Preface to the Second Edition Quiz — The Scarlet Letter

What provoked Hawthorne to write the Preface to the Second Edition?

• Poor sales of the first edition
• Public outrage over his Custom-House introductory sketch
• A request from his publisher to add new material
• Criticism of the novel's portrayal of Puritanism

What hyperbolic comparison does Hawthorne use to describe Salem's reaction?

• That it was as if he had published state secrets
• That it was as if he had committed treason against the nation
• That it was as if he had burned down the Custom-House and shed blood
• That it was as if he had insulted the governor publicly

What does Hawthorne claim to find upon rereading the Custom-House sketch?

• Several passages that should be revised or removed
• Only frank good-humor and general accuracy
• Hidden political commentary he had not intended
• Evidence that his critics were partly justified

What kind of motives does Hawthorne explicitly deny in the preface?

• Financial and commercial motives
• Artistic and aesthetic motives
• Personal and political enmity
• Religious and moral motives

What does Hawthorne ultimately decide to do with the Custom-House introduction?

• Remove it entirely from the second edition
• Revise the most offensive passages
• Add an extended apology before it
• Republish it without changing a word

What concession does Hawthorne make about the Custom-House sketch?

• He admits some descriptions were exaggerated
• He acknowledges it could have been omitted without harming the book
• He agrees the tone was occasionally too harsh
• He regrets naming specific individuals

What is the primary rhetorical strategy of the preface?

• Sincere apology followed by specific corrections
• Angry rebuttal of each criticism in turn
• Diplomatic language that leads to a complete refusal to change anything
• An emotional appeal for public sympathy and understanding

Which of these statements about the Preface to the Second Edition are accurate?

Which claims does Hawthorne make in the preface?

What does "disapprobation" mean as used in: "the public disapprobation would weigh very heavily on him"?

• Confusion or misunderstanding
• Strong moral disapproval or condemnation
• Mild disappointment
• Legal prosecution or punishment

What does "expunge" mean as used in: "a purpose to alter or expunge whatever might be found amiss"?

• To explain or clarify
• To expand upon or elaborate
• To erase or remove completely
• To highlight or emphasize

What does "malevolence" mean as used in: "against whom he is supposed to cherish a peculiar malevolence"?

• A deep admiration or respect
• A professional rivalry or competition
• A wish to do evil or cause harm to another
• A sense of moral superiority