《美国文学》课件十一.ppt

Summary of The Scarlet Letter  An aging English scholar sends his beautiful young wife, Hester Prynne by name, to make their new home in New England. When he comes over two years later he is bewildered to see his wife in pillory, wearing a scarlet letter A on her breast, holding her illicit child in her arms. Determined to find out who her lover is, the old scholar disguises himself as a physician and changes his name to Roger Chillingworth. Summary of The Scarlet Letter  Gradually he discovers the villain is no other than the much admired brilliant young clergyman, Arthur Dimmesdale. Tormenting himself ruthlessly for his sin, Dimmedale finds his conscience no less ruthlessly preyed upon by Chillingworth. He cuts himself off from community and withers spiritually as well as physically. Hester Prynnes response to the scarlet letter A is a positive one. Summary of The Scarlet Letter  Through living on the fringe of the community, she does her best to reestablish her fellowship with her neighbours on a new, honest basis. She helps her fellow creatures as a sister of mercy of sorts or as a skilled embroiderer in an unobtrusive and undemanding manner, and finally wins their love and admiration. At one time she plans to leave America with Dimmesdale, but he refuses her help. He dies in the end in her arms while confessing his sin at a public gathering. Chillingworth withers. Pearl, Hesters child, grows up to be married into a noble family of Europe. The Main Contents The Market-Place; the Recognition; the Interview; the Leech and his Patient; the Interior of a Heart; the Minister’s Vigil; Hester and the Physician; the Pastor and his Parishioner; a Flood of Sunshine; the Minister in a Maze; the New England Holiday; the Procession; the Revelation of the Scarlet Letter; Conclusion; three chapters for the part of climax Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter Hawthorns symbolism in The Scarlet Letter merits particular mention. It is noted that the symbolic s