The film Easy A is intertextually linked to classic short novel The Scarlet Letter.

Scarlet Letter

This is a famous short novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in 1850. It is about Puritans in early USA colonies who ostracise a women because she had an affair. It’s about morality and nosy neighbours and religiousness and it’s quite spicy given the time period.

There is no need to read the novel, but if you would like to, it’s quite short. Here is a basic ebook: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/25344/25344-h/25344-h.htm or this ebook has a lot of extra information: http://www.emcp.com/previews/AccessEditions/ACCESS%20EDITIONS/The%20Scarlet%20Letter.pdf

But as I only need you to be familiar with the story, if you’re not confident enough to read the whole novel, you can view a 10 minute summary here: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/scarlet/video-summary/.

And the 1 minute summary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2554_07Lrk

An explanation of the themes and ideas of Scarlet Letter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UYZ7RiQHn8

Other References froM Easy A:

John Hughes Films

List of references to other films in Easy A: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1282140/movieconnections

Video essay about the use of references in Easy A: John Hughes … without John Hughes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNSqPkJLGG4

Article about the features of John Hughes films: https://www.cinelinx.com/movie-news/movie-stuff/directors-trademarks-john-hughes

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:

See on Netflix. Video clips: http://bssyear11englishcomms.weebly.com/ferris-buellers-day-off.html

The Breakfast Club

See on Netflix. Video clips: http://bssyear11englishcomms.weebly.com/the-breakfast-club.html

Say Anything

Sadly, not available to stream in Australia. Video clips: http://bssyear11englishcomms.weebly.com/say-anything.html

Sixteen Candles

See on Binge. Video clips: http://bssyear11englishcomms.weebly.com/sixteen-candles.html

Can’t Buy Me Love

Sadly, not available to stream in Australia. Video clips: http://bssyear11englishcomms.weebly.com/cant-buy-me-love.html