Definition

Proper noun: - Nathaniel Hawthorne: An American novelist and short story writer of the 19th century, renowned for his works that frequently explore themes of sin, guilt, and morality, often set against a historical or Puritan New England background.

Usage

• Proper noun:
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne is a central figure in American Romantic literature.
  • We studied the moral complexities in the fiction of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Advanced Usage

• "Hawthornean" (adjective): Characteristic of or resembling the themes, style, or atmosphere found in the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
  • The novel had a Hawthornean preoccupation with hidden guilt and its consequences.

Variants and Related Words

• Hawthorne: A common shortened reference to the author.
  • The course focused on Hawthorne and his contemporaries.

Synonyms

• Author of The Scarlet Letter: A descriptive synonym referencing his most famous novel.
• American Romantic writer: A categorical synonym placing him within a literary movement.

Related Phrases

• "A Hawthorne story": A phrase used to describe a narrative that shares the thematic or stylistic qualities of his work.
  • The film, with its dark psychological undertones, felt like a Hawthorne story.

Related Idioms

• • "A Scarlet Letter": An idiom stemming from his novel, meaning a visible symbol of shame or disgrace.

    • After the scandal, the accusation became a Scarlet Letter that followed her career.

Noun

1. United States writer of novels and short stories mostly on moral themes (1804-1864)