1. The Scarlet Letter: Background
Persecuted in England, the Puritans came to North America to form their own communities.

2. The Scarlet Letter: Background
Life in the Colonies was harsh,
but it gave the Puritans the opportunity to form a society based on their religious ideals.

3. The Scarlet Letter: Background
The setting of The Scarlet Letter is Boston in the 1640s.
Boston had recently been founded by about one thousand English Puritans, led by John Winthrop.

4. The Scarlet Letter: Background
Puritans sought the freedom to live by their beliefs.
However, the Puritan leaders did not tolerate religious beliefs that differed from their own.

5. The Scarlet Letter: Background
As for personal freedom…
every member of the community was held to strict standards of behavior.

6. The Scarlet Letter: Background
In a Puritan community, no aspect of life was truly private.
People kept a close watch on their neighbors.

7. The Scarlet Letter: Background
Those considered sinners were publicly—and harshly—punished, as an example to others.

8. The Scarlet Letter: Discussion Starters
As you will read, the lead character goes to jail for an action that, in our society, usually would remain private.
What kinds of wrongdoing do you think should be punished publicly?
What kinds should remain private for the people involved?

9. The Scarlet Letter: Discussion Starters
Motivated by love and loyalty, the protagonist keeps a painful secret.
What kinds of secrets should you keep?
When might it be better to reveal a friend’s secret, even though that person will be angry with you?