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The Ministers Black Veil
The Ministers Black Veil
The Ministers Black Veil
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Objectives
Focus:
Shadows of the Imagination
Allegory
A work of literature in
which events characters,
and detail of setting have
a symbolic meaning.
A character in an allegory
may personify a single
human trait.
Story is intended to be
read on two levels
Literal
Figurative
Parable
Authors Message
Consider new
perspectives
Authors depicts his/her
views on life
Message should be
compared with own
experiences
Point is not to agree or
disagree, but to think,
relate, and hopefully
understand
Parables teach moral or
religious lessons
Techniques
Symbolism- The black veil symbolizes all of the Puritan
superstitions. It represents all the evil and troubles in
the world. To Puritans it was seen as a symbol of the
devil. It was also seen as all that is unknown in the
world; a mystery to the people.
Rhetorical Question- Hawthorne uses this to further
emphasis his point. In the story he wants to show
Hooper as a man who can not bear to go without the
veil, "Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance, that he
so hastily caught back the black veil?" In this quote it
shows that he is afraid that even a dead person will see
his face.
Techniques
Personification- This is another technique used to give
the veil human-like qualities. It makes the veil almost
have a personality which strengthens the mystery and
fear of the veil, "It shook with his measured breath, as
he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity between
him and the holy page" (pg. 338). The veil obviously
could not physically throw something, but it enriches
Hawthornes language.
Irony- This technique is shown throughout this short
story by the man wearing the black veil. It is ironic how
people think that because he is wearing a veil that he
has something to hide, and he does. Also, during the
short story, it seems to building up to a big revealing of
his secret, but instead nothing is ever revealed, and his
secret will stay a secret forever.
Vocabulary
Venerable commanding
respect
Iniquity sin
Indecorous improper
Ostentatious intended to
attract notice
Sagacious shrewd
Vagary unpredictable
occurrence
Tremulous characterized by
trembling
Waggery mischievous humor
Impertinent not showing
proper respect
Obstinacy - stubbornness
Semblance outward
appearance
Obscurity darkness
Portend signify
Pensively thinking deeply or
seriously
Antipathy strong dislike
Plausibility believability
Resolute - determined
Summary:
In this allegory, Parson Hooper, a highly
respected minister in a small Puritan community,
suddenly appears wearing a black veil. The veil
has such a powerful, gloomy effect on his
parishioners; they are stunned, so much so that
they cannot ask him directly why he wears it.
Even his fiance turns from him. The veils
symbolic meaning secret sin is revealed
through the remarks and actions of Hoopers
parishioners and in his own deathbed
explanation. Make note of the symbols and the
meanings implied in this parable.
Reverend Hooper
(The Minister)
Elizabeth
Reverend Clark
Reverend Clark is a
young minister from
Westbury who comes to
Reverend Hoopers
deathbed to pray for
him. He encourages
Hooper to take off the
veil before he is interred
in the ground but
Hooper shocks him (and
everyone else present)
with his strength as he
refuses to have the veil
taken off.
The Townspeople
Assignments
Begin Reading p.262
Lesson