The Scarlet Letter Study Guide

• The Scarlet Letter Study Guide
• The Scarlet Letter Study Guide Ch 12-20

Chapter 1  “The Prison Door”

1. What colony is the setting for the novel?

2. Where in the colony does the opening chapter take place?
   
   
3. For what 2 “practical necessities” did the new colony set aside land?
   
   
4. Who is Anne Hutchinson?  How does Hawthorne feel about her?
   
   
5. What 2 possible symbols does the rose have for the reader?

Chapter 2  “The Market-Place”

1. Name 3 crimes and the punishments that the Puritans might witness.
   
   
2. What is the relationship between religion and law in Puritan New England?
   
   
3. Describe the Puritan women.  Use one quote from the book to support your answer.
   
   
4. What punishments would the Puritan women have given Hester Prynne if it were left to them?
   
   
5. Describe the appearance of Hester Prynne.
   
   
6. What is Hester’s sin?  Punishment?
   
   
7. What is astonishing about the “A” on her bodice?
   
   
8. Why is Hester taken to the scaffold in the market-place?
   
   
9. What things does Hester think about while she is on the scaffold?
   
   
10. How old is her baby?
    
    
11. What detail is given to suggest the baby was born in jail?

Chapter 3  “The Recognition”

1. Describer the man who is standing on the outskirts of the crowd.
   
   
2. What prior reference was made in Chapter 2 that reminds the reader of this man?
   
   
3. What gesture does he make to Hester that suggests he knows her?
   
   
4. What does the stranger learn from the townsman next to him?
   
   
5. Who is the father of Hester’s baby?
   
   
6. What is the usual punishment for adultery?  Why is Hester’s punishment less severe?
   
   
7. What are Hester’s feelings toward the stranger?
   
   
8. Who is Bellingham ?  John Wilson?
   
   
9. What do Bellingham and Wilson want Hester to do?
   
   
10. Describe Dimmesdale.
    
    
11. What is his relationship to Hester?  What does he ask her to reveal?
    
    
12. Why won’t Hester name the child’s father?

Chapter 4  “The Interview”

1. How does Hester act when she returns to prison?
   
   
2. Why does the jailer call a doctor?
   
   
3. What is the doctor’s name?
   
   
4. Where did the “doctor” learn his skill?
   
   
5. Quote 2 lines that indicate the doctor and Hester know each other before this meeting.
   
   
6. What is the relationship between Chillingworth and Hester?
   
   
7. Why should Hester’s marriage be a failure?
   
   
8. Did Hester ever love her husband?  Quote Hester to support your answer.
   
   
9. What does Chillingworth vow to do?
   
   
10. What secret does Chillingworth ask Hester to keep?
    
    
11. What symbol is introduced for Chillingworth in Hester’s final lines in this chapter?

Chapter 5: “Hester at Her Needle”

1. What “general symbol” has Hester become?

2. Give at least 2 reasons why Hester does not leave the colony.

3. Describe Hester’s home.

4. What talent did Hester use to support herself and Pearl ?

5. What garments is Hester not allowed to sew?

6. Why type of dress did Hester wear?  Pearl ?

7. What does Hester do that shows she has a charitable nature?

8. How did the poor, the ladies of Boston , the clergy, and the children treat Hester?

9. What special knowledge does Hester feel the Scarlet Letter gives her? 

Chapter 6: “ Pearl ”

1. Why did Hester name her child “ Pearl ” ?

2. Give at least two reasons why Hester does not leave the colony.

3. Describe Hester’s home.

4. What talent did Hester use to support herself and Pearl ?

5. What does the Scarlet Letter mean to Pearl ?

6. What did the townspeople say about Pearl ?

Chapter 7:  “The Governor’s Hall”

1. Name 2 reasons Hester visits Governor Bellingham.

2. How are the Scarlet Letter and Pearl alike?

Chapter 8:  “The Elf and the Minister”

1. Who are the other visitors at the Governor’s house?

2. How much time has elapsed since the opening scene?

3. With what creatures of fantasy is Pearl continually compared?

4. How has Chillingworth changed since Hester last saw him?

5. Why does John Wilson question Pearl ?

6. How has Rev. Dimmesdale changed since Hester’s public humiliation?

7. Who pleads successfully for Hester to keep her child?

8. To which visitor does Pearl respond to lovingly?

Chapter 9:  “The Leech”

1. What new identity has Chillingworth assumed in Boston ?  Why is he successful?

2. To whom in the colony does Chillingworth attach himself as a medical advisor?

3. Describe Dimmesdale’s health.  See p. 123-124.

4. What gesture has become Dimmesdale’s habit?

5. Quote a sentence from this chapter that associates Chillingworth with evil.

6. What two opposing views do the townspeople hold about Roger Chillingworth?

Chapter 10:   “The Leech and His Patient”

1. What “investigation” consumes Chillingworth?
2. Who is Chillingworth’s main suspect and victim?
3. What is a leech?  What double meaning does the world “leech” have?
4. What secret does Chillingworth believe is buried in Dimmesdale’s heart?
5. Why would Dimmesdale live with guilt and not confess his sin openly?
6. What reaction does Pearl have to Chillingworth when she sees him with Rev. Dimmesdale?
7. What discovery does Chillingworth make when Dimmesdale “fell into a deep, deep slumber”?

Chapter 11:  “The Interior of a Heart”

1. What effect does Reverend Dimmesdale’s guilt have upon his popularity in the colony?

2. What practices does Dimmesdale begin as a result of his guilt?

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Q&A: Question: (11/2/2009) What 2 possible symbols does the rose have for the reader? ???? (11/3/2009)     Answer has been submitted and is awaiting approval. Question: (11/2/2009) cite three specific images that suggest the decline in importance of the Custom House. Question: (10/29/2009) what are the symbol for the rose Answer: (10/31/2009) beauty upon ugliness Question: (10/28/2009) for what 2 "practical necessities" did the new colony set aside land? Answer: (10/31/2009) cemetary and jail Question: (10/27/2009) What is Hawthorne's point comparing Hester's and Dimmesdales reactions to their sins? Question: (10/27/2009) How is Pearls wild and antil-social behavior explained Answer: (10/31/2009) she is the devils child Question: (10/27/2009) desribe dimmesdale's health Answer: (10/31/2009) very sickly deteriating health Answer: (10/29/2009) he is sick Question: (10/27/2009) What symbolic meaning could the sunlight have in the scarlette letter Answer: (10/31/2009) exposure of sins Answer: (10/28/2009) the sunlight represents the truth Question: (10/26/2009) where does dimmesdale hold his vigils? Answer: (10/31/2009) on the scaffold Answer: (10/31/2009) his chest Question: (10/25/2009) Describe the changes in Hester's appearance and temperment wrought by the scarlet token ...More Questions/Answers...		Comments: Bria (11/2/2009) Pearl means of great price. happenstanced (10/23/2009) the wall; It's not about the book. The book is not the point. It's about what you learn from critiquing the book. It's about critical thinking. This is critical to your future. Have an English teacher critique what you wrote and posted here. Therein lies your answer to why the easy way is not the right way and to cheat is only cheating yourself. Believe it or not one day, down the road, someone will mention, in your presents, something about "The Scarlet Letter" and you may have something to contribute to the conversation. And it may be the love of your life. Get busy! the wall (10/19/2009) all of you that say "look in the book thats were youll find the answers" I dont care maybe I do want to cheat,Maybe I Do want the easy way. But what does it matter Im Never going to need to know anything about the scarlet letter or its boring plot and adultering characters. A high school English teacher (10/12/2009) Thank you very much for posting these questions. I really appreciate it. For those of you wanting the answers (and I looked for them myself on this site), look in the book. I know, it's redundant. But if you have to reread the chapter, reread it. So many times we look for the easy (a.k.a. lazy) way out. I did. That's why I'm here. But, like you, I'll have to go back through the chapters for the answers. Too many students are looking for the internet to do their homework for them (I run into it daily). Do the work. At some point in your life you're going to have to. If you need help studying for a test, call a classmate. Or, I know this sounds crazy, but ask...your...teacher... Part of what we get paid for is helping you with our material. MG79887 (10/7/2009) Really this isn't for a grade in my class its just for our benefit so the teacher says we have to find it all. I have a test next week and don't have any idea if some of my answers are right and some I couldn't find. If you know where the answers are please reply if not don't try being my parent. You dont know my situation so don't try to say I am using it to cheat because yes I understand it only hurts me. Kkaa (10/7/2009) I also need the answers and i have read the book so whoever is saying "read the book" well i already have but this is graded on accuracy so i'd like an answer that is easy to get 2 instead of wasting hours looking up each answer. would be awesome if someone could answer them. A visitor by happenstance (10/6/2009) My young friends, if you’re the "student" that wants answers posted for you, have an upcoming test, need answers, would love to "have" the answers, want too seriously get some answers and/or want to find all the answers, the answers lie not in the works of others: the answers lie within the works of "you". Skimming by on what other people do will make you weak. Not physically weak yet, intellectually. Do not allow yourself to be taught "what" to think buy seeking the answers of the those that have done the work. Do the work and the research yourself and teach yourselves "how" to think. Don't be the snail riding on the back of the turtle. Kelly (9/12/2009) I agree with those who say that the answers are in the book. Those who are posting "recall" questions are not reading the book. They just can't have read the book and not know the answers to these questions. The questions are even sorted by chapter, so just go back and look on those pages! Ask for help with deeper questions, not ones that are checking to see if you have read the book...which you probably haven't! meg (8/24/2009) dont be rude if they need help they need help dont be on the site if you not gonna help Sarah (8/10/2009) Seriously, all the answers are in the book. DO THE READING. This is just a study guide; it doesn't have answers because you're supposed to know them from the reading Shego (4/22/2009) All the answers are in the book! I've already filled it out. Allen (3/24/2009) Where can I find the answers? IN THE BOOK!! READ THE BOOK. honey (3/11/2009) if someone could post the answers that would be great k thanks Jawanaman (3/11/2009) I have a test tomorrow and would very much so like some answers to numbers every question thank you spiffy guy (3/11/2009) i need answers mpls (3/10/2009) I'd LOVE the answers. J-dog (3/8/2009) yeah seriously can i get some answers? noelle (3/8/2009) where can i find all the answers to this study guide?