“The Minister’s Black Veil: A Parable”

1. “The Minister’s Black Veil: A Parable” Parable:a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.

2. Vocabulary • TREMULOUS: characterized by trembling, as from fear, nervousness, or weakness • Synonyms: tremors, trembling, shaking, quivering • Situations in which one would have a tremulous appearance? • Pulled over by police • Asking a girl out • Pop quiz!

3. Inferential Reading • “…and while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted countenance. Did he seek to hide it from the dread Body whom he was addressing?” • QUESTION: What can we infer about how the viewed God by the underlined passage? • Possible responses: • The fear God • The see God as one who delivers punishment • They see God as one who is angry, in a bad mood, frightening, awe-inspiring (some synonyms)

4. Inferential Reading • “…[the veil] hides a face which I am always glad to look upon. Come, good sir, let the sun shine from behind the cloud.” • QUESTION: What can we infer about Elizabeth’s feelings towards Mr. Hooper in this passage? • Possible Responses: • She loves him • She wants to see his face • She thinks he’ll find happiness being himself again • She wants him to remove guilt and seek forgiveness or salvation • What could “sun” and “cloud” symbolize?

5. Inferential Reading • After reading this story, what is portrayed as the overall tone of the Puritans? • Jot down three adjectives that describe the Puritans. • Possible responses: • Stern • Unhappy • Pessimistic • God-fearing • Judgmental

6. Themes • What religious lesson might Hawthorne be teaching in this story? • Possible responses: • Sin separates us from God … and others

7. Themes • What social lesson might Hawthorne be teaching in this story? • Possible responses: • We all have barriers in side us.

8. Comprehension • What kind of minister is Mr. Hooper before wearing the black veil? • Possible responses: • Good • Respected

9. Comprehension • While wearing a veil, Mr. Hooper seems to have influence over a certain group of people in his congregation. What group? • Possible responses: • Sinners • Souls in agony for sinning

10. Central Themes • What would you consider to be a major theme of the overall story? (yes or no) • People enjoy unsolved mysteries • People with faith can overcome any hardship • People are often unwilling to face the truth about themselves. • People who sin should not be forgiven

11. Parable / character symbol • What does the village physician most likely represent in the story? • Possible responses: • Intelligence • Logic • Reason • A community’s need to heal

12. Allegory • What message about human nature could we take away from the scene in which Elizabeth nurses Mr. Hooper on his deathbed? • Possible responses: • The value of unconditional love? • Respect for the suffering? • Forgiveness?

13. Interpretation • “When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend; the lover to his best beloved; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator, loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin; then deem me a monster, for the symbol beneath which I have lived and die! I look around me, and lo! on every visage a Black Veil.” • What message about human nature is Hawthorne trying to convey in this passage? • Possible responses: • It is human nature to keep certain things private • People keep things private out of fear of not being accepted, fear of what other may think or how others may respond • All people have sin inside; few wish to see themselves as sinners, or have others see them as sinners

14. Symbolism • The black veil may represent: • Possible responses: • Modesty • Shame • Hiding from one’s past / self