Scarlet Letter

What was the prison door to the jail made of ?

Oak

In what month does chapter one take place ?

June

3. Who thinks that Hester's punishment / sentence is too light ?

The women of the town

One person suggests that Hester should have an iron brand burned where ?

On her forehead

How old is the baby in Hester's arms when we first see her

Three months

What color is the thread that embroiders the scarlet letter ?

Gold

When the doctor gives Hester something to drink , what does she think is in the cup ?

Poison

8. What is the " pedestal of infamy ? "

The scaffold

Why does Hester stay in New England ?

It is the scene of her crime

Hester's work is seen everywhere except for :

At weddings

How does Hester dress her daughter ?

In the " richest tissue

According to the narrator , what is the first thing that Pearl noticed , as a baby ?

The scarlet letter

What is Hester delivering to the governor's house when she goes there in chapter seven ?

Gloves

What does Pearl desperately desire from the governor's garden ?

A rose

Who is with the governor when Hester visits his house to deliver something ?

Wilson , Dimmesdale , and Chillingworth

Why is Pearl's mother questioned about the custody of her baby

Because of her sin

When Wilson asks Pearl who made her , what does she answer ?

That her mother had picked her off a rose bush

Which man at the governor's house argues that Hester should be allowed to keep Pearl ?

Dimmesdale

The title of Chapter 9 ( " The Leech " ) refers to which character ?

Chillingworth

What is the health problem with Dimmesdale ?

Failing health

Where does Chillingworth take up residence ?

With Dimmesdale , same room

like one of those gleams of ghastly fire " ? eyes in Chapter 10 refers to which character : " burning blue and ominous , like a reflection of a furnace The following description of someone's

Chillingworth

Where has Chillingworth been gathering herbs , when he is asked by the minister in Chapter 10 ?

In a graveyard

Which character say , ironically , " why should a wretched man , guilty , we will say , of murder , prefer to keep the dead corpse buried in his own heart , rather than fling it forth at once " ?

Dimmesdale

Whom did Dimmesdale and Chillingworth see out the window at the end of Chapter 107

Hester and Pearl

While his health is failing , Dimmesdale has achieved what in his profession ?

Brilliant popularity

According to the narrator , why do most Puritans fast ?

To purify their bodies

Where does the minister go in the beginning of Chapter 12 ?

To the scaffold

How is Mistress Hibbins related to Governor Winthrop ?

His sister

What , according to many of the townspeople who have come to appreciate Hester , should the A stand for ?

Able

What does Chillingworth say in Chapter 14 the town council has been debating ?

Whether to take away the scarlet letter

What does Hester threaten to do at the end of Chapter 14

dBetray Chillingworth's identity

In chapter 15 , while Pearl is playing , she makes a little boat out of what ?

Birch bark

What color the letter A that Pearl fashions for herself out of natural objects ?

Green

When Pearl repeatedly asks Hester what the letter stands for , what does Hester tell her in Chapter 15 ?

She does not give an answer

Why according to Pearl , does sunshine " run away and hide itself " from Hester ?

Because of the scarlet letter

According to Hester in Chapter 16 , where does she telI Pearl she got the scarlet letter ?

From the black man

Where does Dimmesdale hold his hand often throughout the novel ?

Over his heart

What does Hester tell Dimmesdale about Chillingworth in Chapter 17 ?

That he is her husband

What does Hester mean when she says " Thou shalt not go alone " at the end of Chapter 17 ?

That she will run away with Dimmesdale

According to the narrator , which of the following has NOT been one of Hester's " teachers " ?

Guilt

What does Hester fling next to the brook ?

Her scarlet letter

In chapter 19 , how does Dimmesdale say Pearl looks ?

Strangely beautiful

Why will Pearl not come to Hester in chapter 19 ?

She has taken off the letter

What does Pearl do when Dimmesdale kisses her ?

She washes it off

Where have Hester and Dimmesdale decided would be the best place to escape to ?

Europe

What does Dimmesdale tell Chillingworth while he is writing the sermon in chapter 20 ?

That he no longer needs his services as doctor

What is the holiday referred to in the title of chapter 21 ?

The arrival of the new governor

Who , in the procession , " exhibited such energy as was seen in the gait and air " ?

Dimmesdale

Pearl recognizes a man in the procession who did what ?

aKissed her by the brook

Who in the audience taunts Hester and Pearl at the appearance of Dimmesdale ?

Hibbins

Dimmesdale's voice is compared to what natural phenomenon in Chapter 23 ?

Swelling waves of the sea

Whom does Dimmesdale call up to join him in front of everyone ?

Hester and Pearl

What is Dimmesdale's " own red stigma " ?

An " A " carved in his chest

How long did it take before Chillingworth died ?

Less than a year

Who inherited money and property from Chillingworth ?

Pearl

What suggests that Pearl will have a child of her own at the end of the novel ?

Hester is sewing infant clothes

Next to whom is Hester eventually buried ?

Dimmesdale

What is the setting of The Scarlet Letter

Boston , June 1642

symbolism of each of these items Nathaniel Hawthorne describes a prison a cemetery ugly weeds and a wild rosebush Explain the

Prison punishment cemetery death ugly weeds decay of people and wild rosebush last glimmer of hope good and bad

What is the mood of The Scarlet Letter

Doom

For what sin is Hester Prynne condemned ?

adultery

What is the public view of Hester's sin as expressed by the women outside the prison ? What do their comments suggest about this society

'Some woman are compassionate but most women shamed her and thought her punishment wasn't enough

What is Hester's punishment

'Scarlet letter, stand on Scalpel, and hold her baby

What is Hester's attitude towards her sin and punishment ?

'Shame

One way Hester endures her punishment is by dreaming of her past . What does the flashback reveal about Hester's past ?

She parents but lived in poverty, she liked an older man and thought he would give her money

Who appears in the crowd as Hester stands on the scaffold ? What is Hester's reaction ?

She sees her husband, clutches her baby

Where has Chillingworth been ? What motion does he make to Hester ?

-With the Indians, he tells her to be quiet by putting his finger over his lips and not to let anyone know he's there

Who is Dimmesdale ? What appeal does he use to convince Hester to reveal the baby's father ?

— Young local minister, he says that she should admit to who the father is, he silently while he goes on with his life

Why does Hester fear Chillingworth ?

He might poison her baby out of spite

Explain Chillingworth's attitude toward Hester .

He blames himself but also insults her

What does Chillingworth intend to do and why ?

'He wants to know the babies father, he wants to take revenge on the man who destroyed his marriage

What does Chillingworth ask Hester to promise ? Why does she agree ?

'To conceal his identity she agrees because he promises not to hurt the baby father and child

Explain Hester's comment to Chillingworth , " Thy acts are like mercy ... But thy words interpret thee as a terror ! " ( pg . 63 ) What details reinforce the image of Chillingworth as someone to be feared ?

— is dark, chilling, black man ( Satan )

In this chapter , the narrator summarizes months of Hester's life . Describe Hester's home , including any symbolism of its location . How does she earn a living ?

Small cottage on the outskirts, surrounded by infertile land, surviving not thriving, works seamstress

Give two reasons why Hester decides to remain instead of moving to a less - restrictive colony .

It's where her punishment was given, she is still in love with Dimmesdale

How do the townspeople treat Hester , and how does she react ?

'Mean to her, kids are afraid of her, but she still does charity work for them

How does Hester change ?

'Nervous and uneasy in the beginning, as the chapter progresses she accepts her feet, more serious and humble

Describe the difference between Hester's clothing and her child's .

'Hester's clothing - plain dark gray black clothing, pearl clothing - lavish, beautiful, makes clothes with pride, always fashionable

Why do people allow Hester to sew for them ?

'She is extremely talented

Describe Pearl .

'Very beautiful common names pearl because she was purchased with Hester's purity

How is Pearl's wild and anti - social behavior explained ?

'Pearl notices how the towns people treat her mother, becomes antisocial, acts out for her mother

Explain the ambiguity concerning Pearl's background .

'Fatherless, demon child, thinks she is from the wild rosebush, embodiment of Hesters Synn

Why does Hester ask Pearl , " Art thou my child ? " ( pg . 79 )

'If she is a demon child

Hester believes that , while society punishes her for sinning , God has a different reaction . How does Hester explain Pearl's existence ?

'Biggest blessing, who ends up saving her life

Why does Hester go to the governor's house ?

-Needed to deliver gloves, make sure they won't take Pearl away from her

How is Pearl dressed , and what is her dress compared to ?

-She is dressed in a crimson velvet tunic which is compared to the scarlet letter, embodies the scarlet letter

Explain the incident with the breastplate .

-Pearl calls her mother to look in the mirror and sees the a

Consider the descriptions of the governor's house . What is Hawthorne suggesting about the governor ?

-English base prominent lavish household, this means he loves luxury

How do the magistrates react to Pearl and why ?

They tease her, call her bird, question her, what she thinks about God, they are shocked because it seems like Hester is raising her properly

How are the magistrates convinced to let Hester keep Pearl ?

Dimmesdale convince them to let Hester keep pearl, pearl is a blessing and a punishment

How does Hester behave towards the magistrates and why

Hester tells him that she'll be able to teach an important lesson

Explain Pearl's response when asked by the governor , " Canst thou tell me , my child , who made thee ? " ( Pg . 89 ) Explain the symbolism in her answer .

'She says she wasn't made but instead her mother plucked her off the wild rosebush outside the prison door, symbolism shows Perle grows wildly, beautifully, delicately, but has thorns

What happens at the end of the chapter that illustrates Dimmesdale's point about the child helping Hester ?

-Invite Hester her to sign the black book, but if Pearl wins taken away she would have done it

Describe how Dimmesdale has changed since Hester's public punishment

'His health has started to decline, guilt eating him alive

Describe how Chillingworth has changed over the last few years .

'Much uglier features, need for revenge, disfigured

What dual role does Dimmesdale say Pearl plays ?

'She's a reminder of punishment, but a reminder Hester hast to stay godly for pearl

A difference of opinion arises over the cause of Dimmesdale's failing health . Compare the townspeople's opinion to that of Dimmesdale's .

'Believed it was due to Dimmesdale's Ernest devotion to study

Why does Dimmesdale reject Chillingworth's offer of help ? What finally persuades him to accept the offer ?

'Because of the guilt he is OK with dying, he a persuaded by the church to allow chilling worth medical help, living Chillingsworth is a great person

Explain the meaning of the chapter's title , " The Leech . "

Chillingworth is a "leech/feeds on" Dimmesdale's suffering.