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.
In the beginning of the passage the tone was innocent, and there is a sense of oblivion of the dark, while the rest of the passage gave off a perception of mystery. Having the story start off in this manner created a stun or astonishment throughout the stories transformation.
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer.
Hawthorne portrays very clear depictions with his imagery, showing us alarming undertakings in the world, and he usually gives a disturbing amount of descriptions in his writing.
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.
"I pray you, my venerable brother, let not this thing be!"
Hawthorne uses this sentence to build anticipation and suspense because what feels the need to put an emphasis on his statement by making it stand out immensely.
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.
When Mr. Hooper leans over the casket, he exposes his face to the deceased girl. There are many different ideas of what happened during the very strange encounter. No one truly knows what the minister did for sure, but one could make infer based off of the text different possibilities. It becomes obvious that Hooper has something to hide, hence the veil, this could indicate that he and the deceased engaged in sexual relations. Hooper may have kissed the corpse, or it is possible that he could have leaned over to reveal himself one last time to his friend/partner.
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 idea of a wedding and a funeral being on the same day is not particularly common and may be seen as disrespectful, yet this juxtaposition could have many different reason or meanings. It may represent the different ways of life people have or the choice in the routes people take to get where they want in life. It may also represent the idea that endings always lead to new beginnings and pathways in life.
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 dark and unwelcoming nature of the veil exemplifies how dark and sinful human nature can be; including flaws in one's everyday life. Behind every "masked" figure lies a mysterious individual that is usually not ever shown to society and unknown of everything that has occurred in their life. The veil represents a secret sin or confession that is not known to the public and shall never be, but it is also hidden behind the black cloth at the same time. This shows that even a preacher, who is to have the most godly image in society, wore the veil implying that everyone has their own dark sins and secrets. The purpose of the veil is to initiate fright those who have sinned in their life (every human), as a way to change how they act.
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 pieces from the text to support your claims.
Hawthorne stresses the importance of sinners that are in the world who most all conform to the rest of society and take the symbolic veil off of their faces in order to expose oneself with the true meaning of human nature. Hawthorne uses the veil as a symbol to create a sense of mystery to the sinners. The "veil" would be an example of inner light, or one's true self, shown as knowledge of such on an individual. Hawthorne also condemns the basic principles of Transcendentalism by refuting the point that shown in all individuals, there is sin. At the end of the text when the individuals attempt to remove Mr. Hooper's veil he says, "When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die! I look around me, and, look on every visage a Black Veil!" There he is relating every single individual in the world to himself, giving the idea that everyone has a black veil that burdens oneself. Mr. Hooper sees sin in all people, but places a physical veil on himself as a hope to show the world what humanity truly has come to.
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).
Mr. Hooper's veil is a symbol of sin of human in all of nature. His veil so used to "cover up" sin that Mr. Hooper has executed. This warrants the persistence of needed the veil the whole time. This sin is most likely dealing with a sexual manner. It can be inferred that Mr. Hooper had an inappropriate intimate relationship with the young deceased girl who the funeral was for on day Mr. Hooper started wearing his black veil. Mr. Hooper was asked about the veil and as a response his says that he is unable to tell her due to a "promise" he has made. He leaned over the corpse, almost to the point that the girl, had she still been alive, seen, could have seen Mr. Hooper's face. This gives a sense of connection between the two. Also, an old lady claimed that as Mr. Hooper leaned over the young girl’s corpse, her body shuddered, which too gives this argument proof of an intimate relationship between the two.
In the beginning of the passage the tone was innocent, and there is a sense of oblivion of the dark, while the rest of the passage gave off a perception of mystery. Having the story start off in this manner created a stun or astonishment throughout the stories transformation.
2. Discuss Hawthorne's use of light/dark imagery. What stands out the most about the imagery? Be sure to explain your answer.
Hawthorne portrays very clear depictions with his imagery, showing us alarming undertakings in the world, and he usually gives a disturbing amount of descriptions in his writing.
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.
"I pray you, my venerable brother, let not this thing be!"
Hawthorne uses this sentence to build anticipation and suspense because what feels the need to put an emphasis on his statement by making it stand out immensely.
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.
When Mr. Hooper leans over the casket, he exposes his face to the deceased girl. There are many different ideas of what happened during the very strange encounter. No one truly knows what the minister did for sure, but one could make infer based off of the text different possibilities. It becomes obvious that Hooper has something to hide, hence the veil, this could indicate that he and the deceased engaged in sexual relations. Hooper may have kissed the corpse, or it is possible that he could have leaned over to reveal himself one last time to his friend/partner.
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 idea of a wedding and a funeral being on the same day is not particularly common and may be seen as disrespectful, yet this juxtaposition could have many different reason or meanings. It may represent the different ways of life people have or the choice in the routes people take to get where they want in life. It may also represent the idea that endings always lead to new beginnings and pathways in life.
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 dark and unwelcoming nature of the veil exemplifies how dark and sinful human nature can be; including flaws in one's everyday life. Behind every "masked" figure lies a mysterious individual that is usually not ever shown to society and unknown of everything that has occurred in their life. The veil represents a secret sin or confession that is not known to the public and shall never be, but it is also hidden behind the black cloth at the same time. This shows that even a preacher, who is to have the most godly image in society, wore the veil implying that everyone has their own dark sins and secrets. The purpose of the veil is to initiate fright those who have sinned in their life (every human), as a way to change how they act.
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 pieces from the text to support your claims.
Hawthorne stresses the importance of sinners that are in the world who most all conform to the rest of society and take the symbolic veil off of their faces in order to expose oneself with the true meaning of human nature. Hawthorne uses the veil as a symbol to create a sense of mystery to the sinners. The "veil" would be an example of inner light, or one's true self, shown as knowledge of such on an individual. Hawthorne also condemns the basic principles of Transcendentalism by refuting the point that shown in all individuals, there is sin. At the end of the text when the individuals attempt to remove Mr. Hooper's veil he says, "When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived, and die! I look around me, and, look on every visage a Black Veil!" There he is relating every single individual in the world to himself, giving the idea that everyone has a black veil that burdens oneself. Mr. Hooper sees sin in all people, but places a physical veil on himself as a hope to show the world what humanity truly has come to.
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).
Mr. Hooper's veil is a symbol of sin of human in all of nature. His veil so used to "cover up" sin that Mr. Hooper has executed. This warrants the persistence of needed the veil the whole time. This sin is most likely dealing with a sexual manner. It can be inferred that Mr. Hooper had an inappropriate intimate relationship with the young deceased girl who the funeral was for on day Mr. Hooper started wearing his black veil. Mr. Hooper was asked about the veil and as a response his says that he is unable to tell her due to a "promise" he has made. He leaned over the corpse, almost to the point that the girl, had she still been alive, seen, could have seen Mr. Hooper's face. This gives a sense of connection between the two. Also, an old lady claimed that as Mr. Hooper leaned over the young girl’s corpse, her body shuddered, which too gives this argument proof of an intimate relationship between the two.