Excerpts from “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and from “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Edgar Allan Poe

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“to give a darkened aspect to all living an inanimate things”

“With this gloomy shade before him”

“it seemed to consist of two folds of crape”

“so low as to be shaken by his breath”

Personal choices require careful consideration.

Powerful anxiety about the unknown can change everything.

Evil can have a strong hold on a person.

Religion plays an important role in determining values.

“He has changed himself into something awful only by hiding his face.”

“‘Of certainty it is good Mr. Hooper,’ replied the sexton.”

“When the throng had mostly streamed onto the porch, the sexton began to toll the bell, keeping his eye on the Reverend Mr. Hooper’s door.”

“‘He was to have exchanged pulpits with Parson Shute of Westbury, but Parson Shute sent to excuse himself yesterday, being to preach a funeral sermon.’”

It emphasizes the importance of the church in the community.

It reveals the reason Parson Hooper is out with his veil.

It hints at the activities Parson Hooper will speak about during his sermon.

It highlights social structures that exist between men and women in the town.

The flurry of activity creates a positive and hopeful tone.

The reference to the sermon create a reverent tone.

The lack of movement creates a sense of confusion and misunderstanding.

The description of the veil creates a bleak tone which heightens the suspense.

The explanation of the villager’s actions creates a disappointed tone which builds the tension.

The description of the veil creates a bleak tone which heightens the suspense.

The lack of movement creates a sense of confusion and misunderstanding.

The references to the sexton create a reflective tone which adds to the confusion.

The explanation of the villager’s actions creates a disappointed tone which builds the tension.

The reference to the sermon create a reverent tone.

The description of the veil creates a bleak tone which heightens the suspense.

The references to the sexton create a reflective tone which adds to the confusion.

“The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight”

“The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meetinghouse pulled lustily at the bell-rope.”

“Spruce bachelors looked sidelong at the pretty maidens, and fancied that the Sabbath sunshine made them prettier than on week-days.”

“‘Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper,’” replied the sexton.”

“‘Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper,’” replied the sexton.”

“The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight”

“The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meetinghouse pulled lustily at the bell-rope.”

“With one accord they started, expressing more wonder than if some strange minister were coming to dust the cushions of Mr. Hooper’s pulpit.”

“‘Of a certainty it is good Mr. Hooper,’” replied the sexton.”

“The cause of so much amazement may appear sufficiently slight”

“The sexton stood in the porch of Milford meetinghouse pulled lustily at the bell-rope.”

“On a nearer view it seemed to consist of two folds of crape, which entirely concealed his features except the mouth and chin, but probably did not intercept his sight further than to give a darkened aspect to all living and inanimate things."

“A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meetinghouse and set all the congregation astir.”

“‘Our parson has gone mad!’ cried Goodman Gray, following him across the threshold.”

“Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minster as his black veil to them.”

“With this gloomy shade before him good Mr. Hooper walked onward at a slow and quiet pace, stooping somewhat and looking on the ground, as is customary with abstracted men, yet nodding kindly to those of his parishioners who still waited on the meeting-house steps.”

incorrect hypothesis

factual understanding

chance encounter

likely truth

“with a wild desperation”

“exercise my reason”

“quickly unclosed”

“struggled for breath”

The narrator wakes up and begins to think about how he got to be imprisoned. He decides to explore his cell and discovers that it is approximately 100 paces around.

The narrator wakes up, uncertain of what has happened and where he is. As he realizes he is imprisoned and begins to explore his cell, he becomes more fearful of what will happen to him

The narrator opens his eyes in a jail cell. He realizes that it is completely dark, so he decides to explore his cell in the hopes that he will find some source of light.

The narrator wakes up and is afraid of where he has been sent. He falls asleep and wakes up several more times before deciding to explore his cell.