1. Name Date Period Please write on one side of the paper and place your heading on the top left hand corner.

2. Do Not “Drop” Quotations You must briefly describe what’s happening before you give a citation. Bad Example In The Scarlet Letter, imagery—or very detailed writing to impact readers—is used by Hawthorne. In Chapter 2, “It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered window of the magistrate…”(37). You must set the stage before providing info. from the text.

3. Improved In The Scarlet Letter, imagery—or very detailed writing to impact readers—is used by Hawthorne to effectively portray the ill tempered character of Mistress Hibbins and her connection to the protagonist. In Chapter 2, “It might be, too, that a witch, like old Mistress Hibbins, the bitter-tempered window of the magistrate…”(37).

4. Don’t overuse passive voice (is, was, were) NO: Imagery is used to describe the… BETTER: Hawthorne’s vivid imagery of Heter’s letter NO: Hawthorne was telling of the time… BETTER: Hawthorne tells readers…. NO….Another example is shown in Chapter 3… BETTER: Additionally, Hawthorne exhibits____ in Chapter 3…

5. Be Concise. Don’t Be repetitive. The Scarlet Letter, a novel composed by Nathaniel Hawthorne, exemplifies an array of effective imagery or language that appeals to the senses throughout the course of the novel. In order for the reader to understand the circumstances at hand, Hawthorne effectively portrays the actions of characters through imagery. For instance, Hester….

6. Stay in third person point of view! The device of imagery is used when the writer tries to paint a picture in our minds. He shows us… The device of imagery is used when the writer paints a picture in readers’ minds.

7. Avoid using the word “says” too much NOT TOO MUCH: Hawthorne says…. BETTER: Hawthorne portrays Hawthorne exhibits Hawthorne displays

8. Great Paragraph! Hawthorne uses imagery to set the stage for his novel, The Scarlet Letter. This literary device conveys the mood of the story and effectively appeals to readers’ senses so that they may better understand the characters and the plot. Hawthorne describes Hester’s experience at the scaffold as being uncomfortable with “The hot, midday sun burning down upon her face…”(47). Here readers are able to imagine the misery experienced by the protagonist as she endures insults and hateful remarks by the crowd. Just like the weather, Hester must endure a prison which is described as one with rot and decay, yet “…heavily timbered with oak and studded with iron spikes” (34). This portrayal encourages readers to sympathize with Hester and perhaps question as to why anyone should endure such punishment for the crime at hand.