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“the Minister’s Black Veil”

“the Minister’s Black Veil”. Theme in literature. The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave.

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“the Minister’s Black Veil”

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  1. “the Minister’s Black Veil”

  2. Theme in literature • The theme of a fable is its moral. The theme of a parable is its teaching. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave.

  3. In fiction, the theme is not intended to teach or preach. In fact, it is not presented directly at all. You extract it from the characters, action, and setting that make up the story. In other words, you must figure out the theme yourself.

  4. Uncovering theme • Check out the title. Sometimes it tells you a lot about the theme. • Notice repeating patterns and symbols. Sometimes these lead you to the theme. • What allusions are made throughout the story? • What are the details and particulars in the story? What greater meaning may they have?

  5. Elements Typical of Hawthorne’s stories • Ambiguity • Good and Evil • Fascination with the Supernatural • Themes include: • The Secrets of the Human Heart • Alienation and Loneliness • Hypocrisy

  6. American Romanticism • An impulse toward reform • ( temperance,women’s rights, abolition of slavery) • A celebration of individualism • A reverance for nature • A concern with the impact of new technology (the locomotive) • An idealizaton of women • A fascination with the supernatural

  7. Ambiguity - It's uncertain whether the Reverend Hooper is a better minister because of the veil or not. Nobody knows why he's wearing the veil or why he won't take it off. The ambiguity of the veil is symbolic of the duality of the human heart and soul, capable of both good and evil. • Good and Evil - Reverend Hooper isn't the only Hawthorne minister who attempts to understand the wickedness within. • Fascination with the Supernatural - The veil takes upon itself supernatural qualities, as does its wearer. • Themes include: • The Secrets of the Human Heart - Mr. Hooper's veil reminded his acquaintances of the evil that lurked inside of them, evils which they themselves may not have been aware. • Alienation and Loneliness - A result of the veil is the alienation of the minister. Inside he's the same person, and no different from those around him, but the public symbol makes him a pariah. • Hypocrisy - The Reverend Hooper points out on his death bed that the only difference between himself and them is that they hide their sins.

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