A List Of Unused Scarlet Letter Term Paper Topics

Students often have to prepare term papers on The Scarlett Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. This novel provides many interesting term paper topics to consider, so students have a wide variety of unused topic ideas to choose from. If you aren’t given a list of potential topics, you can look for ideas for your assignment on the Web. Make sure that the one you choose can be effectively discussed in the format of the paper.

The following list of The Scarlet Letter term paper topics is useful for those students who need some examples in order to get inspired:

1. The role of a chosen symbol in developing mood, tone, irony, character, etc. in the novel.
2. A main character study: Pearl, Hester, Dimmesdale, Wilson, or Chillingworth.
3. A minor character investigation: Governor Bellinghem, Mistress Hibbins, and others.
4. Chillingworth relationship with Dimmesdale: motifs in the friendship.
5. Evocative names as one of the motifs of the novel.
6. Why did Hester stay in Boston? The main reasons for and consequences of this decision.
7. Judgements about people and life: Hawthorne’s point of view.
8. Contrast between forest and village in the novel.
9. Comparison of Pearl and the Puritan community.
10. Do you agree that Hester should be pitied by the readers?
11. The Puritan ethic: its role in the events of the novel.
12. The Scarlet Letter as a reflection of the time period.
13. Romanticism: how does it regard human life?
14. Historical events or characters in the novel: the effects of their inclusion.
15. The rosebush next to the prison door as an important symbol in the writing piece.
16. The nature of evil as one of the main themes of the novel.
17. How does the setting help the reader understand the main characters?
18. The Scarlet Letter as a protofeminist novel: key gender issues addressed.
19. A concept of revenge as it’s presented by Chillingworth.
20. Why do Native Americans make a few brief appearances in the novel? Do they play a vital role?

Make sure that the chosen topic can be turned into an arguable, clear, and unified thesis statement. After you select the topic idea that you like, it’s recommended to get it approved by your professor. You should also clarify the formatting requirements and ask about the details you should keep in mind while working on the assignment.