The Scarlet Letter may be a classic, but keeping high schoolers engaged in the reading of Hawthorne's vocabulary, syntax, imagery, and historical references presents it own set of challenges. Here's a guide that offers readers opportunities to engage in a debate—Who is the greater villain, Dimmesdale or Chillingworth?—and write scripts for a modernized version of select scenes from the novel.

Concepts

nathaniel hawthorne, intolerance, the scarlet letter, puritanism, the puritans

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Assign class groups one symbol or type of imagery used in the novel. Have them note each reference to the device as the story unfolds, and when they are finished with the reading, have them prepare a presentation on how Hawthorne uses the device to develop a theme

Classroom Considerations

• The unit presumes class members have background knowledge of early American history and the Puritans
• The unit does not address the "Customs House" essay or its relationship to the novel

Pros

• The five lessons in the 23-page resource include detailed plans, reading questions, instructions for the debate, and materials lists

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.11-12.2 RL.11-12.3 RI.11-12.1