The Scarlet Letter

Name: The Scarlet Letter
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter is a classic novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. Set in Puritan New England in the 17th century, the novel tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who has committed adultery and is publicly shamed and ostracized by her community. The novel begins with Hester being publicly shamed and forced to wear a scarlet letter “A” on her chest as a sign of her sin. She is also forced to stand on a scaffold in the town square for three hours, where she is subjected to public humiliation and scorn. Hester is eventually allowed to return to her home, but she is still shunned by the community. She is also forbidden to reveal the identity of her child’s father, and so she is left to raise her daughter Pearl alone. The novel follows Hester’s struggles to survive in a society that has rejected her, as well as her attempts to find redemption and peace. Along the way, she meets a mysterious scholar named Roger Chillingworth, who is determined to uncover the identity of Pearl’s father. The novel also explores themes of guilt, sin, and redemption, as well as the power of love and forgiveness. In the end, Hester is able to find peace and acceptance, and the novel ends with her and Pearl leaving the town together.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1850 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 24 chapters · 68,483 words

First lines

A throng of bearded men, in sad-coloured garments and grey steeple-crowned hats, inter-mixed 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.

What this Textopian page supports

The Scarlet Letter is listed on Textopian as a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1850 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novel
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Date: 1850 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama, Gothic Fiction
Length: 68,483 words
Structure: 24 chapters, 2,134 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Scarlet Letter?
How does this novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Romance first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Romance — The Scarlet Letter is a classic romance novel, focusing on the forbidden love between Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale.
Historical Fiction — The Scarlet Letter is set in the Puritan society of 17th century Boston, making it a historical fiction novel.
Drama — The Scarlet Letter is a dramatic novel, exploring the consequences of Hester Prynne's adultery and the struggles of the characters to find redemption.
Gothic Fiction — The Scarlet Letter is a gothic novel, featuring dark themes, supernatural elements, and a gloomy atmosphere.