N. Hawthorne (1804-1864)

• What are the characteristic features of N. Hawthorne’s type of Romanticism?
• How did he use symbols in his works?
• What sides of the human character attracted him profoundly?
• How is his concern for the supernatural revealed in his stories and novels?

In a critical review of Hawthorne’s ‘Twice-told tales’, E.A. Poe stated his own philosophy of short story writing (p.51). Try to single out the main principles and try to show the extent to which Hawthorne’s stories answer Poe’s requirements.

Principles of short story writing, stated by E.A.Poe:
• an author reveals his thoughts and ideas through skilful combination of events (he never does it directly);
• the story should produce ‘a unique, single effects’, so all elements of tale are subordinate to this effect;
• the story should be concise: “undue length” should be avoided;
• the composition should be clear and balanced.

“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”
• Can we say that some characteristic features of his writing N. Hawthorne illustrated in this story? What are they?
• What is “the supernatural” in the story?
• What symbols are used by the author? What allegorical meaning does he attach to this story?
• Allegory is a tale which underlying meaning differs from the surface meaning. An allegory has two levels of meaning - one is in its plot, the other - in its moral. What is the moral of the story?

N.Hawthorne wrote: “In all my stories, I think, there is one idea running through them like an iron rod, to which all other ideas are referred or subordinate.”

• What is the idea running like an “iron rod” in this story? Point out the passages.
• It is a well known fact that N. Hawthorne gave his narratives “a certain remoteness” from actuality by placing them in the past or in the scenes removed from ordinary experience. What does this “certain remoteness” consist in this tale?
• Why did the author give us such a detailed description of the doctor’s weird - looking study?
• Who does the doctor remind you - a physician or a magician? Prove your point.
• Why don’t readers believe that the drink is a magical one? What clues does the author give us? Give the examples.
• Why can we say that Hawthorne all the time present the events on the borderline between fact and fancy? Prove your point.