mr. Hooper leans over the casket of the dead young girl. Be very attentive to weird stuff right here. If you think there's something to this, you're probably right. - Mr. Hooper does have something to hide, indeed. Mr. Hooper "stepped into the room where the corpse was laid, and bent over the coffin, to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner. As he stooped, the veil hung straight down from his forehead, so that, if her eyelids had not been closed for ever, the dead maiden may have seen his face. Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he so hastily caught back the black veil?". This scene specifically symbolizes the sins of the people, and even the sins of Mr. Hooper and Hathorne himself. To me, I think the purpose of this scene is to have the black veil represent the sins of those around him and how Hawthorne's belief that your sins do not automatically disappear.
5. Discuss the significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding of two young people on the very same day as a funeral of a young maiden. What, if anything, does Hawthorne imply with this juxtaposition?- The significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding and funeral shows two of life's greatest moment, that mostly everyone experiences. The symbol of the black veil shows that even in life's best moments and dark moments, your sin will always be with you, which is represented by the black veil that never disapears. Although the people of the church did not wear a black veil such as the one Mr. Hooper wore, it still goes to show that they are all sinner. They all wear a metaphorically black veil that covers their sins, but their sins do not just go away even with the effort they put into it in order to hide their sins.
6. Build an argument that explains how certain a reader may be that Hawthorne knew of and understood the power of rhetoric. Choose specific passages from the text to support your claims. (This one is all about rhetorical analysis. You're welcome!)- The darkness and mysteriousness of the veil represents the sins of the average human. With even the Minister wearing a black veil, it shows that everyone has their own dark sin, but they are all just good at hiding it. Thus, opposing the principle beliefs of Transcendentalism (Integrity of the individual and Inner-light).
7. Hawthorne was not a small critic of Transcendentalism, with its constant proddings for people to tap into the inner-light, and avoid conformity as individuals tap into Nature and the oversoul. How does Hawthorne seem to criticise the basic tenants of Transcendentalism with "The Minister's Black Veil"? What argument does Hawthorne seem to be most critical? Be sure to use specific peices from the text to support your claims. - Hawthorne opposes the values of Transcendentalism, which was popular among many during his time. He uses the black veil in doing so. He shows that everyone has sins of their own, even the Minister (the holiest of them all). Hawthorne is attempting to bash the principles of Inner-light and how everyone has a good soul, and the integrity of the human being.
8.) Finally: Hawthorne carefully avoids ever mentioning what Hooper has hidden. That said, from what you can tell, what is the most likely sin that the Reverend Hooper has committed? Explain the basis for your claim with solid argumentation. (Syllogism, enthymeme, logical reasoning).- The black veil is used to symbolize the sin that all human uses to cover up their sins, even the Minister. Most likely, the sin that the Minister committed was one of adultery with the dead girl. As he leaned over her corpse, a woman describes that she saw the corpse "shudder".
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer. - Hawthorne uses light and dark imagery to contrast the difference between the first paragraph and the rest of the story. In the first paragraph, he uses light imagery to describe "the sabbath sunshine that made them prettier on the weekdays" to describe the women. This radiates a feeling of love and optimism. Later on though, Hawthorne begins to use dark imagery where he uses dark words that give off mystery when he describes the darkness of the Minister.
3. Hawthorne builds anticipation and suspense into the story by the very syntax of the many of his sentences. Find at least one sentence in which the natural subject-verb-direct object order is inverted and discuss how and why Hawthorne does this. - Hawthorne uses anticipation and suspense by using carefully articulated syntax throughout many of his sentences in order to prevail to the audience. In doing so, the readers will be awed. He uses the emotions and reactions of the church members and the details of the black veil to get his point across.
4. Mr. Hooper has something to hide. That much is for sure. Explain the significance of the incident when Mr. Hooper leans over the casket of the dead young girl. Be very attentive to weird stuff right here. If you think there's something to this, you're probably right. - Mr. Hooper does have something to hide, indeed. Mr. Hooper "stepped into the room where the corpse was laid, and bent over the coffin, to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner. As he stooped, the veil hung straight down from his forehead, so that, if her eyelids had not been closed for ever, the dead maiden may have seen his face. Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he so hastily caught back the black veil?". This scene specifically symbolizes the sins of the people, and even the sins of Mr. Hooper and Hathorne himself. To me, I think the purpose of this scene is to have the black veil represent the sins of those around him and how Hawthorne's belief that your sins do not automatically disappear.
5. Discuss the significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding of two young people on the very same day as a funeral of a young maiden. What, if anything, does Hawthorne imply with this juxtaposition?- The significance of the juxtaposition of a wedding and funeral shows two of life's greatest moment, that mostly everyone experiences. The symbol of the black veil shows that even in life's best moments and dark moments, your sin will always be with you, which is represented by the black veil that never disapears. Although the people of the church did not wear a black veil such as the one Mr. Hooper wore, it still goes to show that they are all sinner. They all wear a metaphorically black veil that covers their sins, but their sins do not just go away even with the effort they put into it in order to hide their sins.
6. Build an argument that explains how certain a reader may be that Hawthorne knew of and understood the power of rhetoric. Choose specific passages from the text to support your claims. (This one is all about rhetorical analysis. You're welcome!)- The darkness and mysteriousness of the veil represents the sins of the average human. With even the Minister wearing a black veil, it shows that everyone has their own dark sin, but they are all just good at hiding it. Thus, opposing the principle beliefs of Transcendentalism (Integrity of the individual and Inner-light).
7. Hawthorne was not a small critic of Transcendentalism, with its constant proddings for people to tap into the inner-light, and avoid conformity as individuals tap into Nature and the oversoul. How does Hawthorne seem to criticise the basic tenants of Transcendentalism with "The Minister's Black Veil"? What argument does Hawthorne seem to be most critical? Be sure to use specific peices from the text to support your claims. - Hawthorne opposes the values of Transcendentalism, which was popular among many during his time. He uses the black veil in doing so. He shows that everyone has sins of their own, even the Minister (the holiest of them all). Hawthorne is attempting to bash the principles of Inner-light and how everyone has a good soul, and the integrity of the human being.
8.) Finally: Hawthorne carefully avoids ever mentioning what Hooper has hidden. That said, from what you can tell, what is the most likely sin that the Reverend Hooper has committed? Explain the basis for your claim with solid argumentation. (Syllogism, enthymeme, logical reasoning).- The black veil is used to symbolize the sin that all human uses to cover up their sins, even the Minister. Most likely, the sin that the Minister committed was one of adultery with the dead girl. As he leaned over her corpse, a woman describes that she saw the corpse "shudder".