Reading Guide for Hawthorne's, "The Birthmark" Avoid quoting the text. Instead paraphrase and summarize in for yourself. Vocabulary
Cultural References
What two forces are in conflict in this story and are they still in conflict today [explain your reasoning briefly]? She says that she "was simple enough to imagine it might be" a charm": What word tells you something about her self image? Explain briefly. Why did Aylmer find the birthmark a "shock"? The "shock" Aylmer experiences rewrites the conflict named in the 1st question above: How so? Now what is the new conflict? How would the mark change in different circumstances [speculate: briefly describe two concrete situations in which the mark might change given Hawthorne's general description]? How was the reaction of men different from that of women and why do you think their reactions are different [speculate]? Hawthrone describes in detail what this mark symbolizes: Summarize that passage in 100 words or so? In regard to the hand, what happened to Aylmer as the marriage progessed and how did this growing trend in his behavior affect Georgianna? Here's a turning point in the story: Summarize the dream Alymer had and interpret it briefly. Foreshadowing: How serious is Georgiana about removal? Explain how you know the degree of seriousness. Speculate: Why do you think it important that the mark be on one cheek and not the other? Why is Aylmer so happy about everything and how does this connect back to what the narrator says in the first paragraph of the story. Aylmer goes to work: What was Aylmer's reputation in the "scientific" community and why did I put "scientific" in quote marks? Who is "Mother," what is her trick, and what does this seem to predict about Aylmer's efforts? How is Aminidab like a modern day advanced computer user? The narrator tells what the two characters -- Aylmer and Aminidab -- symbolize: In your own words, restate the two ideas each represents. Speculate: Given what Aminidab represents [see previous question], how might that explain why Aminidab feels differently about the mark itself? What modern technology [name two and explain] has Aylmer already invented? Of all the products produced by Alymer, which is the one that speaks most directly to the vanity of modern men and women and how is that reflected on TV today? What did the famous alchemists of the middle ages come to belief that is not today considered scientific? How is Alymer like the ancient scientists in the previous question [explain, please]? Why was Georgiana disillusioned after reading? Speculate: When Georgiana is grasped by the arm, an echo of the mark is made by Aylmer: What might this reflected mark symbolize? What would happen should an alchemist discover the Elixir Vitae and use it? Which method of "cure" did Alymer NOT try on Georgiana's birthmark?
A colorless liquor distilled from base and earthly elements Alymer cured the birthmark, but. . . . what happened to Beatrice? The difference between Hawthorne's Puitan Romances and Poe's Romances is . . . .
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Gothic Literature. . . .
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