Scarlet Letter Study Guide Ch 1-10

For quiz from quizlet

As the story opens, a throng is gathered. Who are they and why have they gathered in the market place?

Townspeople/ puritans/ women gathered to see the public shaming of Hester Prynne

According to Hawthorne, what are the first two places allotted for in any new community?

Jail and a cemetery

Judging form the conversations of the Puritan women, what are their conceptions about sin, morality, and punishment?

strict and no exceptions

punishment is necessary for sin

younger= more passion

older= mature

ironic because there is a lot of gossiping behind Hester's back which could also be considered a sin/ unholy

What suggestion does Hawthorne make with the rose bush?

compares it to the prisoners/prison

-good/evil in people

What hints do you get in Chapter 2 about Hester's crime

adultery, she cheated on her husband and is now pregnant= a big sin

Describe Hester Prynne

Tall, thin, emotional, public humiliation, very beautiful, wears scarlet A on chest, makes the A herself

what is the usual punishment for Hester's crime?

death

Briefly relate the first description of the "stranger in the crowd"?

Chillingworth is old, hunched over, is truly a scholar

cover is that he is a physician using natural herbs/ remedies

What important question related to Hester's shrine is still unanswered?

Who the father of pearl is

What attitude do you have toward Puritan society after reading the first 3 chapters

very strict

extremely religious

hypocritical

unfair

How did Puritan ideas about crime and punishment differ from our ideas today

crimes/ punishment were decided by religion, everything was based around the puritan religion

today we separate church and state

Why does the jailer bring Roger Chillingworth to see Hester?

because he is disguised a as a physician, he is sent to check on the health of both Hester and Pearl b/c Hester is not eating

the baby seems to be experiencing Hester's pain

What is Chillingworth's real purpose for the visit?

to find out who the father is

and that he desires to seek revenge on the man that cheated with Hester

We know that Chillingworth is an assumed name. What connotations does the name itself have? How is his behavior during the visit to Hester consistent with these connotations?

CHILLingworth=cold

he acts cold b/c he is unkind and rude during his visit

How does Hester see her position in town after the discovery of her crime?

she is an outcast but the example of sin

she is an example of what not to do and what the consequences can be if you do sin

Hester's needlework was done for many in the community, but not for a certain group. Who was she not asked to work for and why?

she cannot work for a bride

cannot make wedding dresses or veils

brides are pure while Hester is not because she cheated on her husband

How does Pearl's life differ from those of the other children in town?

she is also an outcast like her mother

she is bullied and does not have a lot of friends

she does not play normal children's games

she is different because she is the result of a sin

she also does not have a father

What is symbolic about the name Pearl?

she is her mother's "treasure"

Pearls are also very rare

but Pearls also come from a very dark and disgusting place

Hawthorne repeatedly uses the word imp and elf to describe Pearl. In what way are these words appropriate regarding her character and behavior?

she is happy/ bubbly like an elf

but she is also different

in puritan society it is supposed to be constant work with less fun, while she is very energetic and playful

What two purposes does Hester have for visiting the Governor's mansion?

she goes to deliver gloves to him

she also goes to claim her right to raising/keeping Pearl

At the end of Chapter 7, why is Pearl crying?

because she cannot have the rose she wanted from the governors garden

Who intercedes for Hester in the matter of Pearl's custody?

Dimmesdale

what does Mistress Hibbins ask Hester to do?

asks Hester to go to the forest for a witch meeting with the devil

A close association develops between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Why does Chillingworth seek this association?

Chillingworth lives with Dimmesdale b/c he is suspicious of Dimmesdale for being the father of Pearl

He covers as a physician there to take care of Dimmesdale and give him the medications

How had Chillingworth gained some of his knowledge of herbs?

After being with the native americans for 2 years being held captive, he gained knowledge about natural herb remedies

What conclusion regarding Dimmesdale does Chillingworth reach? (Ch.9)

Chillingworth knows that Dimmesdale is hiding something, but he is still unsure about what he is hiding

What do you think Chillingworth sees when he secretly enters the minister's room?

Sees the "A" on Dimmesdale's chest

What effect does this incident have on the physician?

told Hester he would be able to know her partner by reading his heart, when he opens the minister's shirt he sees the "A"

surprised/happy because he never fully suspected Dimmesdale to be Pearls father but now he knows for sure

What secret practices does the minister engage in as a result of the "immoral troubles" that beset him? Why do you think he was doing this?

He starves himself by not eating, he also whips himself

this is his way of punishing himself for what he has done

it is also his way to deal with his guilt

As Hester has once done, Dimmesdale ascended the scaffold. At what time of day does he do this? What compels his action?

Dimmesdale does it in the middle of the night

he does this because he is drowning in guilt and it is a way to ease the guilt because it feels like he is confessing, but he is also not suffering through the shame that Hester had to go through

Pearl now 7 beings to display the quality of intuition. Give examples

talks/ discusses about the letter A (almost as a rhetorical question, understanding the answer lies beneath the question itself)

she begins to understand things about the people in the rest of the town

What guess would you make about the sight that made Chillingworth throw up

Chillingworth is very happy that he finally found out Hester's secret of who Pearl's father is. He see's the scarlet letter on Dimmesdale's chest in the minister's room. He vowed at the beginning of the story to find out who the father was, because not only did Dimmesdale wrong Hester by not admitting his sins to the rest of the town, but he also wronged Chillingworth by having an affair with his wife and having a child with her.

How is Ch.11 significant to the theme of the novel

demonstrates the theme of owning up to something

take/own your guilt

How has the attitude of the townspeople toward Hester changed during the seven years since her "crime" was committed? Why has this change occurred?

townspeople used to hate/be disgusted towards Hester. Hester was an outcast and often ignored in town

now she is more present in the community (she does nice things for people in the community)

this is because the "A" has taken the new meaning or "able" rather than "adultery"

but, she is not completely forgiven

How does Chillingworth respond to Hester's plea that he change his course of action?

He refuses to stop tormenting Dimmesdale

he is unmoved by her attempts and says "let the black flower blossom as it may"

What does Pearl keep asking? Why does Hester reply the way she does?

Pearl keeps on asking what the "A" on Hester's chest truly means

And why Dimmesdale keeps his hand over his heart

Hester says that she wears the letter because of its golden thread

she is trying to keep Pearl as innocent as possible

what inner changes in Chillingworth's character are made evident to Hester from his outward appearance? In what sense has he undertaken the devil's office?

He looks almost demonic because he is overtaken by desire and revenge

looks like he is in the shell of a man while blackness is taking over him

red light glaring in his eyes

Hawthorne's use of color imagery often has symbolic importance. Three color references appear in these chapters. In chapter 14, find references to red. At the end of chapter 14, what is the "black flower"? What contrast to another flower is suggested? Pearl constructs and wear a letter of her own. What is suggested by the color and material of her "A"

Scarlet Letter= red, symbolizing passion and sin

red in Chillingworth's eyes

Black Flower= evil and fate, which contrasts the rose as hope good things

Pearl's Letter= It is green, and is made out of seaweed. Pearl sees the scarlet letter differently from everyone else in town

What is your opinion of Hester as a parent

Hester is a good parent, because she cares only for her child and wants to protect her from evil in the world

Why does Hester plan to meet with Dimmesdale

she plans to tell him that Chillingworth is her husband and she is going to ambush him in the woods for privacy

How does Pearl occupy herself while Hester speaks with Dimmesdale

She pretends she is a mermaid in the water, kills a jellyfish, breaks a birds wing, and makes a green A

she plays with animals and picks flowers

Explain the significance of sunshine in this chapter

Sunshine is "flitting cheerfulness"

happiness, truth, life, and god

Hester (sinned woman) has no light on her, but Pearl does because she is innocent

What effect does Hester's information about Chillingworth have on Dimmesdale? How does this reaction change

first he is angry and blames her for his suffering, then he forgives Hester realizing that Chillingworth is a worse sinner than them both

What is Chillingworth's worst sin according to Dimmesdale?

desiring revenge on Dimmesdale

he has violated the holiness of the human heart

What decision do Hester and Dimmesdale make?

They decide to run away with Pearl to Europe

only thing holding Dimmesdale back are his duties as a minister

What does Pearl refuse to do? What must Hester do to persuade her?

Pearl won't cross the brook.

So Hester has to put on the letter, put her hair back in her hat, and return to the way she was

At what event will Dimmesdale be making a speech

election day (a religious holiday that marks the opening of the year's legislative session)

Who displayed more strength of character during the forest meeting, Hester or Dimmesdale? Give evidence.

Hester