American Renaissance

the American Renaissance, is a part of the American Romantic period, which lasted 20 years, from
1840 to 1860.

The writers of this age, were divided in 2 categories: The dark romantics and the
Transcendentalists.

Dark Romanticism and Romanticism.

Dark romanticism is a sub-genre of writing that took a grim approach to the fantastic.

The dark romantics or Gothics authors were serious and highlighted darkness and evil, with evil
taking over good. As a result, their writing has characteristics such as: spooky symbols, horrible
themes, psychological effects of guilt and sin. some prominent authors were: Edgar Alan Poe,
Nathaniel Hawthorne y Herman Melville.

Romantic writers had an optimistic approach to mystical aspects of the universe, where sins are
properly punished and those who are truly good are rewarded. A prominent author was:
Washington Irving

Main difference between those subjects:

Romanticism is a literary, intellectual and artistic movement originated in Europe towards the end
of the 18th century. While Dark romanticism is a literary sub-genre of romanticism, characterized
by evil.

ROMANTICISM:

Poetry was the dominant form of literature during the Romantic period and was characterized by
an emphasis on intuition over reason and the rural over the urban.

Besides the theme of nature, medievalism, pastoral life and supernaturalism were also common
themes in Romanticism.

DARK ROMANRICISM:

The dark romantics often portrayed society's outcasts. They used dark images and their characters
were demons, ghosts, monsters, vampires, among others. this period resorts to themes such as
supernaturalism, sin, evil, personal torment and self-destruction.

** Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville are the prominent American
authors of this movement. Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Mary Shelley are important
British authors of this movement.
SCARLET LETTER SUMARY:

In Massachusetts Bay, puritan town of Boston, in June 1642 a crowd gathers to witness the
punishment of Hester Prynne, a young woman convicted of adultery and condemned to wear a
scarlet "A" for adultery on her dress for her shame. The sentence obliges her to remain for three
hours in the pillory exposed to public humiliation. Despite pressure to confess the name of her
daughter's father, Hester refuses.

Hester's husband, who had long disappeared at sea, shows up in time to witness the punishment
and learn of his wife's adultery. Angry, he poses as doctor Roger Chillingworth to try to discover
his wife's lover.

Chillingworth visits Hester in prison and forces her to hide his identity. After her release, Hester
moves to the suburbs and earns her living as a seamstress. As she grows up, her daughter Pearl
becomes a wayward and rebellious girl, and church members suggest that Pearl be taken away
from her mother. Hester appeals to the Reverend Dimmesdale in desperation, and the minister
convinces the governor to keep Pearl in her care.

Dimmesdale falls ill and Chillingworth moves into his home. Chillingworth suspects that the
minister's illness is due to guilt, and while treating him, he discovers a strange mark that confirms
his suspicions.

After an inspired sermon, Dimmesdale climbs into the pillory, publicly confesses his sin and dies in
Hester's arms. Chillingworth, who has lost the object of his revenge, dies soon after, leaving Pearl a
considerable inheritance.

Years later, Hester returns home and wears the scarlet letter again. When she dies, she is buried
next to Dimmesdale, and a simple slate tombstone engraved with a shield is placed on their grave:
on a sable field, a letter A for gules (on a black field, a red A).

We could interpret this persistent A as a tragic final image. However, the fact that Hester and
Dimmesdale can be buried near each other suggests that the community has, in many ways,
forgiven them for their adultery. Even after death, the legend of their love continues.
SCARLET LETTER CHARACTERS:

Hester Prynne

Hester is the book’s protagonist and the wearer of the scarlet letter that gives the book its title.
The letter, a patch of fabric in the shape of an “A,” signifies that Hester is an “adulterer.” As a
young woman, Hester married an elderly scholar.

Pearl

Hester’s illegitimate daughter Pearl is a young girl with a moody, mischievous spirit and an ability
to perceive things that others do not. For example, she quickly discerns the truth about her
mother and Dimmesdale.

Roger Chillingworth

“Roger Chillingworth” is actually Hester’s husband in disguise. He is much older than she is and
had sent her to America while he settled his affairs in Europe. Because he is captured by Native
Americans, he arrives in Boston belatedly and finds Hester and her illegitimate child being
displayed on the scaffold.

Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale

Dimmesdale is a young man who achieved fame in England as a theologian and then emigrated to
America. In a moment of weakness, he and Hester became lovers. Although he will not confess it
publicly, he is the father of her child.

Governor Bellingham

Governor Bellingham is a wealthy, elderly gentleman who spends much of his time consulting with
the other town priests. Despite his role as governor of a fledgling American society, he very much
resembles a traditional English aristocrat.

Reverend Mr. John Wilson

Boston’s elder clergyman, Reverend Wilson is scholarly yet grandfatherly. He is a stereotypical
Puritan father.

Anger: ira/cólera
Bear: resistir
Bedcovers: Mantas
Board: Tablón/tabla
Cloth: paño
Could bear: podría soportar
Drop: caída/descenso
Evil: mal
Fall upon: caer sobre
go up: ascender 
Held: Retenido
Hell: Infierno
indeed: en efecto
Led:guiar
Lie down: acostarse
Lifted: levantar
Louder: más fuerte (ruidoso)
Louder:Más alto 
Loudly: en voz alta
lying: acostada
Mad: loco
Mad:loco
madman: loco
manner: conducta
Nor: Ni.
Painful: doloroso
Pull up: levantar
Pull-up: detener (parar)
Rushed: se precipitó
softly: suavemente
Stone: roca
Straight up: directamente
straight up: recto
Thick: grueso/denso
Tightly: estrechamente
Vulture: Buitre
warm: Cálido
wide: amplio