Let the fact that this nine-hour book can be summarized in ten minutes show the true extent of redundantly exhaustive descriptions and the long-windedness of every sentence within the original. Thank you, Sparknotes-For every painstaking day of analysis you must've endured to create such a masterpiece.
It's so much more enjoyable to read great literature outside of the classroom. The content ceases to matter as soon as it's all about the grade on the exam. All you AP kids, I hope you return someday to the rich worlds of these novels, which today you must regrettably cram into your head, only to forget tomorrow.
I hope so too! I've never read something that made more sense on TH-cam. Lol I know these books are good, but I sure do hate the guts out of them right now.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom I enjoyed the book, but I heavily agree with you on how the book's enjoyment is sucked out by this. I'm asking for Teddy Roosevelt's "A Strenuous Life" for Christmas, and I'll be reading that soon enough.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom I'm in an AP class right now, doing an AP report on this book only to turn around and do the same thing in my Honors English class. So, I hope that one day I will actually be able to enjoy this book, but today, my friend, is not that day.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom Most of them won't. It very much depends on the teacher. If the school system wasn't so grade-oriented, we could still have literature classes like we used to where the teacher just wanted to inspire us to think and feel for ourselves, to find ourselves and to seize the day. (Yes, I basically had a female version of Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society for a literature teacher and I'll be glad for what she did till the day I draw my last breath)
couldn't read this longer than 5 minutes without getting a raging headache. why I was placed in advanced English I'll never know. I'm going to fail this test tomorrow
Does anyone ever wonder if Hawthorne actually meant any of this symbolism when he wrote it or do English majors just spend their lives pulling random bs out of thin air and making poor kids write essays about it?
A fact that you need to or already realize is that English Majors have been pulling random bs out of thin air for a very very long time now and with almost every single book imaginable. The whole idea of English after a certain point becomes useless.
absolutely. if you look into the history of hawthorne, mainly his ancestors, you'll see many of them were puritans; some even judges in the Salem witch trials. it's pretty evident that Hawthorne disagrees with puritan, which is probably a big reason he wrote the book. it's a sort of way of revenge, if you will. hawthorne was pretty well educated, and a very good writer. the symbolism is really specific and intentional, as well. it's also important to remember that symbolism had been relevant long before this book had been written, just look at The Inferno, the whole book is an allegory. so any well-renowned author (like hawthorne) would certainly implement symbolism into his story without a doubt. some other works are kind of stretching it, but this one is pretty obviously symbolic. just my two cents, though
I read this book for leisure, and I was surprised by how difficult in fact the read actually was. Strangely, I find Shakespearean literature easier than this. However, if school hasn't yet ruined it for you by making you read it, I do recommend reading it independently! It's dramatic, captivating, and at times, humorous in a strange way. (Probably all the irony!!!) And also, was anyone else dying at the demonic faces of Chillingworth?? 😂
@@manuelmathieu9105 my comment was over 4 years ago and i don't really remember this book to be honest. when i read shakespeare i found it easier to understand because this book is so dry in many places. shakespeare is much more expressive. i found expression easier to understand than symbolism. i still remember the works of shakespeare much more than this book, so i still stand by the comment.
If your teachers say that they check these videos and use more minuet details, listen up! Not the biggest list, but this SHOULD (maybe) help out a bit. The rose bush at the jail? Hope and red, like the letter and Pearl's usual dress. Chillingsworth? He walks with a limp as depicted in the video. Dimmesdale? Dims-dale, which means he DIMS in life and with go to Heaven, a DALE (valley), in death. The armor in the governor's house? It's to show a reflection of Pearl and Hester, to show how they see each other. The brook in the forest? To show the sorrow and agony that Dimmesdale and Hester have been through, also a symbol of washing away the unclean (why Pearl washes her face there after Dimmesdale kisses her). The scarlet letter on Dimmesdale's chest? In the book, it's more stated there was nothing, but people EXPECTED there to be something there.
if there wasn't actually a scarlet letter, what was chilllingsworth on about when he unbuttoned dimmesdale's shirt and realized he could torture him forever 4:46 th-cam.com/video/uen92KjCSsg/w-d-xo.html
I'm not sure if this is how it is in the book but it seems to me that the two main male characters do a sort of a switch. At first i thought of Dimmsdale as a scumbag and Chillingsworth as a forgiving and good husband. But slowly this changes as Dimmsdale is shown to be a complex and overall good person while Chillingsworth is shown to be vindictive and spiteful. Very interesting.
I've noticed that it seems Hawthorne thinks the readers are idiots. I mean, half of the symbols are flat out explained to the reader, and the other half of the symbols are more obviously symbolic than the parallels in The Lego Movie! Also, the olde english is a pain, and hearing a 7 year old talking so formally drove me bonkers.
Thanks alot appreciate it i told my Grandpa i read the whole book and he asked me about it and i knew nothing about it and he was expecting me to till him about it the following day thank god this exists this is a actual good summary i should read the book ong
I see everyone struggling because of school and I just took this book for my own reading lol I'm here just because I'm interested in deeper interpretations. Hang in there people! You can do it
I honestly really like this book. It is kind of hard to read, as with many older novels, so I always watch the sparknotes vid afterwards to help me fully grasp what happened.
I'm supposed to read the first four chapters of this book today (not including The Custom-House, which I somehow forced myself to read the other day), but it's impossible. The book is excruciatingly bland and the climax is outright absurd. I understand the underlying themes of the book and, to be fair, it's well-written. Once again to be fair, the chance meeting (i.e. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale working together) is an exciting twist, but it has become a cliche in the modern world and therefore is a cliche in the book assuming the reader hasn't been living under a rock for his or her entire life. Sadly, the story was a bit of a letdown because of its own legacy. So it may have been original at the time, but today it is no more than a typical, cliche romance novel.
This book is like abstract art, everyone is like OHhhhhh look at all the symbolism and development of themes. And am like damn this just a bunch of boring squiggly lines wasting space.
So glad I didn't have to read this at high school. I would've hated it. Listened to an audiobook at university and actually enjoyed it. There's so much symbolism. It's definitely not a book for highschoolers though...
I'm currently in AP literature and don't read any of the books (oops) but last year in English honors I actually read this. It was really cool and good. I liked it. I'm shocked to see so many people who didn't like it or found it tedious.
Dude thank you. This book is totally ridiculous. I read it through and I didn't understand half of what Hawthorne was saying, so I'm super glad this got to what the actual points were...jeez.
I know a lot of students have to be assigned this book to actually read it but I started and finished the book because I kept hearing about it and I just wanted to know about it and this summarization is really good.
Am I the only one that actually enjoyed this book? I did read it outside of the classroom... I don't know what it is but reading in the classroom is horrible compared to outside!!
+Eric The Blonde I have yet to find the time to read it and that's one of the things about reading in the classroom. Plus you have to pretty much read at the same pace as everyone else, which for the most part is too fast for me.
Perhaps it is because when reading on your own time, you can read at your own pace, and being told to do something psychologically makes one feel less free.
No, anyone who thinks this is a hard read or boring are people who probably read half a book their entire life. It's a really easy, obvious, and enjoyable book, people are just retarded.
Literary Analysis Paper #1 By Kristian Ryden “A throng of bearded men, in sad-coloured garments and grey steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.” This passage is the introductory paragraph in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s much respected novel, The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne’s narrative detailing the frailty of human nature and the dangers of an overly pious society has stood the test of time, remaining in countless book lists, and becoming a mainstay of collegiate-level literature courses. In literary circles, professors and students alike rave about the elaborate sentences and evocative imagery. But the real strength of The Scarlet Letter lies in Hawthorne’s use of symbolism. In crafting an argument for this proposition, three examples of Hawthorne’s use of symbolism, and their contribution to the depth of the narrative, will be given. These are symbolic colors, The scarlet letter on Hester Prynne’s breast, and the character of Pearl. Though these three aren’t the only examples of symbolism in the story, they are the main symbols. Above was quoted the first paragraph in The Scarlet Letter. Right away, the reader is introduced to one of Hawthorne’s favorite uses of symbolism, which is color. The townspeople are described as dressed in “sad-coloured garments”. Although Hawthorne doesn’t concretely describe the specific color, he is giving the reader a look into the Puritans’ inner attitude, and therefore, the general tone of the story; that is, morose. After a lengthy exposition on Puritan society, Hawthorne writes of the town prison by saying it is “the black flower of civilized society”. Here, we are introduced to one of Hawthorne’s favorite symbolic colors: black. Throughout the story, Hawthorne uses to the color black as intimating evil forces are at work. The main protagonist, Hester Prynne, is led out by the town beadle (who Hawthorne compares to a “black shadow”, perhaps offering a critique on Puritanic culture) through the crowd to the scaffold. Hawthorne is purposeful in drawing the reader’s attention to the letter, stitched of red cloth, on Hester’s bosom. In this instance, we are introduced to Hawthorne’s other favorite symbolic color. In The Scarlet Letter, red symbolizes the passionate desires and lusts of human nature, the shame of one’s sin, and pride. Following Hester’s public punishment, she is visited by her husband, Roger Chillingworth, who pokes and prods her scarlet letter, leaving it flaming red. This particular use of red symbolizes the shame that Hester feels over her act of adultery. In a later chapter, this shameful feeling is referred to as “red infamy”. In chapter seven’s description of Pearl, Hawthorne dedicates a significant number of words to painting a picture of her black aura. Her physical being is quite black. Her eyes are “wild, bright, deeply black.” Her hair, as an older child, “akin to black”. In perhaps the most intriguing scene, Pearl accompanies Hester to the Governor’s mansion, and is dressed in a velvet tunic, making her a unifier between the main symbolic colors; another example of Hawthorne playing with colors in adding depth and dimension to an otherwise straightforward scene. In the same chapter, as Hester is leaving with Pearl, Governor Bellingham’s sister calls out “‘will thou go with us to-night? There will be a merry company in the forest; and I well-nigh promised the Black Man that comely Hester Prynne should make one.’” This revelation solidifies the color black as a symbol for evil, as the Black Man is a sort of Satan figure. The last major occurrence of color as a symbol appears in chapter 12, again having to do with the color red, and its connection to the act of adultery. Dimmesdale, suffering from his inability to confess his sin, takes a midnight excursion to the scaffold, where he meets Hester and Pearl. The three individuals stand hand in hand on the scaffold, where Dimmesdale deciphers a letter A marked out in the sky in the dull red light of the meteor shower. In all other instances, the intensity and scorching complexion of red is stressed, whereas in this moment, the letter A is dull, perhaps symbolizing Dimmesdale and Hester’s inner attitude of peace toward their sin; their guilt is stifled as they lean on each other. Obviously, the use of color as a mode of symbolism is consistently present in The Scarlet Letter. The brilliant thing about using color as a symbol is that color is incredibly versatile in literary tradition. Color is an important aspect of a person’s experience. We associate certain colors with feelings, memories, and all sorts of abstract phenomena. In descriptive pieces of literature, color is mandatory in painting a picture and immersing the reader in the story. That’s why using color as a symbol works so well. It feels so natural and flows so easily into a story, while being able to accomplish much in terms of narrative depth. Hawthorne knew what he was doing in his use of color as symbolism. The second main usage of symbolism is the book’s namesake: the scarlet letter A on Hester’s breast. The letter encapsulates Hester’s existence; a mention of her name triggers vivid pictures of that imposing emblem on her heart. At first glance, the purpose or meaning of the scarlet letter seems to be evident; it is a mark which draws attention to Hester having fallen into the act of adultery. And while it does symbolize the act of adultery, it embodies much more. In the second chapter, Hawthorne presents Hester, along with the scarlet letter. True to his style, he goes into ornate detail on how the letter is embroidered with gold thread and writes on the townspeople’s reaction to it: But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer-so that both men and women who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time-was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself. This may very well be the most significant passage on the scarlet letter in the whole book. There are many like passages that need not be mentioned, as they are duplications of this same segment. In the passage, the reader sees that the scarlet letter is more than just a symbol for the act of adultery. Many different interpretations of meaning could be given, but that is where the strength of the symbol lies. For now, it is satisfactory to conclude that the scarlet letter is flexible in meaning. As Hester grows accustomed to wearing the letter, she believes that it gives her the power to sense immorality in others. She begins to wonder if the scarlet letter would be present on many a person’s bosom if the truth prevailed. In this case, Hawthorne seems to intend the scarlet letter to symbolize sin as a whole. The letter A is not significant relative to any other letter. Later in the story, the scarlet letter changes meaning for the townspeople, “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do, and power to sympathise-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able…” The scarlet letter continues to be the focal point of throughout the story. As stated above, what makes it so engaging as a symbol is its adaptability. It doesn’t just stand for sin but provides an opportunity for the reader to observe society’s view of sin, and the infinitely complex web of connections between humanity and sin. One could read the book a thousand times and come away with a different interpretation on the scarlet letter. The most confusing of all the symbols in the books is the character of Pearl. This may be partly due to her being a human, not an inanimate object. She’s complex, even for a human, and in a constant state of flux. In chapter 6, Hawthorne provides and in-depth description of her intricate character. She is beautiful, passionate, and lively, an “airy sprite”, but she contains a dark side to her. Many of the townspeople think of her as demon offspring. She is, in essence, the physical manifestation of the scarlet letter, thus symbolizing the sin of adultery. If not that, Hawthorne, at the very least, intended for her to be tied in some way to the scarlet letter. On several occasions, Pearl acts as a tormenter to Hester, subjecting her to hard questions which prick Hester’s conscience deeply. She shows an unnerving fascination with the scarlet letter, even incorporating it into her play. With these points in mind, it seems likely that Hawthorne meant for Pearl to be a symbol of Hester’s passions and struggles with the letter, perhaps a figment of her imagination, a coping strategy. Like the scarlet letter though, she is adaptable, and may symbolize something different during each reading. As the reader can see, The Scarlet Letter is saturated with symbolism. Although reading a literary work such as The Scarlet Letter is maddening at times because of this style choice, Hawthorne’s usage of this literary tool is what keeps people coming back for more. For the strength of The Scarlet Letter doesn’t lie in flowery language and excessive narration, but in symbolism. It is confusing yet stimulates the mind into exerting every intellectual faculty in order to fully appreciate what is on the pages, adding depth beyond that which an author can orate. The symbolism also allows the novel to remain a classic no matter the time period, because of its bendability toward the reader’s imagination.
I don't understand why schools choose the most utterly boring and hard to interpret books for core novels. It makes no sense whatsoever. In the entirety of my highschool career there has only been three things I actually enjoyed reading- the rest leaving me to SparkNotes everything. 1.) Animal Farm 2.) (Adapted) Greek Mythology 3.) Catcher in the Rye We want something with a plot that's actually interesting and at the same time is something that we can actually interpret the first time we read it. Not some shakespearean-styled literature with the most boring opening there is. Who wants to read about the details of a prison door while having a dictionary by your side to decipher every 2-3 sentences you read? Honestly.
This book was assigned me for English class. Since I got less than 15 days to read and write a 2000 word long essay about it, I decided to read in my native language but it turns out that I do not even know even my mother tongue.
Please make more of these videos describing the literature including books. I have fun watching these videos because it helps me learn more about the book, characters, and the plot whenI struggle with autism.
1) When Roger Chillingworth reveals the 'A' on Dimmesdale, its not because Dimmesdale was asleep its because Roger made a potion to knock him out. 2) Hester & Dimmesdale don't just talk in the forest, they well ... The A is not the only thing that comes off. 3)DIMMESDALE IS NOT BURIED BESIDE HESTER? ROGER CHILLING WORTH IS BURIED BESIDE HESTER! -Even though the book does not directley state that either persons lay beside her eternal resting place it can be inferred that Chillingworth can was buried beside her because of the descripition of Hester as an Angel and Chillingworth as the Devil in the chapters before. -The true identity of Chillingworth is not a secret, and in the middle of the book it even states that some of the townsfolk actually know Mr.Prynne's true identity, but thought that Roger had been sent by God as the Devil to test and punish Dimmesdale, therefore it can be assumed that the tradition puritans they were, would have buried Hester beside a "devil" unworthy dirt bag such as Chillingworth, not the Godly saint who's eternal purity will never be forgotten.
Remember when the book spent an entire page talking about a freaking rose bush outside the prison like ffs just get on with the story this is why i never finished reading you
Not gonna lie i love the language this book uses. It really puts you into the story and time period. I love this book and the themes but school ruined it for me when we had to go word by word and decipher it’s meaning. The book’s story sends a message, the message you take away from it is the readers job. And sometimes the reader doesn’t need to gain profound knowledge from reading a book. I think school should make us write essays on books like this, but I will complain about it Because complaining is fun. It’s a good book if you love this older style of writing.
Thank you very much for your summary. I am German and my Old English reading skills are very basic. I can understand small passages, but i had problems getting the whole idea of the plot. Great work and thank you again!
Since 2006 I haven't checked out Sparknotes. I rememberd about it now, after 12 years!! while seriously preparing for a teacher's exam for the first time in years (since then). This is the best site so far where you can get an idea about some books that you don't really want to read (such as Ulyses by Joyce). some others I have read, but it is always good to look for additional info. And what I like about the site especially is the fact that it's got the context in which the works were written.
I'm sick of my AP class..😂 I love the small size of the class, our teacher, and the atmosphere. The thing I despise is the books we have to read and all the essays. We're like 10 weeks into school and have already done 5 essays! 😭 The AP exam is going to kill me because of the 3 timed essays and multiple choice questions.
Chance Gladney That is kind of good because our teacher vigorously grades our essays! On an argumentative page that I typed 6 pages on, I got a 50%! That sucks so bad. I'd rather do them and not get graded haha. And we are on our sixth book as of today. We have read (respectively): -The Crucible -The Scarlet Letter -To Kill a Mockingbird -The Things They Carried -A Raisin in the Sun -The Great Gatsby We aren't even in the AP part of the class, we're in pre-AP. :(
I had a scarlette letter Test last yesterday in Honors American Lit, didn't read a single chaper of the book. I read all the sparknotes chapter summaries and did a few quizzes the night before and got an 85.
i’m reading this book (im in H English) and i was only able to get to chapter 12. i gave up and decided to read the spark notes. thank god for this video too. (btw, i have a test for this tmrw 😩)
This is a beautiful story indeed. This story was a controversy way back then. The characterization of the story is so great. That's what we all love this story,,I guess. 😍💗✌️
I love this. The drawings are funnnnnnny.. lol also my AP lang. teacher was like "you must read the book to pass the test... don’t use sparknotes. I will know that you’re using them" funny thing about that is every question he asked us came straight from sparknotes… it’s a good book to actually read tho. I recommend it ♥
I feel like I'm one of the only ones actually enjoying the story.. It may be hard to read classic books because the old words can be hard to get used to and confusing but the stories are always good and by the end I feel accomplished for reading the whole thing.
I can understand why people like this book, but I personally have a deep hatred towards it. See, when I look at the book, all I can see is the obvious symbolism, the preachy message, the mostly pointless facts that try to convince you this is 'realistic', and the overuse of flowery text, all of which distract me from the actual plot. The Message and the Plot don't blend at all, from what I see, and merely confuse the text. The message's presentation is flawed, as instead of having it be in the background and letting the plot take the front of the stage, and instead of it being a quiet, subtle message that is noticeable, but you have to think a little before actually getting it, The Scarlet Letter's message presentation decides to go all out, and beat you over the head, ironically making it far less memorable. The symbolism is downright insulting, because instead of being clever or thought-provoking, it's obvious, everywhere, and adds very little to the actual story. These two things alone make me hate the book. Why? Because it shows no respect for the audience's intelligence. Instead of having a clever message presentation that actually adds to the experience and plot, the over-the-top, head-whacking, downright annoying message presentation and symbolism DISTRACT from the plot. I can't read a single page without being able to find A: The Message, B: Truckloads of Symbolism, and C: Flowery text that, instead of adding to the immersion, rips my attention and focus away from the plot. I can see why people like this. It's message was very new and innovative for it's time, and the flowery text was a big deal back then, with nothing else very entertaining to do. There are some passages with nice wording, or clever usage of imagery, but from what I see, those few passages are more like bits of candy amongst piles and piles of coal. Thanks for bearing through this rant of mine, and I apologize in advance if I offended anyone; I merely am stating my opinion on the book.
Your assumption is that plot is important in this novel. I think you're wrong. The plot is extremely bare -- easily summarized in a couple of sentences. In that case, it seems Hawthorne is trying to emphasize something other than plot.
Finn Underwood I have to respectfully disagree with some of the points you've made here. I do concur that Hawthorne can at times be sanctimonious and some of his descriptions are downright leaden. However, I think the modern reader should take care not to dismiss out of hand an author whose moral stance is well defined or who is delivering a very clear ethical or intellectual message. While too much agenda can endanger artistic credibility and quality, it seems that an author's passionate belief is too often mistaken for "beating the reader over the head". We, like he, are products of our own time. It's just not cool in a modern context to be seen as being too earnest, possessed of too much conviction, or writing more descriptively than is "necessary". However, art doesn't exist to be economical and you do admit that there is some "nice wording". I would encourage you to reread some of those long passages, but this time with a bit more patience, with fewer expectations for the text to correspond to your contemporary temperament and try to sense a different time and place as conveyed through language that can be exciting in its strangeness. The more obvious messages of Hawthorne's text are certainly stridently delivered and I can understand why you'd feel such heavy-handedness insults your intelligence. Underneath these, however, I think there is a great deal of mystery and subtlety that Hawthorne merely hints at, letting the reader engage in a moral struggle curiously parallel to the quandaries of the novel's protagonists: faith and certainty in tumultuous conflict with a far vaster unknown.
I actually don't really mind this book, but you are right. For it's time it might have been a good read for some people, but compared to the standards we are used to, it's quite a bad book. But then again, maybe the author really wanted to annoy people with Puritan morality. The way I read it, The Scarlet letter was a story about collective delusion and subsequent self-hate and all the other shit that happens down the line.
hahaha this is also my goal .. having my exams this week and I neither read Othello nor this crap.. English is not even my native language and reading THIS book is impossible
MrOptimus117 It may not be as obvious as going on a quiz show and being glad you read the book because they ask you what the "A" stands for. If you allow the book to speak to you, the impact on your life could be immense. You'll have gained a greater understanding of people, of history and of what motivates others to act and think as they do. You might learn, as Hester did, about the complexities of morality. What you learn from literature helps shape who you are and deepens the potential of who you can become. I'd call that a pretty big contribution to your daily life.
All of the people in the comment section speak English as their first language while I moved to the US last year and still have to read this HARD book and actually kinda enjoying it???
Hawthorne never really "found" the Scarlet letter in the custom house. He was just playing with the reader. Also, Dimmesdale didn't have a scarlet letter on his chest... it said that there was a letter exactly the same as Hester's which can't be since hers is embroidered, fancy and red. Hawthorne loves trickery
Destroyer of Destruction The characters are dull as dishwater, the moral of the story has basically no relevance to modern society, there are no emotional stakes because all the characters speak and interact like robots and the central conflict builds up to absolutely nothing. It's an outdated relic of a book.
Something interesting about this book. Is that as i was reading and saw her penance i could tell she felt an incomplete or fake remorse. Because if she did feel remorse for her actions she would have taken the consequences and admitted it was Dimmsdale. After reading the part she never regretted loving him it just proved my thought that she never felt real remorse for her actions.
![สาวเมืองเพชร - ธีเดช ทองอภิชาติ [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kEt7F9PvO3I/mqdefault.jpg)
Shout out to all those Honors English students being force to read this. Thank god for spark notes.
Nick Werstler Ayeee
Nick Werstler and the CP students
Nick Werstler SAME
I'm not taking honor classes or ap classes this is just regular american lit for 11th grade in my school....ugggh I hate it.
Yep. Have to test over it in a few hours so I might as well start studying
I like how half of the book was summarized in the last 3 minutes. Tells you how many times Hawthorne repeated the same exact thing
istfg the amount of times i’ve heard “Hester held the babe to her bosom” or smnth like that is crazy
10 hour audio book? or 10 minute summary? Erm... yes.
just did both lol
Wise ass
@@save_bandit what was better
Sadly yes.
Let the fact that this nine-hour book can be summarized in ten minutes show the true extent of redundantly exhaustive descriptions and the long-windedness of every sentence within the original.
Thank you, Sparknotes-For every painstaking day of analysis you must've endured to create such a masterpiece.
School has actually ruined reading for me.
u get me
ShnoogleMan for real, I actually liked reading before
that is the sad truth
Same tho, I used to read non stop, now I can't bring myself to read books for pleasure.
Don't worry, it's not school this time - this is just a terrible book.
It's so much more enjoyable to read great literature outside of the classroom. The content ceases to matter as soon as it's all about the grade on the exam. All you AP kids, I hope you return someday to the rich worlds of these novels, which today you must regrettably cram into your head, only to forget tomorrow.
Couldn't agree more. It would've been more enjoyable if i didn't have to worry and think so much.
I hope so too! I've never read something that made more sense on TH-cam. Lol I know these books are good, but I sure do hate the guts out of them right now.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom I enjoyed the book, but I heavily agree with you on how the book's enjoyment is sucked out by this.
I'm asking for Teddy Roosevelt's "A Strenuous Life" for Christmas, and I'll be reading that soon enough.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom I'm in an AP class right now, doing an AP report on this book only to turn around and do the same thing in my Honors English class. So, I hope that one day I will actually be able to enjoy this book, but today, my friend, is not that day.
+Snuggles McSquishbottom Most of them won't. It very much depends on the teacher. If the school system wasn't so grade-oriented, we could still have literature classes like we used to where the teacher just wanted to inspire us to think and feel for ourselves, to find ourselves and to seize the day. (Yes, I basically had a female version of Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society for a literature teacher and I'll be glad for what she did till the day I draw my last breath)
"...then he dies" WELL OKAY
Broo 💀💀
IKR? 🤷♀️
😭
REALL i know they make a point on how his affair is affecting him physically but it really comes out of nowhere 😭😭
so you’re telling me that I read seven chapters and understood basically nothing and then I watch this and get WAY MORE IN 3 minutes wow-
couldn't read this longer than 5 minutes without getting a raging headache. why I was placed in advanced English I'll never know. I'm going to fail this test tomorrow
vanessa rae did you pass
@@brysonharrell6481 lmao Bryson u asking her that after 3 years lmao she clearly remembers that fam.
Did you pass
Did you pass
did you pass
the drawings of chillingworth's demonic faces kill me LOL
LMAO SAME
YES LOL
I wonder if she had the affair at the Dimma-Dome.
+Atticus Rex im dead
maybe it was a three way with Dimmesdale and Doug Dimmadome owner of the Dimmesdale Dimma-dome
Plot Twist: It was Doug Dimmadome's child all along!
Thats why timmy wears a pink hat!!!
Does anyone ever wonder if Hawthorne actually meant any of this symbolism when he wrote it or do English majors just spend their lives pulling random bs out of thin air and making poor kids write essays about it?
A fact that you need to or already realize is that English Majors have been pulling random bs out of thin air for a very very long time now and with almost every single book imaginable. The whole idea of English after a certain point becomes useless.
VideoWarlord MrChens It wasn't made up you fucking idiot
Bet you'd never speak like that to my face, I love when the keyboard warriors come out to play.
absolutely. if you look into the history of hawthorne, mainly his ancestors, you'll see many of them were puritans; some even judges in the Salem witch trials. it's pretty evident that Hawthorne disagrees with puritan, which is probably a big reason he wrote the book. it's a sort of way of revenge, if you will. hawthorne was pretty well educated, and a very good writer. the symbolism is really specific and intentional, as well. it's also important to remember that symbolism had been relevant long before this book had been written, just look at The Inferno, the whole book is an allegory. so any well-renowned author (like hawthorne) would certainly implement symbolism into his story without a doubt. some other works are kind of stretching it, but this one is pretty obviously symbolic. just my two cents, though
I kinda see her child as a symbolism of the new life that comes with a ruined reputation and sin
This book is such a hard read.
what book
Toby Sullivan lol
apparently this is the easy book for my ap class the whole yest
I read this book for leisure, and I was surprised by how difficult in fact the read actually was. Strangely, I find Shakespearean literature easier than this. However, if school hasn't yet ruined it for you by making you read it, I do recommend reading it independently! It's dramatic, captivating, and at times, humorous in a strange way. (Probably all the irony!!!) And also, was anyone else dying at the demonic faces of Chillingworth?? 😂
YESSS!
i definitley dont agree about shakespeare being easier to read if that the case ur high
@@manuelmathieu9105 my comment was over 4 years ago and i don't really remember this book to be honest. when i read shakespeare i found it easier to understand because this book is so dry in many places. shakespeare is much more expressive. i found expression easier to understand than symbolism. i still remember the works of shakespeare much more than this book, so i still stand by the comment.
fr bruh. this book is dry @@GracynTenille
If your teachers say that they check these videos and use more minuet details, listen up! Not the biggest list, but this SHOULD (maybe) help out a bit.
The rose bush at the jail? Hope and red, like the letter and Pearl's usual dress.
Chillingsworth? He walks with a limp as depicted in the video.
Dimmesdale? Dims-dale, which means he DIMS in life and with go to Heaven, a DALE (valley), in death.
The armor in the governor's house? It's to show a reflection of Pearl and Hester, to show how they see each other.
The brook in the forest? To show the sorrow and agony that Dimmesdale and Hester have been through, also a symbol of washing away the unclean (why Pearl washes her face there after Dimmesdale kisses her).
The scarlet letter on Dimmesdale's chest? In the book, it's more stated there was nothing, but people EXPECTED there to be something there.
Thank you ma’am
solid
You are an angel. Thank you
if there wasn't actually a scarlet letter, what was chilllingsworth on about when he unbuttoned dimmesdale's shirt and realized he could torture him forever 4:46 th-cam.com/video/uen92KjCSsg/w-d-xo.html
I'm not sure if this is how it is in the book but it seems to me that the two main male characters do a sort of a switch.
At first i thought of Dimmsdale as a scumbag and Chillingsworth as a forgiving and good husband.
But slowly this changes as Dimmsdale is shown to be a complex and overall good person while Chillingsworth is shown to be vindictive and spiteful.
Very interesting.
robotzombienazy diimmsdale deserved it , he did a wrong thing and hide for so long . What a wimp
wouldnt u be all those things to the man who slept with ur wife
You cannot be more wrong💀
@@terryjang4354would you mind expanding on that thought? I’m genuinely interested.
@@angiefrangella dude ima be honest i read this book so long ago i have almost no memory of it
Shout out to the AHS AP English 3 students I see yall
Hell yeah 😂
LMAO
Isaiah4man yup
Arapahoe high school?
I've noticed that it seems Hawthorne thinks the readers are idiots. I mean, half of the symbols are flat out explained to the reader, and the other half of the symbols are more obviously symbolic than the parallels in The Lego Movie!
Also, the olde english is a pain, and hearing a 7 year old talking so formally drove me bonkers.
This is literally going to save my life in AP English...
Thanks alot appreciate it i told my Grandpa i read the whole book and he asked me about it and i knew nothing about it and he was expecting me to till him about it the following day thank god this exists this is a actual good summary i should read the book ong
i love that this entire book can be summed up so fast.
why do all teachers have to make such a huge deal about how 'amazing' it is?
This is like the 1850s version of Maury
MrChens 3 years late but underrated comment 😭 hopefully i pass this bullshit test tom.
1640s
Summer reading- done!
I have a 300 point test in an hour...thank you
UPDATE: Took the test and actually thing I did good. Thanks spark nores
Everything makes sense now. ENGLISH FINAL EXAM, HERE I COME!!!!!!!!!!!
3 years later i follow in your footsteps
Jose Quinonez 8 months later I follow in yours
@@boycedamare6419 3 weeks later and the cycle continues
i gotchu 4 yrs later bud
@@joshualaurencio8956 4 years now the dream is gonna be alive still..
The reason why am not reading it bcz of the first chapter the custom house full of unnecessary details
Just skip it knowing the bitch found it in a drawer and he is simply retelling history
I see everyone struggling because of school and I just took this book for my own reading lol I'm here just because I'm interested in deeper interpretations. Hang in there people! You can do it
I honestly really like this book. It is kind of hard to read, as with many older novels, so I always watch the sparknotes vid afterwards to help me fully grasp what happened.
The book is unbearable. Thank god for this
Haha
Dexter Martin so right
+Dexter Martin
/\
Brat who can't appreciate works of art and who is unable to comprehend a book
maaz322 Calm down m8. He probably was forced to read it.
ByteMe I was too, but I found it enjoyable, nonetheless
I'm supposed to read the first four chapters of this book today (not including The Custom-House, which I somehow forced myself to read the other day), but it's impossible. The book is excruciatingly bland and the climax is outright absurd. I understand the underlying themes of the book and, to be fair, it's well-written. Once again to be fair, the chance meeting (i.e. Chillingworth and Dimmesdale working together) is an exciting twist, but it has become a cliche in the modern world and therefore is a cliche in the book assuming the reader hasn't been living under a rock for his or her entire life. Sadly, the story was a bit of a letdown because of its own legacy. So it may have been original at the time, but today it is no more than a typical, cliche romance novel.
Chris Tauer good question... some answer please
the amount of time I spent reading comments here is more than the time I spent reading the novel :')))
I love you sparkNotes
This book is like abstract art, everyone is like OHhhhhh look at all the symbolism and development of themes. And am like damn this just a bunch of boring squiggly lines wasting space.
Abstract art only meets what you bring, maybe you’re just boring
These illustrations are incredible. I would love to have this series on DVD
So glad I didn't have to read this at high school. I would've hated it. Listened to an audiobook at university and actually enjoyed it. There's so much symbolism. It's definitely not a book for highschoolers though...
I'm currently in AP literature and don't read any of the books (oops) but last year in English honors I actually read this. It was really cool and good. I liked it. I'm shocked to see so many people who didn't like it or found it tedious.
SparkNotes I would die for you
Dude thank you. This book is totally ridiculous. I read it through and I didn't understand half of what Hawthorne was saying, so I'm super glad this got to what the actual points were...jeez.
I know a lot of students have to be assigned this book to actually read it but I started and finished the book because I kept hearing about it and I just wanted to know about it and this summarization is really good.
Am I the only one that actually enjoyed this book? I did read it outside of the classroom... I don't know what it is but reading in the classroom is horrible compared to outside!!
+Eric The Blonde I have yet to find the time to read it and that's one of the things about reading in the classroom. Plus you have to pretty much read at the same pace as everyone else, which for the most part is too fast for me.
Eric Scheitlin I try to read it but end up not understanding what’s happening
Perhaps it is because when reading on your own time, you can read at your own pace, and being told to do something psychologically makes one feel less free.
No, anyone who thinks this is a hard read or boring are people who probably read half a book their entire life. It's a really easy, obvious, and enjoyable book, people are just retarded.
Me tooooo this is simply good,
Who started reading comments and had to restart the video 😂
On behalf of my fellow honors students, we thank you for your service!
thank jesus. my english exam is tomorrow and we can't bring our books. what a life saver.
😁
Thank you SparkNotes. I owe you my life.
paradichloroLENzene is that you Suga?
Literary Analysis Paper #1
By
Kristian Ryden
“A throng of bearded men, in sad-coloured garments and grey steeple-crowned hats, intermixed with women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded, was assembled in front of a wooden edifice, the door of which was heavily timbered with oak, and studded with iron spikes.” This passage is the introductory paragraph in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s much respected novel, The Scarlet Letter. Hawthorne’s narrative detailing the frailty of human nature and the dangers of an overly pious society has stood the test of time, remaining in countless book lists, and becoming a mainstay of collegiate-level literature courses. In literary circles, professors and students alike rave about the elaborate sentences and evocative imagery. But the real strength of The Scarlet Letter lies in Hawthorne’s use of symbolism.
In crafting an argument for this proposition, three examples of Hawthorne’s use of symbolism, and their contribution to the depth of the narrative, will be given. These are symbolic colors, The scarlet letter on Hester Prynne’s breast, and the character of Pearl. Though these three aren’t the only examples of symbolism in the story, they are the main symbols.
Above was quoted the first paragraph in The Scarlet Letter. Right away, the reader is introduced to one of Hawthorne’s favorite uses of symbolism, which is color. The townspeople are described as dressed in “sad-coloured garments”. Although Hawthorne doesn’t concretely describe the specific color, he is giving the reader a look into the Puritans’ inner attitude, and therefore, the general tone of the story; that is, morose. After a lengthy exposition on Puritan society, Hawthorne writes of the town prison by saying it is “the black flower of civilized society”. Here, we are introduced to one of Hawthorne’s favorite symbolic colors: black. Throughout the story, Hawthorne uses to the color black as intimating evil forces are at work. The main protagonist, Hester Prynne, is led out by the town beadle (who Hawthorne compares to a “black shadow”, perhaps offering a critique on Puritanic culture) through the crowd to the scaffold. Hawthorne is purposeful in drawing the reader’s attention to the letter, stitched of red cloth, on Hester’s bosom. In this instance, we are introduced to Hawthorne’s other favorite symbolic color. In The Scarlet Letter, red symbolizes the passionate desires and lusts of human nature, the shame of one’s sin, and pride. Following Hester’s public punishment, she is visited by her husband, Roger Chillingworth, who pokes and prods her scarlet letter, leaving it flaming red. This particular use of red symbolizes the shame that Hester feels over her act of adultery. In a later chapter, this shameful feeling is referred to as “red infamy”.
In chapter seven’s description of Pearl, Hawthorne dedicates a significant number of words to painting a picture of her black aura. Her physical being is quite black. Her eyes are “wild, bright, deeply black.” Her hair, as an older child, “akin to black”. In perhaps the most intriguing scene, Pearl accompanies Hester to the Governor’s mansion, and is dressed in a velvet tunic, making her a unifier between the main symbolic colors; another example of Hawthorne playing with colors in adding depth and dimension to an otherwise straightforward scene. In the same chapter, as Hester is leaving with Pearl, Governor Bellingham’s sister calls out “‘will thou go with us to-night? There will be a merry company in the forest; and I well-nigh promised the Black Man that comely Hester Prynne should make one.’” This revelation solidifies the color black as a symbol for evil, as the Black Man is a sort of Satan figure.
The last major occurrence of color as a symbol appears in chapter 12, again having to do with the color red, and its connection to the act of adultery. Dimmesdale, suffering from his inability to confess his sin, takes a midnight excursion to the scaffold, where he meets Hester and Pearl. The three individuals stand hand in hand on the scaffold, where Dimmesdale deciphers a letter A marked out in the sky in the dull red light of the meteor shower. In all other instances, the intensity and scorching complexion of red is stressed, whereas in this moment, the letter A is dull, perhaps symbolizing Dimmesdale and Hester’s inner attitude of peace toward their sin; their guilt is stifled as they lean on each other.
Obviously, the use of color as a mode of symbolism is consistently present in The Scarlet Letter. The brilliant thing about using color as a symbol is that color is incredibly versatile in literary tradition. Color is an important aspect of a person’s experience. We associate certain colors with feelings, memories, and all sorts of abstract phenomena. In descriptive pieces of literature, color is mandatory in painting a picture and immersing the reader in the story. That’s why using color as a symbol works so well. It feels so natural and flows so easily into a story, while being able to accomplish much in terms of narrative depth. Hawthorne knew what he was doing in his use of color as symbolism.
The second main usage of symbolism is the book’s namesake: the scarlet letter A on Hester’s breast. The letter encapsulates Hester’s existence; a mention of her name triggers vivid pictures of that imposing emblem on her heart. At first glance, the purpose or meaning of the scarlet letter seems to be evident; it is a mark which draws attention to Hester having fallen into the act of adultery. And while it does symbolize the act of adultery, it embodies much more.
In the second chapter, Hawthorne presents Hester, along with the scarlet letter. True to his style, he goes into ornate detail on how the letter is embroidered with gold thread and writes on the townspeople’s reaction to it:
But the point which drew all eyes, and, as it were, transfigured the wearer-so that both men and women who had been familiarly acquainted with Hester Prynne were now impressed as if they beheld her for the first time-was that SCARLET LETTER, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of a spell, taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herself.
This may very well be the most significant passage on the scarlet letter in the whole book. There are many like passages that need not be mentioned, as they are duplications of this same segment. In the passage, the reader sees that the scarlet letter is more than just a symbol for the act of adultery. Many different interpretations of meaning could be given, but that is where the strength of the symbol lies. For now, it is satisfactory to conclude that the scarlet letter is flexible in meaning.
As Hester grows accustomed to wearing the letter, she believes that it gives her the power to sense immorality in others. She begins to wonder if the scarlet letter would be present on many a person’s bosom if the truth prevailed. In this case, Hawthorne seems to intend the scarlet letter to symbolize sin as a whole. The letter A is not significant relative to any other letter. Later in the story, the scarlet letter changes meaning for the townspeople, “Such helpfulness was found in her-so much power to do, and power to sympathise-that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able…”
The scarlet letter continues to be the focal point of throughout the story. As stated above, what makes it so engaging as a symbol is its adaptability. It doesn’t just stand for sin but provides an opportunity for the reader to observe society’s view of sin, and the infinitely complex web of connections between humanity and sin. One could read the book a thousand times and come away with a different interpretation on the scarlet letter.
The most confusing of all the symbols in the books is the character of Pearl. This may be partly due to her being a human, not an inanimate object. She’s complex, even for a human, and in a constant state of flux. In chapter 6, Hawthorne provides and in-depth description of her intricate character. She is beautiful, passionate, and lively, an “airy sprite”, but she contains a dark side to her. Many of the townspeople think of her as demon offspring. She is, in essence, the physical manifestation of the scarlet letter, thus symbolizing the sin of adultery. If not that, Hawthorne, at the very least, intended for her to be tied in some way to the scarlet letter. On several occasions, Pearl acts as a tormenter to Hester, subjecting her to hard questions which prick Hester’s conscience deeply. She shows an unnerving fascination with the scarlet letter, even incorporating it into her play. With these points in mind, it seems likely that Hawthorne meant for Pearl to be a symbol of Hester’s passions and struggles with the letter, perhaps a figment of her imagination, a coping strategy. Like the scarlet letter though, she is adaptable, and may symbolize something different during each reading.
As the reader can see, The Scarlet Letter is saturated with symbolism. Although reading a literary work such as The Scarlet Letter is maddening at times because of this style choice,
Hawthorne’s usage of this literary tool is what keeps people coming back for more. For the strength of The Scarlet Letter doesn’t lie in flowery language and excessive narration, but in symbolism. It is confusing yet stimulates the mind into exerting every intellectual faculty in order to fully appreciate what is on the pages, adding depth beyond that which an author can orate. The symbolism also allows the novel to remain a classic no matter the time period, because of its bendability toward the reader’s imagination.
girlie idk why you posted that but i am most definitely going to take some ✨inspiration✨ from it
Thank you for sharing🙏 I read your Analysis Paper fully & admire your ability to talk about Hawthorne’s difficult-read.
I don't understand why schools choose the most utterly boring and hard to interpret books for core novels. It makes no sense whatsoever. In the entirety of my highschool career there has only been three things I actually enjoyed reading- the rest leaving me to SparkNotes everything.
1.) Animal Farm
2.) (Adapted) Greek Mythology
3.) Catcher in the Rye
We want something with a plot that's actually interesting and at the same time is something that we can actually interpret the first time we read it. Not some shakespearean-styled literature with the most boring opening there is. Who wants to read about the details of a prison door while having a dictionary by your side to decipher every 2-3 sentences you read? Honestly.
Syundown catcher in the rye and animal farm are both so good
Couldn’t be more accurate
Oh....Animal farm is my favourite!!
The only books I ever really liked were the Hunger Games and Hatchet. Although Ishmael was a very good book as well, everything else was horrible.
Reading something that cost you no effort is not education. That's entertainment. Better do it home than in school.
Thank you ! My English teacher forces me to understand this book and this helps alot !
This book was assigned me for English class. Since I got less than 15 days to read and write a 2000 word long essay about it, I decided to read in my native language but it turns out that I do not even know even my mother tongue.
The book is sooooo boring and hard for me to read, sparknotes are a blessing
Please make more of these videos describing the literature including books. I have fun watching these videos because it helps me learn more about the book, characters, and the plot whenI struggle with autism.
I'm being forced to read this in my honors American lit class. it's harder than Shakespeare for sure.
1) When Roger Chillingworth reveals the 'A' on Dimmesdale, its not because Dimmesdale was asleep its because Roger made a potion to knock him out.
2) Hester & Dimmesdale don't just talk in the forest, they well ... The A is not the only thing that comes off.
3)DIMMESDALE IS NOT BURIED BESIDE HESTER? ROGER CHILLING WORTH IS BURIED BESIDE HESTER!
-Even though the book does not directley state that either persons lay beside her eternal resting place it can be inferred that Chillingworth can was buried beside her because of the descripition of Hester as an Angel and Chillingworth as the Devil in the chapters before.
-The true identity of Chillingworth is not a secret, and in the middle of the book it even states that some of the townsfolk actually know Mr.Prynne's true identity, but thought that Roger had been sent by God as the Devil to test and punish Dimmesdale, therefore it can be assumed that the tradition puritans they were, would have buried Hester beside a "devil" unworthy dirt bag such as Chillingworth, not the Godly saint who's eternal purity will never be forgotten.
LMAO "they well... The A is not the only thing that comes off."
lol
Jonathan Strange you telling me they banged right there
While pearl was by the stream looking at the fishes
I was always curious about this book, so I'm glad these videos exist. I never would have read the book myself.
AP Lang quiz tomorrow, here I come!!!!! 😁😁😁😁
Did you pass?
Remember when the book spent an entire page talking about a freaking rose bush outside the prison like ffs just get on with the story this is why i never finished reading you
Not gonna lie i love the language this book uses. It really puts you into the story and time period. I love this book and the themes but school ruined it for me when we had to go word by word and decipher it’s meaning. The book’s story sends a message, the message you take away from it is the readers job. And sometimes the reader doesn’t need to gain profound knowledge from reading a book. I think school should make us write essays on books like this, but I will complain about it Because complaining is fun. It’s a good book if you love this older style of writing.
My question is how did the town know she cheated but they didn't know who she cheated with ?
She got pregnant and her husband was in Europe.
Thank you very much for your summary. I am German and my Old English reading skills are very basic. I can understand small passages, but i had problems getting the whole idea of the plot. Great work and thank you again!
nice to know that everyone else also has a hatred for this book
i hate it so much and i got a final exam for it today
@@EstevanOfficialMusic I wish you good luck
Just finished the book. Ahead of class. YAY! Story was amazing
THANK YOU all mighty sparknotes. Saving my grade once again
Shoutout to all those students watching this to finish their book reports. xD
300 pages in 10minutes. Bravo sparknotes :D
I'll give you a jar of cookies :D
THIS SUMMARY IS PERFECT THANK YOU SO MUCH!! 💕💕
Since 2006 I haven't checked out Sparknotes. I rememberd about it now, after 12 years!! while seriously preparing for a teacher's exam for the first time in years (since then).
This is the best site so far where you can get an idea about some books that you don't really want to read (such as Ulyses by Joyce). some others I have read, but it is always good to look for additional info. And what I like about the site especially is the fact that it's got the context in which the works were written.
When i was in High School there was no TH-cam and we had to read this book.
I'm sick of my AP class..😂 I love the small size of the class, our teacher, and the atmosphere. The thing I despise is the books we have to read and all the essays. We're like 10 weeks into school and have already done 5 essays! 😭 The AP exam is going to kill me because of the 3 timed essays and multiple choice questions.
Who is you telling! 😞 we did a good 7 amount of essays and she don't even grade half of them :(
Chance Gladney That is kind of good because our teacher vigorously grades our essays! On an argumentative page that I typed 6 pages on, I got a 50%! That sucks so bad. I'd rather do them and not get graded haha. And we are on our sixth book as of today.
We have read (respectively):
-The Crucible
-The Scarlet Letter
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-The Things They Carried
-A Raisin in the Sun
-The Great Gatsby
We aren't even in the AP part of the class, we're in pre-AP. :(
***** In my pre-ap class, all we read was most of Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe dealing with romanticism and anti-transcendentalism
+Kelly Gonzalez Someone understands the struggle!
This video was so helpful! I’ve read the book twice, but I’m taking a test on it tomorrow & this was a nice review.
did u pass
Thank you for making this. I read the full book and had no idea what was going on.
I had a scarlette letter Test last yesterday in Honors American Lit, didn't read a single chaper of the book. I read all the sparknotes chapter summaries and did a few quizzes the night before and got an 85.
Watching this before and after reading the book is really helpful, as a preview and review.
When you have an AP us history essay due next week and you can’t comprehend a thing from the book
i’m reading this book (im in H English) and i was only able to get to chapter 12. i gave up and decided to read the spark notes. thank god for this video too. (btw, i have a test for this tmrw 😩)
This is a beautiful story indeed. This story was a controversy way back then. The characterization of the story is so great. That's what we all love this story,,I guess. 😍💗✌️
This book truly was worthy of being CHILLING
I read this book the summer of 8th grade at trying to seem quirky paid off now for our project I pretty much just needed this summary
actually a pretty good book, read it all, but just watching it to make sure I absorbed everything
why read the book when you have the internet?
+Sofia L >:(
+Sofia L literally, I read the book and this is SO innacurate...oh god.
no its not?
woahsb
NH.-B a good bait to read the actual book
Thank you so much_as an English student_ it is soo helpful to understand in 10 mins💕
I love this. The drawings are funnnnnnny.. lol also my AP lang. teacher was like "you must read the book to pass the test... don’t use sparknotes. I will know that you’re using them" funny thing about that is every question he asked us came straight from sparknotes… it’s a good book to actually read tho. I recommend it ♥
This book was fantastic! It was a great read and a page-turner.
I feel like I'm one of the only ones actually enjoying the story.. It may be hard to read classic books because the old words can be hard to get used to and confusing but the stories are always good and by the end I feel accomplished for reading the whole thing.
reading the comments and i feel so fucking validated in my hatred for this book thank you all
I like how he portrays the society in an factual display
A great summary, really worth watching.
These illustrations are the most uncanny valley things ive seen
why this channel is not active !!! u guys r doing great job...keep posting new book summary
I use to be a dog , after I read the scarlet letter I became a DAWG
Brazy Jesus i-
Me: *sees it says 9 years ago*
Me: “damn this was made in the early 2000s”
The video: •2010•
Me: “holy shit I’m old”
Hahaha
Lol. Where is the lie though.
I needed this! thanks so much spark notes
I love this book! it's one of my favorites I've read for school
God bless you for this video! it helped me so much!
The art is so amazing!
I can understand why people like this book, but I personally have a deep hatred towards it. See, when I look at the book, all I can see is the obvious symbolism, the preachy message, the mostly pointless facts that try to convince you this is 'realistic', and the overuse of flowery text, all of which distract me from the actual plot. The Message and the Plot don't blend at all, from what I see, and merely confuse the text.
The message's presentation is flawed, as instead of having it be in the background and letting the plot take the front of the stage, and instead of it being a quiet, subtle message that is noticeable, but you have to think a little before actually getting it, The Scarlet Letter's message presentation decides to go all out, and beat you over the head, ironically making it far less memorable. The symbolism is downright insulting, because instead of being clever or thought-provoking, it's obvious, everywhere, and adds very little to the actual story.
These two things alone make me hate the book. Why? Because it shows no respect for the audience's intelligence. Instead of having a clever message presentation that actually adds to the experience and plot, the over-the-top, head-whacking, downright annoying message presentation and symbolism DISTRACT from the plot. I can't read a single page without being able to find A: The Message, B: Truckloads of Symbolism, and C: Flowery text that, instead of adding to the immersion, rips my attention and focus away from the plot.
I can see why people like this. It's message was very new and innovative for it's time, and the flowery text was a big deal back then, with nothing else very entertaining to do. There are some passages with nice wording, or clever usage of imagery, but from what I see, those few passages are more like bits of candy amongst piles and piles of coal.
Thanks for bearing through this rant of mine, and I apologize in advance if I offended anyone; I merely am stating my opinion on the book.
Your assumption is that plot is important in this novel. I think you're wrong. The plot is extremely bare -- easily summarized in a couple of sentences. In that case, it seems Hawthorne is trying to emphasize something other than plot.
Rob Velella uh-oh, literary analysis.. good job, i think ur right!
Finn Underwood I have to respectfully disagree with some of the points you've made here. I do concur that Hawthorne can at times be sanctimonious and some of his descriptions are downright leaden. However, I think the modern reader should take care not to dismiss out of hand an author whose moral stance is well defined or who is delivering a very clear ethical or intellectual message. While too much agenda can endanger artistic credibility and quality, it seems that an author's passionate belief is too often mistaken for "beating the reader over the head". We, like he, are products of our own time. It's just not cool in a modern context to be seen as being too earnest, possessed of too much conviction, or writing more descriptively than is "necessary". However, art doesn't exist to be economical and you do admit that there is some "nice wording". I would encourage you to reread some of those long passages, but this time with a bit more patience, with fewer expectations for the text to correspond to your contemporary temperament and try to sense a different time and place as conveyed through language that can be exciting in its strangeness. The more obvious messages of Hawthorne's text are certainly stridently delivered and I can understand why you'd feel such heavy-handedness insults your intelligence. Underneath these, however, I think there is a great deal of mystery and subtlety that Hawthorne merely hints at, letting the reader engage in a moral struggle curiously parallel to the quandaries of the novel's protagonists: faith and certainty in tumultuous conflict with a far vaster unknown.
Sooooooooooooo... What's the point of the book?
I actually don't really mind this book, but you are right. For it's time it might have been a good read for some people, but compared to the standards we are used to, it's quite a bad book. But then again, maybe the author really wanted to annoy people with Puritan morality. The way I read it, The Scarlet letter was a story about collective delusion and subsequent self-hate and all the other shit that happens down the line.
I'm going to get through my entire English Lit course without reading a single book at this rate
hahaha this is also my goal .. having my exams this week and I neither read Othello nor this crap.. English is not even my native language and reading THIS book is impossible
Right so how will I use this in my day to day life ever again? That's the question our schools can't answer
MrOptimus117 It may not be as obvious as going on a quiz show and being glad you read the book because they ask you what the "A" stands for. If you allow the book to speak to you, the impact on your life could be immense. You'll have gained a greater understanding of people, of history and of what motivates others to act and think as they do. You might learn, as Hester did, about the complexities of morality. What you learn from literature helps shape who you are and deepens the potential of who you can become. I'd call that a pretty big contribution to your daily life.
Beautiful novel.
I really only appreciated it after I was forced to read it in school.
All of the people in the comment section speak English as their first language while I moved to the US last year and still have to read this HARD book and actually kinda enjoying it???
Hawthorne never really "found" the Scarlet letter in the custom house. He was just playing with the reader. Also, Dimmesdale didn't have a scarlet letter on his chest... it said that there was a letter exactly the same as Hester's which can't be since hers is embroidered, fancy and red. Hawthorne loves trickery
What are you talking about? He did, it's inferred that he engraved it onto his chest.
Doesn't change the fact that this book is a god-awful piece of shit
+mememaster No, it isn't.
Destroyer of Destruction The characters are dull as dishwater, the moral of the story has basically no relevance to modern society, there are no emotional stakes because all the characters speak and interact like robots and the central conflict builds up to absolutely nothing. It's an outdated relic of a book.
I'm dyslexic, so trying to read this book made no sense to me at all. 😂😂
Something interesting about this book. Is that as i was reading and saw her penance i could tell she felt an incomplete or fake remorse. Because if she did feel remorse for her actions she would have taken the consequences and admitted it was Dimmsdale. After reading the part she never regretted loving him it just proved my thought that she never felt real remorse for her actions.