The Invisible Hour

The Scarlet Letter inspires many of The Invisible Hour’s plot points and themes. Read one of Hawthorne’s other works of fiction. How does Hoffman use that novel or short story in The Invisible Hour? Use specific examples from the text in your response.

Magical realism requires that a work of literature blend elements of magic with the realistic or mundane. Identify three instances of magic or magical thinking in the novel and connect those moments with the closest realistic description or event. How does the magic enhance or clarify the realism in these instances?

A secondary theme throughout The Invisible Hour is the tension between living and surviving. How does that tension affect the novel? How is it resolved for the major characters?

There are multiple references to witchcraft and the Puritans in the novel. How do these references impact the novel’s message about the liberation of women?

Motherhood is a connection between all the women in the novel. Look at the descriptions of Ivy’s mother, Nathaniel’s mother, and Evangeline. What do these characters communicate about the experience of motherhood? What purpose do these characters serve in a larger discussion of the challenges of motherhood?

Nathaniel and Joel represent opposite elements of masculinity. Choose three of the novel’s minor male characters. What elements of masculinity do those characters represent in the novel?

Hoffman uses historical and literary quotations throughout the novel. Identify four examples of literary or historical quotations and analyze their function in the novel. Why does Hoffman use direct quotations? How do those quotations echo throughout the book? How do these quotations deepen the novel’s exploration of its major themes?

In addition to the direct references to classic literary works, Hoffman integrates multiple references to fairy tales. How do these references to fairy tales relate to the novel’s genre and/or major themes? Choose two to four specific textual examples and analyze them in consideration of the larger themes and messages in the novel.