“Bartleby, the Scrivener”
- Genre: Fiction; short story
- Originally Published: 1852
- Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1200L; grades 9-12; college/adult
- Structure/Length: Approx. 30 pages; approx. 1 hour, 29 minutes on audio
- Protagonist and Central Conflict: The narrator, a lawyer, hires a third scrivener (clerk) when his practice expands. The scrivener, Bartleby, is initially very industrious but gradually starts refusing to do any work tasks. The narrator wants to be kind but is perplexed by Bartleby’s odd behavior.
- Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mental health; homelessness; poverty
CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:
- The Function of Charity
- Literary Absurdity
- Poverty and Pity
STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Guide, students will:
- Develop an understanding of the historical and social context of “Bartleby, the Scrivener.”
- Analyze the character of Bartleby and explore themes of alienation, conformity, and power dynamics in a written, visual, or dramatic response.
- Engage in critical thinking and interpretation of the story’s meaning and themes in structured essay responses.