ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to expound Hawthorne’s employment of narrative strategies in The Scarlet letter from three aspects: ambiguity, symbolism and narration order. Combined with concrete examples, this paper researches the use of ambiguity, interprets symbolic meaning of the main characters’ names, and explains how narration order are used. Finally, the three narrative strategies are concluded and their function and artistic effect are analyzed. Understanding his narrative strategies can enhance our understanding of Hawthorne and his novel. What’s more, Hawthorne’s superb narrative techniques is worthy of studying, both for our reading and writing.

Key words: narrative strategy; ambiguity; symbolism; narration order.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One  INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two  LITERATURE INTERVIEW-2

Chapter Three  AMBIGUITY-4

3.1 The Color of “A”-4

3.2 Meanings of Letter “A”-4

3.3 Wild Rosebush-5

3.4 The Letter “A” on the Pastor.-6

Chapter Four  SYMBOLISM-7

4.1 The Symbolic Meaning of Hester Prynne.-7

4.2 The Symbolic Meaning of Arthur Dimmesdale.-7

4.3 The Symbolic Meaning of Roger Chillingworth-8

4.4 The Symbolic Meaning of Pearl-9

Chapter Five  NARRATION ORDER-11

5.1 Analepsis.-12

5.2 Prolepsis-13

Chapter Six  CONCLUSION-15

WORKS CITED-17