Scarlet Letter Test Review

Which of the following best describes why prisons are referred to as the "black flower of civilized society" in the novel?

Prisons punish sin yet also feed on sin in order to grow

What does the speaker imagine is the significance of the wild rose bush growing next to the prison door?

It offers the prisoners comfort and forgiveness from nature

What does the narrator say the rose blossom symbolizes for the story he plans to tell?

The moral of the story

According to the narrator, what two things did the Puritans consider to be almost identical?

Religion and the law

What do some of the Puritan women believe about Hester's punishment?

It was too lenient for the crime

What does Hester do when the prison guard puts a hand on her shoulder?

She shrugs him off and goes out toward the crowd alone

Why do some women in the crowd find Hester's scarlet letter inappropriate?

The embroidery is too lovely and elaborate

According to the narrator, how has Hester's sin affected her demeanor?

It has drained her of her natural beauty and charm

What effect does the scarlet letter have on Hester in relation to the crowd of Puritans?

It isolates her from the crowd

What is Hester required to do as part of her punishment?

Stand before the crowd on the scaffold for hours

Which of the following best describes why the Puritans make Hester suffer on the scaffold?

To create a spectacle designed to deter others from sinning

How does Hester endure her time on the scaffold?

By reminiscing about her past in England

What does Hester realize when she touches the scarlet letter and squeezes Pearl?

The letter and her baby are now her only reality.

How does Hester feel upon seeing her husband in the crowd?

Uneasy and alone

How does the narrator describe Chillingworth as he stands in the crowd?

As short, intelligent-looking, and somewhat deformed

What is Chillingworth's reaction when he realizes that the woman on the scaffold is his wife?

He signals to Hester to be silent

After a man expresses surprise that Chillingworth hasn't heard about Hester's notorious sin, why does Chillingworth say that he was held captive by Indians?

To protect his reputation by lying about his identity.

Why has Hester, who was previously married to an English scholar, lived alone for two years in Massachusetts?

Her husband was supposed to join her in Massachusetts but never came.

Which of the following best describes what Chillingworth means when he says that Hester will serve as a living "sermon against sin"?

Hester's very existence will act as a warning to others not to sin

What is ironic about Chillingworth's condemnation of the father of Hester's child for failing to reveal himself to the crowd?

Chillingworth is lying to protect his own identity as well.

After being called forth to address Hester, what does Reverend Dimmesdale demand that Hester do?

Publicly reveal the identity of her baby's father.

When Chillingworth visits the prison and gives healing concoctions to Pearl and Hester, why does Hester not trust her own husband?

He abandoned Hester and left her to endure punishment alone.

What does Chillingworth ask Hester to do for him?

Swear never to identify him as her husband.

What does Hester do upon being released from prison?

She moves into an abandoned cottage on the outskirts of town.

What is one way in which the Puritans' interactions with Hester reveal their hypocrisy?

They're willing to benefit from Hester's work as a seamstress while shunning her personally.

What is one of the main reasons for Hester's increasing loneliness over the years?

Pearl is a constant reminder of her sin.

What trait does Hester pass on to her daughter Pearl?

Her strong and defiant spirit

What does Pearl innately sense is linked to her and Hester's rejection by society?

Hester's scarlet letter

How do the townspeople perceive Pearl?

As the physical embodiment of sin

Which of the following best describes why the authorities' sudden concern about Pearl and Hester's welfare is hypocritical?

They publicly shunned Pearl and Hester for years yet now claim to care about them.

How does Pearl respond to being taunted by other children while on the way to visit Governor Bellingham?

She boldly fends the other children off.

Which of the following best describes what Governor Bellingham's aristocratic residence reveals about his character?

His hypocrisy in the face of Puritan austerity

What does Hester see when she looks at her reflection in the breastplate of a suit of armor at the Governor's residence?

Her reflection is completely hidden behind the scarlet letter.

What does Pearl ask Hester for as they walk through the ornamental gardens at the Governor's residence?

A red rose from a rose bush

What do John Wilson, Chillingworth and Dimmesdale tease Pearl about when they arrive at the Governor's residence?

Her scarlet clothing

What does Hester say when Governor Bellingham asks how she can justify keeping Pearl?

That she will teach Pearl what she's learned from wearing the scarlet letter.

What does Pearl say when Mr. Wilson asks her who made her?

That she was plucked from a rose bush

What does the Governor suggest after hearing Pearl fail to say that God made her?

A closer investigation into Hester's fitness as a mother

Why does Dimmesdale argue that Pearl should remain with Hester?

Pearl was sent by God as Hester's punishment and guard against sinning again.

How does Chillingworth react to Dimmesdale's speech in defense of Hester?

By noting Dimmesdale's unusual passion and conviction.

What does Pearl do when she approaches Dimmesdale?

She tenderly grasps his hand

What does Mistress Hibbins invite Hester to as she and Pear leave the Governor's residence?

A witches' gathering in the woods

Why does Chillingworth lie about being a doctor?

To hide his past from the authorities

What is one notable aspect of Dimmesdale's deteriorating health?

He frequently covers his heart with his hand

As both Chillingworth and Dimmesdale begin to suffer physically, what does the outward state of their bodies reflect?

Their inner turmoil

What does Chillingworth suspect is causing Dimmesdale's physical suffering?

Stress from keeping a secret.

What does the image of Pearl attaching prickly burrs to Hester's scarlet letter, to which the burrs "tenaciously" cling, represent?

- Pearl's fascination with the letter and the secret behind it

- The pain that wearing the letter causes Hester

- The way the letter itself clings to Hester's identity

What does Pearl do when she notices that Dimmesdale is watching her and Hester in the graveyard?

She throws a burr at Dimmesdale and warns Hester that the Black Man has possessed him.

What does Chillingworth do while Dimmesdale is asleep?

Chillingworth pushes aside Dimmesdale's shirt and sees something on his chest.

Why does Chillingworth embark on a campaign to make Dimmesdale as miserable as possible?

He is convinced that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father.

What does Dimmesdale's description of himself in a sermon as a "pollution and a lie" suggest about the way his sin has affected him?

It has allowed him to empathize with other sinners

As Dimmesdale punishes himself physically and emotionally for his sin, what does the novel imply is the only thing that will relieve his suffering?

Confessing his sin

Which of the following best describes why Dimmesdale climbs the town scaffold at night?

To privately relive the experience of Hester and Pearl.

What does Pearl ask Dimmesdale to do when they meet on the scaffold?

To appear on the scaffold with her and Hester in public

What choice does Dimmesdale make after Chillingworth appears and urges him to get down from the scaffold?

To continue hiding his sin and return home with Chillingworth.

What does the fact that the townspeople believe the letter "A" in the sky stands for "angel," reflect about their character?

Their blindness to the sinning in their midst.

After seven years, what has the embroidered scarlet letter evolved into for Hester?

A symbol of her newfound acceptance by the community.

Having stolen her beauty and spirit, what does Hester's difficult, isolated life push her to do?

- Retreat into the world of the mind

- Doubt whether her own life is worth living

- Contemplate murdering Pearl

In her decision to confess that Chillingworth is her husband, how does Hester's treatment of Dimmesdale compare to Dimmesdale's treatment of Hester throughout the novel?

Hester is trying to save Dimmesdale though Dimmesdale never tried to save her.

After Chillingworth tells Hester that the council has considered letting her remove her letter, which of the following best describes Hester's response?

She insists on removing the letter on her own terms

What have Chillingworth's secrets and quest for revenge done to him?

Made him inhuman, unable to forgive, and miserable

In not revealing Dimmesdale's link to Hester, what has Chillingworth prioritized?

Dimmesdale's reputation

How does Hester's admission that she is to blame for Chillingworth's downfall differentiate her from other characters in the novel?

It shows that she is willing to take responsibility for her mistakes

What does Hester plan to do regarding Chillingworth and Dimmesdale?

Reveal Chillingworth's true identity to Dimmesdale

What does Hester think of Chillingworth after he departs?

She hates him for tricking her into thinking she'd be happy as his wife

What has Pearl done by the seaside while waiting for Hester?

She has arranged seaweed to form a letter "A" on her own chest

What does Hester tell Pearl is the reason she wears the scarlet letter?

Because of its beautiful gold thread

Which of the following best describes why Hester chooses to meet Dimmesdale in the forest?

Nature provides privacy and freedom from societal constraints.

Who is the "Black Man" who haunts the forest in the story Pearl describes?

The Devil

How does Hester respond when Pearl asks if the Black Man put the scarlet letter on her chest?

She confirms the false story of the letter's origin.

As Dimmesdale approaches with his hand over his heart, what connection does Pearl make between her mother and her father?

She believes they both bear marks from the Black Man.

What does Dimmesdale believe would be preferable to his life of deception?

Wearing a scarlet letter in public

What is Dimmesdale's reaction when Hester reveals Chillingworth's true identity?

He blames Hester for his suffering but then forgives her

What is significant about the solution Hester offers to Dimmesdale to leave Boston for Europe?

It involves running away from their secrets.

What does Hester feel after she flings away her scarlet letter?

Relief

How does the narrator describe Pearl's relationship to nature as she plays in the forest?

She fits right in with the natural world

What is significant about Pearl's refusal to return to her mother until she puts the scarlet letter back on?

It conveys the letter is part of Hester's identity and cannot be easily discarded

Which of the following best describes why Pearl washes off Dimmesdale's kiss?

Pearl won't accept Dimmesdale as her father until he publically accepts her

How does Dimmesdale's demeanor change after he decides to flee to Europe with Hester and Pearl?

He feels the urge to speak blasphemously to strangers

How does Chillingworth react when Dimmesdale declares that his health has improved and he no longer needs medication?

Chillingworth suspects that Dimmesdale has met with Hester but pretends to be relieved

What is the significance of Dimmesdale starting his sermon from scratch?

It represents his wish to begin his sermon and his life anew

Who are Hester and Pearl waiting for during the inauguration day?

The new governor

According to the narrator, how does the Puritan style of celebration compare to events in England?

Puritan celebrations are more somber than those in England

What information does the commander of the vessel bound for England convey to Hester?

Chillingworth will be aboard the ship

How does Dimmesdale's remote, energetic appearance in the procession of officials affect Hester?

She begins to fear that the bond they felt in the forest was an illusion

What does Mistress Hibbins suggest about Hester and Dimmesdale?

They are both servants of the Black Man

Who does Mistress Hibbins say is Pearl's father?

Dimmesdale

What is significant about the "Indian's" belief that Hester's scarlet letter is a mark of distinction among her people?

It highlights that the letter is not inherently a badge of shame

What does Dimmesdale do after his sermon?

He asks Hester and Pearl to approach him at the scaffold

With Hester and Pearl at his side, what dramatic action does Dimmesdale take on the scaffold?

He announces his guilt and reveals a scarlet letter carved into his breast

What is one impact of Dimmesdale's public confession?

Dimmesdale escapes the prison of secrecy created by both himself and Chillingworth

What impact does Dimmesdale's confession have on Pearl?

It connects her to humanity.

What is Dimmesdale's final message as he dies?

He thanks God for the trials and ordeals that led to his confession

What are the various explanations for the origin of Dimmesdale's scarlet letter?

- It developed naturally from Dimmesdale's remorse

- It was carved by Dimmesdale himself

- Chillingworth created it through magic poisons

According to the narrator, what is the moral message of the story?

Be true and honest with the world about your flaws

How does Chillingworth's life after Dimmesdale's death compare to Pearl's?

Chillingworth withers away without sin to feed on while Pearl finds a joyful life within society

Which of the following best describes what the fact that Hester continued to wear the scarlet letter until her death represents?

Her acceptance of the letter as a part of herself

What "constant habit" does Reverend Dimmesdale practice?

He puts his hand over his heart.

What reason is given for why Chillingworth shadows/lives with Dimmesdale?

Chillingworth says he is serving as Dimmesdale's physician/doctor to attend to his failing health.

What does Dimmesdale room tapestry allude to with the story of David and Bathesba on it?

It alludes to the sin of adultery and how a seemingly righteous man (like King David) can commit a terrible sin, which parallels Dimmesdale's own secret sin.