The Three Golden Apples

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

Rating 4.2

Word count: 52K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Three Golden Apples by Nathaniel HawthorneAuthor: Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864,Language: English, Class: PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres, Release Date: Nov 1, 2005

Editor's review

Hawthorne retells heroic legends from classical myth in prose that is elegant yet never short on narrative drive—a fine bridge into English literature and into comparative reading of myths. The book is short and its storyline clear, centering on a hero's adventure to obtain the golden apples; its dialogue and scene-setting combine Romantic color with moral import. The Project Gutenberg public-domain e-edition is easy to search and excerpt at any time, making it suitable as classroom support, for parent–child reading, or as close-reading material for self-learners. Readers can both feel how a nineteenth-century American writer reimagined Greek myth and use the story's choices and responsibilities to discuss character and duty. The drawback is that the text carries the language style of its era; some long sentences and allusions need notes, so readers should read alongside background material.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature lovers who want to encounter Hawthorne's narrative style through a short English text
English teachers who need myth-retelling material for classroom extension
Parents who hope to read classical stories with their children and discuss character
Self-learners preparing for close reading of English who want to build a store of elegant written expression

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic, complete introduction to the Greek mythological system
Beginners whose English reading is still basic and who cannot understand long sentences even with notes
Readers who prefer fast-paced modern narrative and lack patience for classical retellings

Reading tips

Read through once to grasp the plot, then go back over key dialogue and mark sentences that reveal character.
Read alongside background material on Greek myth and sort out how the retelling differs from the original.
For parent–child reading, pause after each chapter to discuss the motives and consequences behind the hero's choices.
Read aloud a passage you like to feel the rhythm and word choice of Hawthorne's sentences.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a complete, full-length work of myth?

No. It is a short story Hawthorne retold from classical myth; it is not long and focuses on one adventure, suitable for reading in one sitting or in several, rather than a systematic compendium of myths.

Can someone with average English read this public-domain e-book?

The language carries a nineteenth-century style, with many long sentences and allusions. Intermediate English reading ability is advisable, with notes or a translation for comparison; complete beginners will find it hard going.

Is it suitable for classroom use?

Yes, as supplementary material for short-text close reading or a unit on myth retelling. Teachers can select passages for language analysis and guide students to compare Hawthorne's version with the classical original.

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About the author

Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864 Author

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–1864) was an American novelist known for his engagement with Puritan tradition and moral allegory. He wrote about sin, guilt, confession, and social prejudice in a restrained style with vivid imagery, often using historical settings and legendary tales to reveal the subtleties of human nature. The collection here holds 98 of his works, including the frequently translated novel The Scarlet Letter, the short-story collection Twice-Told Tales, and children's books drawn from myth and legend such as A Wonder Book for Girls & Boys, Tanglewood Tales, The Gorgon's Head, and The Three Golden Apples, showing his dual interest in New England history and classical myth. His writing has had a lasting influence on American literature's treatment of conscience and identity. Publicly available details of his life are limited, so they are not elaborated here.