Scarlet Letter Study Guide

7. Give a brief description of Hester.

" The young woman was tall, with a figure of perfect elegance on a large scale. She had dark and abundant hair, so glossy that it threw off the sunshine with a gleam, and a face which, besides being beautiful from regularity of feature and richness of complexion, had the impressiveness belonging to a marked brow and deep black eyes. She was lady-like, too, after the manner of the feminine gentility of those days; characterized by a certain state and dignity, rather than by the delicate, evanescent, and indescribable grace, which is now recognized as its indication"

66. What was Hester's and Dimmesdale's plan?

" the plans which Hester and himself had sketched for their departure. It had been determined between them, that the Old World, with its crowds and cities, offered them a more eligible shelter and concealment than the wilds of New England, or all America"

68. What event curtailed Dimmesdale's happiness and feelings of victory over his temptations?

"And, here, since he had so valiantly forborne all other wickedness, poor Mr. Dimmesdale longed, at least, to shake hands with the tarry blackguard, and recreate himself with a few improper jests, such as dissolute sailors so abound with, and a volley of good, round, solid, satisfactory, and Heaven-defying oaths!"

11. What was the effect upon the man (the stranger) when he saw Hester?

"At his arrival in the market-place, and some time before she saw him, the stranger had bent his eyes on Hester Prynne. It was carelessly, at first, like a man chiefly accustomed to look inward, and to whom external matters are of little value and import, unless they bear relation to something within his mind. Very soon, however, his look became keen and penetrative. A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight. His face darkened with some powerful emotion, which, nevertheless, he so instantaneously controlled by an effort of his will, that, save at a single moment, its expression might have passed for calmness."

6. What were some of the punishments suggested by the townswomen?

"At the very least, they should have put the brand of a hot iron on Hester Prynne's forehead." "ought to die."

2. What does the rose symbolize?

"It may serve...to symbolize some sweet moral blossom, that may be found along the track, or relieve the darkening close of a tale of human frailty and sorrow."

37. What became noticeable in Roger's face after he had been living with Dimmesdale?

"Mr. Dimmesdale. At first, his expression had been calm, thoughtful, and studious. Now there was something ugly and evil in his face ...his face was growing darker"

55. What did Pearl do to emulate her mother?

"Pearl took some eel-grass, and imitated, as best she could, on her own bosom, the decoration with which she was so familiar on her mother's. A letter,—the letter A,—but freshly green, instead of scarlet!"

23. How did Pearl respond to the harsh or cold treatment from the other Puritan children?

"Pearl would grow positively terrible in her puny wrath, snatching up stones to fling at them, with shrill, incoherent exclamations"

56. What question did Pearl persist in asking?

"Pearl, ...she put these searching questions, once and again, and still a third time."What does the letter mean, mother?—and why dost thou wear it?—and why does the minister keep his hand over his heart?""

24. When Hester said "Thy Heavenly Father sent thee", what was Pearl's response? Why did she respond this way?

"Pearl, overhearing the ejaculation, or aware, through some more subtile channel, of those throbs of anguish, would turn her vivid and beautiful little face upon her mother, smile with sprite-like intelligence, and resume her play."

27. What did Pearl see in the governor's garden?

"Pearl, seeing the rose-bushes, began to cry for a red rose"

71. How did Mistress Hibbins adversely affect Hester?

"Seen in conjunction with Hester Prynne,—kindly as so many now felt towards the latter,—the dread inspired by Mistress Hibbins was doubled, and caused a general movement from that part of the market-place in which the two women stood."

59. How did Hester answer Dimmesdale when he asked: "Hester," said he, "hast thou found peace?"

"She smiled drearily, looking down upon her bosom."

73. What was the "epoch of life more brilliant and full of life than any previous one"?

"Such was the position which the minister occupied" "He stood, at this moment, on the very proudest eminence of superiority, to which the gifts of intellect, rich lore, prevailing eloquence, and a reputation of whitest sanctity, could exalt a clergyman in New England's earliest days, when the professional character was of itself a lofty pedestal."

62. Describe Dimmesdale reaction when he learned the truth about Roger Chillingworth.

"The minister looked at her (Hester) for a moment, with all the violence of his passion... He sank to the ground and buried his face in his hands."

47. What was the effect upon Dimmesdale when Hester and Pearl came upon the platform?

"The moment that he did so, there came what seemed a tumultuous rush of new life, other life than his own, pouring like a torrent into his heart, and hurrying through all his veins, as if the mother and the child were communicating their vital warmth to his half-torpid system."

9. What went through Hester's mind as she stood before the crowd? How did that differ from her exterior behavior?

"The unhappy culprit sustained herself as best a woman might, under the heavy weight of a thousand unrelenting eyes, all fastened upon her, and concentrated at her bosom." "she felt, at moments, as if she must needs shriek out with the full power of her lungs, and cast herself from the scaffold down upon the ground, or else go mad at once."

44. How did Dimmesdale look upon himself?

"above all things else, he loathed his miserable self!" he said he was "utterly a pollution and a lie!"

26. How was Pearl dressed? Why was that emphasized?

"arraying her in a crimson velvet tunic, of a peculiar cut, abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold-thread. So much strength of coloring, which must have given a wan and pallid aspect to cheeks of a fainter bloom, was admirably adapted to Pearl's beauty, and made her the very brightest little jet of flame that ever danced upon the earth." they empasized that because "the child's whole appearance...reminded the beholder of the token which Hester Prynne was doomed to wear upon her bosom"

67. What were three temptations Dimmesdale "overcame" after agreeing to Hester's plan?

"it was only by the most careful self-control that the former could refrain from uttering certain blasphemous suggestions that rose into his mind, respecting the communion-supper." "the arch-fiend whispered him to condense into small compass (evil seed) and drop into her tender bosom a germ of evil that would be sure to blossom darkly soon, and bear black fruit betimes... he held his Geneva cloak before his face, and hurried onward, making no sign of recognition" "last temptation, he was conscious of another impulse, more ludicrous, and almost as horrible. It was,—we blush to tell it,—it was to stop short in the road, and teach some wicked words to a knot of little Puritan children who were playing there, and had but just begun to talk. Denying himself this freak, as unworthy of his cloth, he met a drunken seaman, one of the ship's crew from the Spanish Main."

10. Who attracted Hester's attention from the outskirts of the crowd?

"on the outskirts of the crowd, a figure which irresistibly took possession of her thoughts." "He was small in stature, with a furrowed visage, which, as yet, could hardly be termed aged. There was a remarkable intelligence in his features, as of a person who had so cultivated his mental part that it could not fail to mould the physical to itself, and become manifest by unmistakable tokens. Although, by a seemingly careless arrangement of his heterogeneous garb, he had[69] endeavored to conceal or abate the peculiarity, it was sufficiently evident to Hester Prynne, that one of this man's shoulders rose higher than the other." He says he is a stranger,

22. How did Hester raise Pearl, in terms of strictness and discipline?

"she early sought to impose a tender, but strict control over the infant immortality that was committed to her charge. But the task was beyond her skill. After testing both smiles and frowns, and proving that neither mode of treatment possessed any calculable influence, Hester was ultimately compelled to stand aside, and permit the child to be swayed by her own impulses."

65. What did Hester do with the Scarlet Letter?

"she undid the clasp that fastened the scarlet letter. Taking it from her breast, she threw it among the withered leaves."

72. What was Hester's reaction when she received the message from the old mariner (given to her by Pearl)?

"the child returned to her mother, and communicated what the mariner had said. Hester's strong, calm, steadfastly enduring spirit almost sank, at last, on beholding this dark and grim countenance of an inevitable doom, which—at the moment when a passage seemed to open for the minister and herself out of their labyrinth of misery—showed itself, with an unrelenting smile, right in the midst of their path."

69. What is the occasion of the holiday?

"the day on which the new Governor was to receive his office at the hands of the people"(the new Governor's inauguration)

46. What did he do (this dark night)?

"while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr. Dimmesdale was overcome with a great horror of mind...Without any effort of his will, or power to restrain himself, he shrieked aloud; an outcry that went pealing through the night"

77. What was the eventual fate of Dimmesdale?

Dimmesdale died on the scaffold with his "family" around him.

74. What did Dimmesdale do after his sermon (what act did he commit; not what happened to him)?

Dimmesdale made his way up to the town scaffold and there with Hester and Pearl and confesses to his sin. He tells everyone that "he (the other Person in Hester's sin) stands up before you! He bids you look again at Hester's scarlet letter! He tells you, that, with all its mysterious horror, it is but the shadow of what he bears on his own breast, and that even this, his own red stigma, is no more than the type of what has seared his inmost heart!"

63. What did Dimmesdale mean when he said "We are not, Hester, the worst sinners in the world."?

Dimmesdale meant that people have done worse and they are still good people.

40. What does Dimmesdale say keeps some from making a confession?

Dimmesdale says that "it may be that they are kept silent by the very constitution of their nature. Or...they shrink from displaying themselves black and filthy in the view of men; because, thenceforward, no good can be achieved by them; no evil of the past be redeemed by better service."

60. What was Dimmesdale's response to that (summarize).

Dimmesdale talked about how miserable he has been.

5. What is Hester Prynne's crime?

Hester Prynne has committed the crime of adultry.

30. How did Hester protest? (to the answer of #29)

Hester cried that "God gave me the child! He gave her in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness!—she is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved, and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin? Ye shall not take her! I will die first!"

19. What did she have to endure as a result of that decision?

Hester must endure the public shame that scarlet letter brings to her.

21. Why did Hester decide on the name "Pearl" for her daughter?

Hester named her daughter "Pearl", as in being of great price- purchased with all she had- her mother's only treasure.

64. What is Hester's suggestion for Dimmesdale and herself and what was (is) the effect on Dimmesdale at Hester's suggestion?

Hester suggests that they not look back and just leave everything behind like it never even happened. When Dimmesdale enters the woods he feels relieved.

25. Why did Hester go to Gov. Bellingham's mansion?

Hester went to Gov. Bellingham's mansion to deliver " a pair of gloves, which she had fringed and embroidered to his order".

8. What was Hester's punishment?

Hester's punishment was publ ic shame. She was sentenced to wear a Scarlet A for the rest of her life and was sentenced to stand on the town scaffold for public shame.

20. How did her work as a seamstress (artist, designer) progress?

Hester's work quickly became fashionable. "Her needlework was seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men wore it on their scarfs, and the minister on his band; it decked the baby's little cap; it was shut up, to be mildewed and moulder away, in the coffins of the dead."

61. Interpret the following quote by Dimmesdale: "Of penance, I have had enough! Of penitence, there has been none!"

I interpret Dimmesdale's quote to say that he has paid the price of his sin but he does not regret it.

57. Interpret the bold line; what is Hester really saying? But, mother, tell me now! Is there such a Black Man? And didst thou ever meet him? And is this his mark?" "Wilt thou let me be at peace, if I once tell thee?" asked her mother. "Yes, if thou tellest me all," answered Pearl. "Once in my life I met the Black Man!" said her mother. "This scarlet letter is his mark!"

I interpret this line to say that sin itself is the Black Man and the scarlet letter is the mark of her sin of adultrey.

45. Where did Dimmesdale go this dark night?

In this dark night Dimmesdale went to the town scaffold where "Hester Prynne had lived through her first hour of public ignominy."

33. What happened as Hester and Pearl were leaving the house?

It is rumored that as they descended the steps, a window was thrown open and revealed the face of Mistress Hibbins, Governor Bellingham's ill-tempered sister. She invited Hester to "a merry company in the forest".

13. Who defended Hester when she refused to reveal her partner in sin?

Mr. Dimmesdale said Hester would not reveal the father because of her "Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman's heart! She will not speak!"

31. Who interceded for Hester and what was his plea?

Mr. Dimmesdale stood up for Hester and said "There is truth in what she says, and in the feeling which inspires her! God gave her the child, and gave her, too, an instinctive knowledge of its nature and requirements,—both seemingly so peculiar,—which no other mortal being can possess. And, moreover, is there not[138] a quality of awful sacredness in the relation between this mother and this child?"

53. Hester has kept her promise and not told who Roger is. Did she make the right decision? Explain.

No Hester did not make the right decision by keeping Roger's real identity a secret because

52. Did Roger Chillingworth forgive?

No Roger Chillingworth never forgave Mr. Dimmesdale.

48. What did Pearl ask him (Dimmesdale)?

Pearl asked, "Wilt thou stand here with mother and me, to-morrow noontide?"

41. What did Pearl see in Roger Chillingworth?

Pearl sees the black man, or devil in Roger Chillingworth.

58. To what extent does Pearl notice the connection between Dimmesdale and her mother, Hester?

Pearl understands that her mother wear the scarlet letter "same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!".

3. Why are the people gathering?

People are gathering to witness Hester's punishment for her sin of adultery.

70. What is Roger's final victory over Hester and Dimmesdale (what did he do that would ruin their plans?)?

Roger Chillingworth joins Hester and Dimmesdale on their journey away from the Puritan colony.

32. What was Roger's comment to this? How do you interpret his meaning?

Roger Chillingworth said "You speak, my friend, with a strange earnestness," . I interpret this that Roger thinks that it is weird that Mr. Dimmesdale is defending Heser so much.

14. Who is the stranger (Roger Chillingworth)?

Roger Chillingworth the "doctor" is the new identity taken by Hester's husband that was believed to be dead.

17. What secret does Roger ask Hester to keep? What is her response to this?

Roger asks Hester to keep his real identity secret.She asks him why and promises to keep his secret.

15. Who does Roger blame for Hester's "condition"?

Roger blames the father of Hester's child for her condition.

75. Why did Roger try to talk him out of it ("Madman, hold! What is your purpose?")?

Roger trie to talk Dimmesdale out of it because the scaffold is the only place that Dimmesdale could of escaped Roger and his revenge. "there was no one place so secret,—no high place nor lowly place, where thou couldst have escaped me,—save on this very scaffold!"

16. Though Hester would not reveal the name of her "partner in sin", Roger had a threatening resolve- what was it?

Roger vows that "he shall be mine" he goes as far as saying "He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart. Yet fear not for him! Think not that I shall interfere with Heaven's own method of retribution, or, to my own loss, betray him to the gripe of human law. Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life; no, nor against his fame, if, as I judge, he be a man of fair repute. Let him live! Let him hide himself in outward honor, if he may! Not the less he shall be mine!"

34. What is a leech?

The dictionary defines "leech" as... leech: 1 Any of various chiefly aquatic bloodsucking or carnivorous annelid worms of the class Hirudinea, of which one species (Hirudo medicinalis) was formerly used by physicians to bleed patients. 2. One that preys on or clings to another; a parasite. 3. A physician. <archaic>

49. Chillingworth now knows who the father of Pearl is. Who is the father?

The father is Reverend Dimmesdale.

29. What was the governor about to do because of her answer?

The governor was thinking of taking Pearl from Hester.

18. What did Hester "reason upon "as her motive for continuing a resident of New England"?

The reason that Hester gives for her staying in the colony is that this is the scene of her guilt and sin, so it needs to be the scene of her punishment, " so perchance, the torture of her daily shame would at length purge her soul, and work out another purity than that which she had lost; more Saint-like, because the result of martyrdom." (Hawthorne 77)

1. What is the scene/setting?

The setting is at the big wooden door of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony prison.

4. Who in the crowd seemed to take the most interest in what was happening?

The women of the town seem to take the interest in Hester's punishment. They waited at the prison door and talked about the harsher punishments they would of given Hester.

43. How did people interpret Dimmesdale's understanding of human frailty?

They never imagined the true meaning behind his words of self-condemnation. They said "The saint on earth! Alas, if he discern such sinfulness in his own white soul, what horrid spectacle would he behold in thine or mine!"

50. How did people now look upon Hester's "letter A"?

Years had passed. Hester, with the scarlet letter glittering on her breast, had long been a familiar sight.