30 pages • 1 hour read
Nathaniel HawthorneDr. Heidegger's Experiment
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1837A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
Consider how old age is characterized in this story. Why do the guests laugh “feebly” when the doctor suggests it would be a “sin and shame” if they fail to become patterns of virtue? If you had the chance to partake in the experiment by drinking the water of youth, would you? Why or why not?
Consider the role of gender in the story. Do you think the roles attributed to the female and male characters in the story are stereotypical? Are there any similarities to gender roles today as there are in the story?
Examine the character of Dr. Heidegger and consider his motivation for conducting the experiment. Look at the text for clues.
Is the narrator reliable? Why or why not? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Discuss the role of irony in the story. Why do you think it was important for Hawthorne to use irony and foreshadowing? Would the story be different without it?
Reflect on the story’s ending. Was Dr. Heidegger’s experiment a selfish act, or did he set out to improve the lives of his four guests?
Why do you think the guests do not learn from the experiment? What do you think makes the guests decide to search for the Fountain of Youth? Do you think the guests are motivated by happiness or greed?
How does Sylvia Ward’s rose function in the text? What do you think it symbolizes?
Discuss the role of nature in the story. Do the mentions of natural phenomena like summer, dawn, and dusk lend significance to the story? If so, how?
What do you believe Hawthorne’s attitude was toward humanity and morality at the time of writing this story? What is Hawthorne saying about personal values, love, and contentment?
Related Titles
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
