Bartleby, the Scrivener

“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

Herman Melville, Author

• Bio: 1819-1891; born in New York City; American novelist, short story writer, and poet; best known for his novel Moby-Dick; after the death of his father when he was 12, got a job as a clerk at New York State Bank; his works often delve into philosophical and psychological themes
• Other Works: Moby-Dick (1851); Billy Budd (1924; published posthumously)

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.