WRITING AN ESSAY RESPONSE ABOUT LITERATURE: RAPP The Scarlet Letter

1) Read the question carefully.  Writers often use literary devises such as allusions and symbols. These devises may help advance the theme or influence the tone or characterization.  In The Scarlet Letter, identify one literary devise that Nathaniel Hawthorne uses and explain how he uses it in the story.

What does the prompt ask you to do? Highlight key words in the question. Paraphrase the prompt to clarify it. Writers often use literary devises such as allusions and symbols. These devises may help advance the theme or influence the tone or characterization. In The Scarlet Letter, identify one literary devise that Nathaniel Hawthorne uses and explain how he uses it in the story. My paraphrase: In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne uses literary devices such as symbols and allusion to advance the theme or to influence tone or characterization. Select one literary devise and explain how Hawthorne uses it in The Scarlet Letter.

2) Go back and examine the text. TEXT: p.100 John the Baptist (Matt. 14:8), p.102 “a scarlet woman, a worthy type of her of Babylon” (Rev 17:4-5)

4) Determine your answer. My narrow focus: Hawthorne uses allusions to influence tone and to advance one of the story’s themes. p.100 John the Baptist (Matt. 14:8), p.102 “a scarlet woman, a worthy type of her of Babylon” (Rev 17:4-5) These Biblical allusions develop a tone that is critical of the Puritan leaders who emphasize outward show of wealth, power, and piety.

6) Write your answer (short response) REPHRASE THE QUESTION IN YOUR TOPIC SENTENCE AND STATE YOUR RESPONSE: In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Biblical allusions to influence tone and to advance one of the story’s themes. In chapter VIII, “The Elf Child and the Minister,” Governor Bellingham is showing off his estate and telling about his projected improvements to visitors. While the meeting is casual, Hawthorne describes him as dressed in a wide, “elaborate ruff, beneath his gray beard, in the antiquated fashion of King James’s reign,” which “caused his head to look not a little like that if John the Baptist in a charger” (100). Although Bellingham seems to want to impress people with his dress and estate Hawthorne’s allusion to his appearing like “John the Baptist’s head on a charger” p.100 John the Baptist (Matt. 14:8), p.102 “a scarlet woman, a worthy type of her of Babylon” (Rev 17:4-5) These Biblical allusions develop a tone that is critical of the Puritan leaders who emphasize outward show of wealth, power, and piety.

6) Write a body paragraph.  Write a clear topic sentence. Give the central idea and main point.  State your first supporting detail.  Provide evidence from the text.  Explain the connection of the textual evidence to your point. EXAMPLE: Chopin uses many elements of the setting symbolically to awaken Mrs. Mallard to her new freedom. She falls into a chair and looks out of an “open window” into an “open square” (1). The outside world is alive with the sights and sounds of “new spring life”: a “peddler [is] crying his wares,” someone is singing, and birds are twittering (1). Mrs. Mallard observes world undergoing the rebirth of spring. She sees “patches of blue sky,” symbolic of hope and happiness, “showing here and there through the clouds” (6). The world—indeed nature itself—seems to inform her that there is hope for new life and that the world is now open to her, and she welcomes the possibilities for new life with open arms.

6b) Citing textual evidence Incorporate quotes within your sentence. Put double quotation points around wording that is taken word for word from the text. Put the page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. NOTE that the period goes AFTER the parentheses. ” (1). Semicolons go outside quotations. … life”; a “peddler [is] crying his wares”; Commas go inside quotations … sky,” symbolic... EXAMPLE: She falls into a chair and looks out of an “open window” into an “open square” (1). The outside world is alive with the sights and sounds of “new spring life”; a “peddler [is] crying his wares”; someone is singing, and birds are twittering (1). Mrs. Mallard observes world undergoing the rebirth of spring. She sees “patches of blue sky,” symbolic of hope and happiness, “showing here and there through the clouds” (6). The world—indeed nature itself—seems to inform her that there is hope for new life and that the world is now open to her, and she welcomes the possibilities for new life with open arms.

6c) Citing textual evidence Use block quotes of text 4-lines long or more. 1) Introduce the quote. 2) Give the quote. Tab in two times. Do not use quotation marks. Put the citation in parenthesis after the period in the last sentence. 3) Explain the quote. EXAMPLE: Many elements of the setting are used symbolically to bring about Mrs. Mallard’s epiphany. She falls into a chair and looks out of an “open window” and sees...in the open square before her house the tops of tree that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. (5) The outside world is alive, undergoing the rebirth of spring.