The Minister's Black Veil

Questions to Consider

1) How does Hawthorne describe the veil?

2) How do the paritioners react to the veil?

3) What is the significance of the topic of the first sermon?

4) How does the quote by "the lady" that starts "How strange" summarize the short story?

5) What does "the man" mean by saying men are "sometimes afraid to be alone with himself"?

6) Why does the veil become an appropriate symbol in the afternoon service?

7) In the paragraph describing the afternoon service, count the number of terms that support Hawthorne's intended mood. How is this similar to Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher"?

8) What is the definition of "black"/"white"?

9) What does Minister discover about his marriage/the strength of his relationship with his wife?

10) How does Hawthorne use "the wind"?

11) How does the world outside the town react to the veil?

12) Why is Father Hooper wearing a veil?

13) Why does Hawthorne refer use Mr. Hooper at times, and Father Hooper at other times?

14) What do Father Hooper's final words disclose about his possible reasoning for wearing the veil?

15) What word can best take the place of "veil"?