LITR 4232: American Renaissance

UHCL, spring 2002

Student Research Proposal

Rhonda Peyton

Dear Dr. White,

I propose to write a research essay on Hawthorne's pioneering the mode of psychological fiction. I first became interested in this topic while perusing the topic proposals from last semester and saw that another student was interested in Freudian psychology also. I plan to use The Scarlet Letter, as well as "The Minister's Black Veil" and "Young Goodman Brown" as primary sources.

I have been reading some critical essays from books I have checked out from the public library in our neighborhood as well as some from UHCL library. The ones I have been looking at so far are:

Colacurio, Michael J.,New Essays on The Scarlet Letter, Cambridge: Cambrdige University Press, 1985.

Natoli, Joseph. Psychological Perspective on Literature. Hamden: The Shoe String Press, 1984.

Bloom, Harold, et al. Major Literary Characters: Hester Prynne. New York Chelsea House, 1990.

I have found in UHCL library Scribner's Database which has had some information. However, I have not been able to find online criticism pertaining to my topic. Perhaps you could steer me in a direction there.

I am enjoying what I am reading thus far!

Rhonda Peyton

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Dear Rhonda,

This is a good proposal, so continue. I appreciate the way you've stayed with and developed this original topic. The sources you list should be plenty, especially if you consult more than one of the "New Essays."

With your topic and our recent discussions of Hawthorne, I'm starting to rethink how I'm presenting him to the class.