10 Essay Topics on ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a Literary Analysis

10 Essay Topics on ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a Literary Analysis If The Scarlet Letter by N. Hawthorne is part of your syllabus, chances are that your instructor will have you write a literary analysis. Through this assignment, they will give you a better chance to grow familiar with the basic ideas and concepts of the text. However, to get a good grade, you will need to go beyond a mechanical surface analysis and present well-thought-out ideas about the work. In addition to reading the book, you need to know a few facts to create an exceptional literary analysis. So, here is a list of 10 essential facts that can help you better understand ‘The Scarlet Letter’ and come up with your own topic for an effective analysis. If you want something a little more direct, refer to or list of 20 essay topics for ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a literary analysis. ‘The Scarlet Letter’ is the most famous book by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The setting is seventeenth-century Puritan New England. The events of the book take place during 1642 -1649. It is a tragic tale of love and the consequences of betrayal. The Puritanical attitudes and values play a major role in the social narrative of the novel. They are also the driving force behind the gender expectations and themes. The novel was one of the first American books to be mass-produced. During that era, books were hand bound and sold in small quantities. The first mechanized printing of ‘The Scarlet Letter’ produced 2,500 copies; all of them were sold out within ten days. The book enjoyed immense popularity and was widely read and discussed in all circles. This reception was quite rare for that period in literary history. The merits of the work were further recognized by the 20th century author D.H. Lawrence, who said that ‘The Scarlet Letter’ was a perfect work of American imagination. The overarching themes of the narrative are the struggle between sin and righteousness. The individual’s role and the role of the society are explored throughout the novel. The minor characters and the community’s behavior reflect how individuals were expected to behave during those times. There was a strict code of conduct which was to be followed by all, which is why transgressors were judged harshly. The protagonist, Hester Prynne, is made to wear a scarlet letter A to mark her as an adulteress and display her shame to the world. The letter is meant as a physical reminder of Hester’s affair with the cheating minister Dimmesdale. As the story progresses, this symbol of shame transforms. It shifts from standing for â€Å"Adulterer† to meaning â€Å"Able†, and then finally takes on a vague, indeterminate meaning. This transformation is meant to show the meaninglessness of the system and punishment, and judgment of the community. Another major theme explored is that of the extreme Puritan legalism. Hester makes the choice of not conforming to this mode of thinking. She rejects their beliefs and rules. Hester spends her life trying to help out the poor and the sick as much as possible. The rejection of the society forces her to re-evaluate her values. As a result, she does not mix with the society and ends up living a largely solitary life. Solitude is a major factor in bringing about the transformation in her thoughts and beliefs. It allows her to explore her own and society’s ideas of guilt and sin. Her thoughts go beyond the Puritan beliefs, making her begin to see her sin from a different perspective. The extent of the change in Hester’s beliefs is obvious from the fact that she begins to believe that the earthly sins can be atoned for and do not necessarily result in eternal damnation. Hester communicates this belief when she tells Dimmesdale that the sin they committed has been paid for as a result of their daily penance. This is in sharp contrast with Puritanical beliefs which hold that the sin of adultery condemns a person to Hell and cannot be forgiven. Hester is physically and spiritually alienated from the Puritan society. Her thinking becomes free from the religious bounds placed on it and she develops her own moral standards. This character development becomes clear when Hester decides to move on after the death of Dimmesdale. She can no longer conform to the strict beliefs of the Puritanical society. ‘The Scarlet Letter’ was first published in the year 1850 by Ticknor Fields. Its publication marked the beginning of Hawthornes most lucrative period. Hester’s daughter, Pearl is fascinated by the scarlet letter her mother wears. Pearl reacts to it with an attitude of joy and curiosity whereas the Puritanical elders see it as a sign of the devil. The mirthful personality of Pearl saves Hester from falling into the abyss of darkness. Instead of making her feel more ashamed, the child becomes her saving grace. These facts cover most of the themes and ideas presented by Nathaniel Hawthorne in what is believed to be his masterpiece; but, as with any work of literature, there can be no exhaustive list of facts.   You can explore the novel further if you have enough time. However, if you are in a hurry this list will give you the push you need to become creative and begin working on your assignment. If you need help with writing this assignment, check out our guide on how to write a literary analysis on ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by N. Hawthorne for a concise format and more guidelines. Best of luck! References: Maddern, C. (2010). Medieval literature. Harlow, England: Longman/Pearson. Lawrence, D. (1964). Studies in classic American literature. New York: Viking Press. Hester and Pearl in The Scarlet Letter by NathanielnHawthorne/Introductory Page. (2016). Hawthorneinsalem.org. Retrieved 6 April 2016, from hawthorneinsalem.org/Literature/HawthorneWomen/ScarletLetter/Introduction.html Charvat, William. Literary Publishing in America: 1790–1850. Amherst, MA: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1993 (first published 1959): 56. ISBN 0-87023-801-9 Parker, Hershel. The Germ Theory of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne Society Newsletter 11 (Spring 1985) 11-13. The Classic Text: Traditions and Interpretations. Uwm.edu. 2001-10-09. Retrieved 2016-04-06. Schwab, Gabriele. The mirror and the killer-queen: otherness in literary language. Indiana University Press. 1996. Pg. 120.

Scottish Surnames Meanings and Origins

Scottish Surnames Meanings and Origins Scottish surnames as we know them today - family names passed down intact from father to son to grandson - were first introduced into Scotland by the Normans about the year 1100. Such hereditary names were not universally prevalent and settled, however. The use of fixed Scottish surnames (last names that didnt change with each generation) wasnt really in prevalent use until the 16th century, and it was well into the late 18th century before surnames were common in the Highlands and northern isles. Origins of Scottish Surnames Surnames in Scotland generally developed from four major sources: Geographical or Local Surnames - These are names derived from the location of the homestead from which the first bearer and his family lived, and are generally the most common origin of Scottish surnames. Most of the earliest people in Scotland to adopt fixed surnames were the nobles and great landowners, who were often called by the land they possessed (e.g. William de Buchan from Buchan, Scotland). Eventually, even those who did not own significant land started to use place names to identify themselves from others of the same name, adopting the name of the village or even the street where the family originated. Tenants often took their name from the estate where they lived. Thus, most of the earliest surnames in Scotland were derived from place names. Topographic surnames derived from vague geographical locations rather than specific places, also fall into this category. These names may refer to physical features such as streams (Burns), moors (Muir) or forests (Wood) or to man-mad e structures, such as a castle or a mill (Milne). Occupational Surnames -   Many Scottish surnames developed from a persons job or trade. Three common Scottish surnames -   Smith (blacksmith), Stewart (steward) and Taylor (tailor) - are excellent examples of this. Offices associated with the kings lands and/or hunting are another common source of Scottish occupational names - names such as Woodward, Hunter,  and Forest.Descriptive Surnames -   Based on a unique quality or physical feature of the individual, these surnames often developed from nicknames or pet names. Most refer to an individuals appearance - color, complexion, or physical shape  - such as Campbell (from  caimbeul, meaning crooked mouth), Duff (Gaelic for dark) and Fairbain (beautiful child). A descriptive surname may also refer to an individuals personality or moral characteristics, such as Godard (good natured) and Hardie (bold or daring).Patronymic and Matronymic Surnames -   These are surnames derived from baptismal or Christian names to indicate family relationship or descent. Some baptismal or given names have become surnames without any change in form. Others added a prefix or an ending. The use of Mac and Mc was prevalent throughout Scotland, but especially in the Highlands, to indicate son of (e.g. Mackenzie, son of Coinneach/Kenneth). In lowland Scotland, the suffix ​-   son was more commonly added to the fathers given name to form a patronymic surname. These true patronymic surnames changed with each successive generation. Thus, Roberts son, John, might become known as John Robertson. Johns son, Mangus, would then be called Mangus Johnson, and so on. This true patronymic naming practice continued in most families until at least the fifteenth or sixteenth century before a family name was eventually adopted that passed down unchanged from father to son. Scottish Clan Names Scottish clans, from the Gaelic clann, meaning family, provided a formal structure for extended families of shared descent. Clans each identified with a geographical area, usually an ancestral castle, and were originally controlled by a Clan Chief, officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls heraldry and Coat of Arms registration in Scotland. Historically, a clan was made up of everyone who lived on the chiefs territory, people for which he was responsible and who, in turn, owed allegiance to the chief. Thus, not everyone in a clan was genetically related to one another, nor did all members of a clan bear a single surname. Scottish Surnames - Meanings Origins Anderson, Campbell, MacDonald, Scott, Smith, Stewart... Are you one of the millions of people sporting one of these top 100 common Scottish last names? If so, then youll want to check out our list of the most commonly occurring surnames in Scotland, including details on each names origin, meaning, and alternate spellings.   TOP 100 COMMON SCOTTISH SURNAMES THEIR MEANINGS 1. SMITH 51. RUSSELL 2. BROWN 52. MURPHY 3. WILSON 53. HUGHES 4. CAMPBELL 54. WRIGHT 5. STEWART 55. SUTHERLAND 6. ROBERTSON 56. GIBSON 7. THOMPSON 57. GORDON 8. ANDERSON 58. WOOD 9. REID 59. BURNS 10. MACDONALD 60. CRAIG 11. SCOTT 61. CUNNINGHAM 12. MURRAY 62. WILLIAMS 13. TAYLOR 63. MILNE 14. CLARK 64. JOHNSTONE 15. WALKER 65. STEVENSON 16. MITCHELL 66. MUIR 17. YOUNG 67. WILLIAMSON 18. ROSS 68. MUNRO 19. WATSON 69. MCKAY 20. GRAHAM 70. BRUCE 21. MCDONALD 71. MCKENZIE 22. HENDERSON 72. WHITE 23. PATERSON 73. MILLAR 24. MORRISON 74. DOUGLAS 25. MILLER 75. SINCLAIR 26. DAVIDSON 76. RITCHIE 27. GRAY 77. DOCHERTY 28. FRASER 78. FLEMING 29. MARTIN 79. MCMILLAN 30. KERR 80. WATT 31. HAMILTON 81. BOYLE 32. CAMERON 82. CRAWFORD 33. KELLY 83. MCGREGOR 34. JOHNSTON 84. JACKSON 35. DUNCAN 85. HILL 36. FERGUSON 86. SHAW 37. HUNTER 87. CHRISTIE 38. SIMPSON 88. KING 39. ALLAN 89. MOORE 40. BELL 90. MACLEAN 41. GRANT 91. AITKEN 42. MACKENZIE 92. LINDSAY 43. MCLEAN 93. CURRIE 44. MACLEOD 94. DICKSON 45. MACKAY 95. GREEN 46. JONES 96. MCLAUGHLIN 47. WALLACE 97. JAMIESON 48. BLACK 98. WHYTE 49. MARSHALL 99. MCINTOSH 50. KENNEDY 100. WARD Source: National Records of Scotland - Most Common Surnames, 2014