Kevork Bardakjian AP English January 25, 2008 FORESTS

FORESTS?????? Forests are the home of natures spirits. Forests are a refuge from danger as well as a source of dangerous wild animals. Forests are mysterious and constantly changing.

Tree Symbolism (continued) The deep-rooted symbolism of trees is apparent in common metaphors such as the Tree of Life and our ancestral heritage depicted in family trees. Christian art symbolism depicts Christ as the cosmic carpenter and His ultimate sacrifice is represented by the symbolism of a wooden cross.

Example #1 It might be that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox religionist, was to be scourged out of the town, or an idle or vagrant Indian, whom the white man's firewater had made riotous about the streets, was to be driven with stripes into the shadow of the forest. (Chp. 2)

The Shadow of the Forest? Mistress Hibbins: at night ride with the “Black Man.” Sinful being Ashamed Dark side

It stood on the shore, looking across a basin of the sea at the forest-covered hills, towards the west. (Chp. 5) Example #2 The town and the surrounding forest: opposing behavioral systems. The town: civilization and on display. The forest: a space of natural resources In the forest: society’s rules do not apply.

Had they taken her from me, I would willingly have gone with thee into the forest, and signed my name in the Black Man's book too, and that with mine own blood!" (Chp. 8) Example #3 Hester would even willingly have gone to the forest. (negative connotation) Forest= misbehavior

For the sake of the minister's health, and to enable the leech to gather plants with healing balm in them, they took long walks on the sea-shore, or in the forest.(Chapter 9) Example #4 The forest saves lives (could of just said walks but nooooo “long” walks) It aids the sick It has it’s positive side It’s alive

Example #5 Letting the eyes follow along the course of the stream, they could catch the reflected light from its water, at some short distance within the forest, but soon lost all traces of it amid the bewilderment of tree-trunks and underbrush. (chapter 16) Lost in the forest LOST: TV show taking place in a forest Vast area Lose of actions

EXAMPLE #6 Thus conversing, they entered sufficiently deep into the wood to secure themselves from the observation of any casual passenger along the forest track. (chapter 16) When Hester and Dimmesdale meet in the woods: they become happy young lovers. Hester’s cottage: It is her place of exile, which ties it to the town. BUT BUT BUT….. The forest is a place where she can create for herself peace.

Example #7 Not to speak of the clergyman's health, so inadequate to sustain the hardships of a forest life, his native gifts, his culture, and his entire development would secure him a home only in the midst of civilization and refinement (Chp. 20) Minister’s health is being compared to the forest Clergyman’s health is poor. Forest health is rich. Forest life + Dimmesdale’s life = MAJOR HARDSHIPS in LIFE

Example #8 She thought of the dim forest, with its little dell of solitude, and love, and anguish, and the mossy tree-trunk, where, sitting hand-in- hand, they had mingled their sad and passionate talk with the melancholy murmur of the brook. (Chp. 22) The unpredictable forest Doleful setting Dark and depressing Set-apart The “talk”

Works Cited mlhttp://pd.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/section22.ht ml htmlhttp:// html