The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850)

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) Comprehension Questions Chapter 1 1. In this chapter, the narrator summarizes 1. What is the setting of The Scarlet Letter? months of Hester’s life. Describe Hester’s 2. Hawthorne describes a prison, a cemetery, home, including any symbolism of its ugly weeds, and a wild rosebush. What location. How does she earn a living? might these items symbolize? 2. Give two reasons why Hester decides to 3. What is the mood (atmosphere) of the first remain in instead of moving to a less- chapter? restrictive colony. 3. How do the townspeople treat Hester, and Chapter 2 how does she react? 1. For what sin is Hester condemned? 4. How does Hester change? 2. What is the public view of Hester’s sin as 5. Describe the difference between Hester’s expressed by the women outside the clothing and her child’s. prison? What do their comments suggest 6. Why do people allow Hester to sew for about this society? them? 3. What is Hester’s punishment? 4. What is Hester’s attitude towards her sin Chapter 6 and punishment? 1. Describe Pearl. 5. One way Hester endures her punishment is 2. How is Pearl’s wild and anti-social behavior by dreaming of her past. What does the explained? flashback reveal about Hester’s past? 3. Explain the ambiguity concerning Pearl’s background. Chapter 3 4. Why does Hester ask Pearl, “Art thou my 1. Who appears in the crowd as Hester stands child?” on the scaffold? What is Hester’s reaction? 5. Hester believes that, while society punishes 2. Where has Chillingworth been? What her for sinning, God has a different motion does he make to Hester? reaction. How does Hester explain Pearl’s 3. Who is Dimmesdale? What appeal does he existence? use to convince Hester to reveal the baby’s father? Chapter 7 1. Why does Hester go to the governor’s Chapter 4 house? 1. Why does Hester fear Chillingworth? 2. How is Pearl dressed, and what is her dress 2. Explain Chillingworth’s attitude toward compared to? Hester? 3. Explain the incident with the breastplate. 3. What does Chillingworth intend to do and why? Chapter 8 4. What does Chillingworth ask Hester to 1. Consider the descriptions of the governor’s promise? Why does she agree? house. What is Hawthorne suggesting about 5. Explain Hester’s comment to Chillingworth, the governor? “Thy acts are like mercy….But thy words 2. How do the magistrates react to Pearl and interpret thee as a terror!” What details why? does reinforce the image of Chillingworth as 3. How does Hester behave towards the someone to be feared? magistrates and why? 6. What is implied in Chillingworth’s last line, 4. How are the magistrates convinced to let “No, not thine”? Hester keep Pearl? 5. Explain Pearl’s response when asked by the governor, “Canst thou tell me, my child, Chapter 5

Adapted from: Prestwick House Inc. The Scarlet Letter Teaching Unit. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House Inc., 1995. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) Comprehension Questions who made thee?” Explain the symbolism in 5. What does Chillingworth do while her answer. Dimmesdale sleeps, and what does his 6. What happens at the end of the chapter action symbolize? Describe Chillingworth’s that illustrates Dimmesdale’s point about reaction and what his response reveals the child helping Hester? about his character. 7. Describe how Dimmesdale has changed since Hester’s public punishment. Chapter 11 8. Describe how Chillingworth has changed 1. Explain the statement, “He [Chillingworth] over the last few years. became, thenceforth, not a spectator only, 9. What dual role does Dimmesdale say Pearl but a chief actor, in the poor minister’s plays? interior world.” 2. What makes Dimmesdale a good minister? Chapter 9 3. Why are Dimmesdale’s public assertions of 1. A difference of opinion arises over the guilt ironic? cause of Dimmesdale’s failing health. 4. Explain the ways that Dimmesdale tortures Compare the townspeople’s opinion to that himself. of Dimmesdale’s. 5. How is Chillingworth more pitiable than 2. Why does Dimmesdale reject Dimmesdale? Chillingworth’s offer of help? What finally 6. What is Hawthorne suggesting about the persuades him to accept the offer? effects of sin? 3. Explain the meaning of the chapter’s title, “The Leech.” Chapter 12 4. Describe Chillingworth’s method of 1. Why does Dimmesdale climb the scaffold at approach for treating illness. night? What is the source of his chest pain? 5. Describe the relationship between 2. Discuss how Dimmesdale’s behavior on the Dimmesdale and Chillingworth. scaffold reveals his psychological stress. 6. Some people in the community feel that 3. What other characters are walking around God has sent Chillingworth to heal their late at night and why? minister, but other people have a different 4. How does Dimmesdale feel as he holds view. Explain the second view about Pearl’s hand and why? Chillingworth. 5. Why does Pearl pull away from 7. How do the people explain “the gloom and Dimmesdale? terror in the depth of the poor minister’s 6. Describe the two seemingly supernatural eyes”? occurrences. What effect do they have? 7. How do the townspeople explain the Chapter 10 nighttime phenomenon? 1. Why does Dimmesdale seem to be hiding 8. How does Dimmesdale behave the next something during his conversation with day? Chillingworth? 2. How do the black flowers initiate a Chapter 13 discussion on hidden sins? 1. What is Hester’s position in the community 3. What explanation does Dimmesdale offer now that years have past? for not confessing a hidden sin? 2. How is the scarlet letter now interpreted? 4. What does Chillingworth mean when he 3. Compare the feelings of the general public mutters, “A strange sympathy betwixt soul to those of the community leaders and body! Were it only for the art’s sake, I regarding Hester Prynne. Explain why the must search this matter to the bottom!”? groups view her differently.

Adapted from: Prestwick House Inc. The Scarlet Letter Teaching Unit. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House Inc., 1995. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) Comprehension Questions 4. Why is Hester’s natural beauty diminished, 4. In what way does Hester acknowledge her and what could bring it back? sin to Pearl? 5. In what way is Hester an emancipated feminist? Chapter 17 6. Explain the statement: “It is remarkable, 1. Hester tries to comfort Dimmesdale when that persons who speculate the most boldly she says, “You have deeply and sorely often conform with the most perfect repented. Your sin is left behind you, in the quietude to the external regulations of days long past.” How does Dimmesdale society. The thought suffices them….” respond? 7. Compare the initial intent behind the 2. Describe Dimmesdale’s reaction when scarlet letter to the actual effect on Hester. Hester reveals Chillingworth’s identity. 8. What does Hester resolve to do and why? 3. Why does Dimmesdale forgive Hester? According to Dimmesdale, who is a worse Chapter 14 sinner than “the polluted priest” and why? 1. In what way does Chillingworth look like a 4. What “new horror” occurs to Dimmesdale? devil? 5. Explain Hester’s statement to Dimmesdale, 2. Why does Chillingworth think he has a “Wilt thou die for very weakness?” double reason for punishing Dimmesdale? 6. What does Hester give Dimmesdale? What 3. What pleas of Hester’s arouse sympathy is suggested in the last two lines? and admiration in Chillingworth? 4. What does Hester ask of Chillingworth? Chapter 18 What is his response? 1. What contrast does the narrator point out 5. Does Chillingworth seem to be in control of between Hester and Dimmesdale’s ability to his fate or controlled by his fate? leave town? 2. Why does Dimmesdale decide to flee with Chapter 15 Hester? 1. How does Hester feel about Chillingworth? 3. Describe the “exhilarating effect” that the 2. The narrator asks, “Had seven long years, decision to leave has on Hester and under the torture of the scarlet letter, Dimmesdale. How does Hawthorne use inflicted so much of misery, and wrought symbolism to reinforce this effect? out no repentance?” Has Hester repented 4. How does Hawthorne reinforce his idea that for her sin? nature is sympathetic with the union of 3. How does Pearl imitate her mother? How Hester and Dimmesdale? does Pearl explain Hester’s scarlet letter? 5. What idea is suggested by Pearl’s slow 4. Hester refuses to answer Pearl’s question approach and Dimmesdale’s fear of Pearl? about the meaning of the “A.” Why does Hester not confide in Pearl? Chapter 19 1. Why does Pearl “burst into a fit of passion” Chapter 16 when she stands across the brook from her 1. Hester is determined to warn Dimmesdale mother? about Chillingworth, but she will only meet 2. Why does Pearl make Hester don the him in the woods. Why will she not see scarlet letter again, and why must Hester Dimmesdale at his home? pick it up? 2. Hester contemplates upon her surroundings 3. How does Pearl react to her mother’s as she walks through the forest. Explain assertion that Dimmesdale loves them? what the footpath symbolizes in her mind. 4. Explain Pearl’s behavior towards the 3. How is Pearl compared to the babbling minister. brook?

Adapted from: Prestwick House Inc. The Scarlet Letter Teaching Unit. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House Inc., 1995. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) Comprehension Questions Chapter 20 6. What does Dimmesdale ask from Pearl? 1. Describe the minister’s wicked impulses as What effect does this have on Pearl? he returns to town. 7. Explain Dimmesdale’s parting words to 2. Why is Dimmesdale suddenly behaving Hester. wickedly? 3. What does Dimmesdale wonder when he Chapter 24 pauses in the street? 1. What theories are given about the scarlet 4. Has Dimmesdale committed a deadly sin by letter imprinted in the minister’s flesh? planning to escape with Hester? 2. Some witnesses deny seeing a letter on Dimmesdale’s chest, and they claim that his Chapter 21 dying words do not imply guilt. According to 1. In this chapter, Hawthorne makes frequent these witnesses, why does Dimmesdale mention of the colors gray, black (sable), embrace Hester before he dies? and brown. What does the emphasis on 3. What happens to Chillingworth? What does those colors suggest? he give Pearl? 2. What bad news does Hester receive from 4. What becomes of Pearl? the ship captain? 5. Explain Hawthorne’s conclusion for Hester. 3. In addition to providing more information, what other purpose does this chapter serve? 4. Explain the significance of Pearl’s comment on the behavior of Reverend Dimmesdale. 5. What do darkness and light symbolize?

Chapter 22 1. Explain three things that depress Hester. 2. What is different about Dimmesdale? 3. What does Pearl want from Dimmesdale? 4. Explain the remarks, “The sainted minister in the church! The woman of the scarlet letter in the market-place!”

Chapter 23 1. Why does Dimmesdale stand “on the very proudest eminence of superiority” before the crowd? 2. What does Dimmesdale do when he leaves the church and approaches Hester? 3. What is Chillingworth’s reaction when Dimmesdale approaches the scaffold? Explain Chillingworth’s statement, “There was no one place…where thou couldst have escaped me,—save on this very scaffold!” 4. What does Hester answer when Dimmesdale says, “Is not this better…than what we dreamed of in the forest?” 5. What does Dimmesdale dramatically reveal to the crowd?

Adapted from: Prestwick House Inc. The Scarlet Letter Teaching Unit. Clayton, DE: Prestwick House Inc., 1995.