Publishing Data
Originally published in The Democratic Review, December 1844
Collected in Mosses from an Old Manse, 1846
Collected in Science Fiction, Stories and Contexts, ed. Heather Masri |
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| A young man falls under the spell of Rappaccini's daughter who has been the object of her father's experiments with powerful poisons. |
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| Background |
| Vertumnus is the Roman god of seasons, gardens, and plant growth. |
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| Navigation Guide |
| Characterize Rappaccini. |
| Characterize his daughter Beatrice. |
| Characterize Giovanni Guasconti. |
| Describe Rappaccini's garden. How does Rappaccini regard his garden? How does Beatrice regard the garden? |
Characterize the relationship between:
- Rappaccini and Beatrice
- Beatrice and Giovanni
- Giovanni and Rappaccini
- Pietro Baglioni and Rappaccini
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| Why can only Beatrice handle the plant beside the fountain? What is her connection to this plant? |
| Is Baglioni rightfully cncerned about Gionvanni or just jealous? Do you think he knows what will happen if Beatrice takes the antidote? |
| Why does Lisabetta show Giovanni the private entrance to the garden? |
| What does Beatrice mean when she asks Giovanni, "'O, was there not, from the first, more poison in thy nature than in mine?'" |
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| Further Exploration |
- "Rappaccini's Daughter" is one of the stories presented in the classic horror film Twice Told Tales (1963), starring Vincent Price.
- Compare Rappaccini to Kidder from "Microcosmic God" by Theodore Sturgeon
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