Nathaniel Hawthorne

“The Minister’s Black Veil”

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne(1804-1864)

Themes include sin, hypocrisy, shame and egotism

Inherited Puritan guiltAnti-TranscendentalistBelieved evil was a

dominant force in the world

P.334

This story is set in the 1600s in a typical Puritan New England village and reflects Hawthorne’s deep awareness of his Puritan ancestry

In this story, a highly respected minster suddenly appears wearing a black veil that he vows never to remove

The veil’s symbolic meaning is revealed through the speech and actions of the minister and his parishioners, as well as in the minster’s deathbed explanation

“The Minister’s Black Veil”

Something that has meaning in itself while also standing for something greater

Often concealed at first sightRepresentative of several other aspects/

concepts/ traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone

Symbol

Short, simple story with a moral messageUnlike a fable (which features animal

characters), a parable is populated by human beings

Parable

Creative summary of the short story 1:35Read pages 336-348Complete worksheet on the story

Activity