Short Story Assignment
“The Maypole of Merry Mount” by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a short story about a young couple in love who must choose between a lifestyle of Puritanism or the lifestyle of the people of Merry Mount.
Level 1- What are the names of the Lord and Lady of May?
*The Lady of May is named Edith and the Lord of May is named Edgar.
Level 2- What does the forest symbolize in Hawthorne's “The Maypole of Merry Mount”?
*Hawthorne uses the forest to symbolize a place where immoral and lawless activities are preformed.
Level 3- Where do individuals obtain the wisdom necessary to make right choices?
*While the majority of people know the difference between right and wrong, not nearly as many people have the wisdom to act upon what they know. One can only obtain this wisdom from God. With His help, an individual will be able to make the right choice when confronted with a decision between good and evil.
The theme of the story is that while knowledge allows you to discriminate between good and evil, wisdom enables you to make the right choice between the two.
I think that Nathaniel Hawthorne's use of many literary devices in “The Maypole of Merry Mount” was a significant way to portray the story at Merry Mount. His use of symbolism, personification, and imagery further allow him to illustrate the mood and setting of the story.
I felt as if I was actually able to feel the emotions of the characters as well as paint a clear picture in my mind of Merry Mount and its citizens. I also appreciate the fact that Hawthorne used the characters of two very young people in love to portray the theme of the story. Even though they were young, Edith and Edgar still made the right choice about their lifestyle according to the Puritans.
Level 1- What are the names of the Lord and Lady of May?
*The Lady of May is named Edith and the Lord of May is named Edgar.
Level 2- What does the forest symbolize in Hawthorne's “The Maypole of Merry Mount”?
*Hawthorne uses the forest to symbolize a place where immoral and lawless activities are preformed.
Level 3- Where do individuals obtain the wisdom necessary to make right choices?
*While the majority of people know the difference between right and wrong, not nearly as many people have the wisdom to act upon what they know. One can only obtain this wisdom from God. With His help, an individual will be able to make the right choice when confronted with a decision between good and evil.
The theme of the story is that while knowledge allows you to discriminate between good and evil, wisdom enables you to make the right choice between the two.
I think that Nathaniel Hawthorne's use of many literary devices in “The Maypole of Merry Mount” was a significant way to portray the story at Merry Mount. His use of symbolism, personification, and imagery further allow him to illustrate the mood and setting of the story.
I felt as if I was actually able to feel the emotions of the characters as well as paint a clear picture in my mind of Merry Mount and its citizens. I also appreciate the fact that Hawthorne used the characters of two very young people in love to portray the theme of the story. Even though they were young, Edith and Edgar still made the right choice about their lifestyle according to the Puritans.