Scarlet Letter Study Guide

Study Guide: Scarlet Letter 1. What is the setting of Chapter I? Boston of the seventeenth century. 2. What is the setting of Chapter II? The Market 3. What is the setting of Chapter XXIII? The Townhall 4. What is the setting of Chapter XXIV? Hester’s Cabin 5. How does answering these questions reveal the symbolic structure of The Scarlet Letter? It puts int perspective how the ideas and ideology come from. It also sets a foundation on why the characters act and think the way that they do. 6. Chapter II- Reflect on this: Hester’s “point of view” from the scaffold. Hester reflected on her childhood. She describes it as the most trifling and immaterial from her infancy, school days, and the little domestic traits of her maiden years. 7. Chapter III: This chapter is entitled “The Recognition.” Whom does Hester recognize? Who is his companion? How could their pairing be symbolically significant? Hester recognized Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale with him. The scarlet letter itself, which has various meanings depending on its context. It is a sign of adultery, penance, and penitence. It brings about Hester's suffering and loneliness. 8. Chapter IV: What vow does Hester swear? Hester swears that she will keep Chillingworth's secret identifying Pearl's father. 9. Chapter V: Why doesn’t Hester just leave Salem? What seemingly supernatural power does the “A” give to Hester? Hester loves Salem. “A” gives her the power to sympathize with and be charitable to others. 10. Chapter VI: How does Hester dress Pearl, and how might this fact be significant? She dresses her in “a crimson velvet tunic of a peculiar cut, abundantly embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread.” Since Pearl and the embroidered letter are beautiful in a rich, sensuous way it contrast to the stiffness of Puritan society. 11. Chapter VII: What strange effect does Pearl point out to her mother as they look at their reflection in a suit of armor? Hester is horrified to see that she can see the scarlet letter in the reflection. 12. Chapter VIII: Hester seems, on the whole, to be a quiet woman, but in this chapter she comes close to shrieking. What is she threatening? Since she refuses to acknowledge her since she threatens to lock her in a dark closet. 13. Chapter IX: Why is Chillingworth called a “leech”? (There is more than one answer to this question.) Like a leech, he sucks the spirit and strength from Reverend Dimmesdale killing its host. They also fear that he is stealing blood from the towns children. 14. Chapter X: Do you have any theories about why Chillingworth dances a jig at the end of the chapter? I think it’s because Chillingworth "positively withered up, shrivelled away." 15. Chapter XI: What is often the subject matter of Dimmesdale’s sermons? What does it have to do with his being called a “subtle... hypocrite”? The sermon is often about the relationship between God and the communities of mankind and the effects of guilt on one's spirituality. Since Arthur is committing adultery he puts his sin of adultery out of sight and acts as if he were not the adulterer. 16. Chapter XII: How do the townspeople interpret the celestial wonder described in this chapter? They interpret it as an angel 17. Chapter XIII: In this chapter we learn that Hester is engaging in something the people of the town would consider a “deadlier crime” than the one that gave her the “A.” What is it? Adultery 18. Chapter XIV: Why does Hester go to see Chillingworth? To ask Chillingworth to stop tormenting the minister. 19. Chapter XV: What is Pearl’s favorite question? Why doesn’t she get acknowledged? 20. Chapter XVI: What does Hester mean when she tells Pearl that she once met the Black Man? She claims that when she signed the scarlet letter’s the black mans embedded was as the result. 21. Chapter XIX: What prevents Pearl from crossing the mystical boundary of the forest brook? She did not recognize her own mother. 22. Chapter XX: What heinous acts is Dimmesdale tempted to commit in this chapter? WHY? Dimmesdale feels free so she is tempted to blaspheme in front of children. 23. Chapter XXI: What is the holiday that is being celebrated? Election day 24. Chapter XXII: What do Hester and Mistress Hibbins talk about (argue?) in this chapter? Mistress Hibbins knows Dimmesdale and her met in the woods. She says knows that Dimmesdale has and is hiding the badge of sin. 25. Chapter XXIII: After Pearl kisses Dimmesdale’s cheek a very significant and seemingly obvious term is applied to him for the first time in the novel. What is it? That he is finally acknowledging her as his daughter. 26. Chapter XXIV: What are some of the differing accounts the townspeople give about what was revealed on Dimmesdale’s chest in the previous chapter? It is revealed that he has a scarlet letter in his chest from the minister's self-torture, or from his own guilt.