Chapter 1 "The Prison Door"
1. What types of imagery are used to introduce the puritan townsfolk in "The Prison Door"? What is the effect of this imagery and how does the narrator further this portrayal in "The Market Place"?
The authors use of imagery when describing the puritan townsfolk is when he says "Bearded men, in sad-colored garments...women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded.." gives an image of what the society was to wear. The puritan society if further shown in "The Market Place" with the image of harsh punishments, even for the smallest of crimes.
2. What is the significance (symbolic, thematic, or otherwise) of the rosebush outside of the prison door?
The rosebush outside of the prison door represents forgiveness to the criminals, who enter and leave through the prison door.
The authors use of imagery when describing the puritan townsfolk is when he says "Bearded men, in sad-colored garments...women, some wearing hoods, and others bareheaded.." gives an image of what the society was to wear. The puritan society if further shown in "The Market Place" with the image of harsh punishments, even for the smallest of crimes.
2. What is the significance (symbolic, thematic, or otherwise) of the rosebush outside of the prison door?
The rosebush outside of the prison door represents forgiveness to the criminals, who enter and leave through the prison door.
Chapter 2 "The Market Place"
3. What traits characterize the women of Salem? How might their collective demeanor be a product of puritan society? What is the artistic function of the "young wife" within the group?
The women of Salem are gossipers. They gather together as Hester is about to come out of the prison doors peaking badly of her. The women of the puritan society are suppose to be housewives obeying the orders of their husbands. The "young wife" in the crowd who speaks is a gentle and kind woman who feels that Hester would either way carry the heaviness the the sin in her heart.
4. What is Hester's first action in the novel and what does it reveal about the character? Describe her demeanor as she emerges from the prison?
Hester comes out of the prison revealing her child and the scarlet "A" sewed on her bosom. Hester tightly grasps the child to cover the A rather than to do this out of motherly affection. She seems confident as her beauty masks all of the other women who are in front of the prison door. Hester with smiling eyes looks around to her neighbors and people of her town and show off the embedded letter.
5. According to the narrator, what is the greatest "outrage...against our common nature"? Do you agree? How might this opinion on the part of the narrator shape the telling of this story?
This outrage is a disobedience of the Bible. One of the ten commandments which have been broken (Adultery) was to be a major sin int he puritan society and was definitely seen as an outrage. The narrator would more likely tell the story in a much more harsh way due to this.
The women of Salem are gossipers. They gather together as Hester is about to come out of the prison doors peaking badly of her. The women of the puritan society are suppose to be housewives obeying the orders of their husbands. The "young wife" in the crowd who speaks is a gentle and kind woman who feels that Hester would either way carry the heaviness the the sin in her heart.
4. What is Hester's first action in the novel and what does it reveal about the character? Describe her demeanor as she emerges from the prison?
Hester comes out of the prison revealing her child and the scarlet "A" sewed on her bosom. Hester tightly grasps the child to cover the A rather than to do this out of motherly affection. She seems confident as her beauty masks all of the other women who are in front of the prison door. Hester with smiling eyes looks around to her neighbors and people of her town and show off the embedded letter.
5. According to the narrator, what is the greatest "outrage...against our common nature"? Do you agree? How might this opinion on the part of the narrator shape the telling of this story?
This outrage is a disobedience of the Bible. One of the ten commandments which have been broken (Adultery) was to be a major sin int he puritan society and was definitely seen as an outrage. The narrator would more likely tell the story in a much more harsh way due to this.
Chapter 3 "The Recognition"
7. Describe the stranger standing next to the indian during Hester's punishment.
The stranger was a middle aged man who appeared to be an intelligent man, and one of his shoulders was crooked. Hester noticing this was in a state of shock for she knows this stranger.
8. Why does the stranger call Hester's punishment "a wise sentence"?
The stranger calls this a wise punishment because he is actually Hester's husband, and feels it is better to wear her sin than to face death for her crime. The stranger doesn't want Hester to reveal his identity for her safety and places his finger on his lips hushing her from telling.
10. What argument does Dimmesdale use to try convince Hester to name her "fellow-sinner"? How does Hester respond? How does her child respond?
Dimmesdale tries to get Hester to tell them who the "fellow-sinner" is by telling her that it would be better for the both of them to suffer than just herself. He wants her to understand that they both together share the sin, and he wants Hester to give the baby a father. Hester says that she will not tell him who the person is, and the only father that the baby needs is a heavenly one and she doesn't need a father on land. They also state that if she tells than she can remove the letter. Hester, however, feels that he letter is already connected to her and can not be removed. The baby responds with a pleading sound.
11. Why does Hester say the scarlet letter can never be removed from her breast?
Hester says that the scarlet letter can not be removed from her breast because she states “It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!”. In other words , the scar is too deep so she can not remove it, but if she could she would she would endure his agony as well as her own.
The stranger was a middle aged man who appeared to be an intelligent man, and one of his shoulders was crooked. Hester noticing this was in a state of shock for she knows this stranger.
8. Why does the stranger call Hester's punishment "a wise sentence"?
The stranger calls this a wise punishment because he is actually Hester's husband, and feels it is better to wear her sin than to face death for her crime. The stranger doesn't want Hester to reveal his identity for her safety and places his finger on his lips hushing her from telling.
10. What argument does Dimmesdale use to try convince Hester to name her "fellow-sinner"? How does Hester respond? How does her child respond?
Dimmesdale tries to get Hester to tell them who the "fellow-sinner" is by telling her that it would be better for the both of them to suffer than just herself. He wants her to understand that they both together share the sin, and he wants Hester to give the baby a father. Hester says that she will not tell him who the person is, and the only father that the baby needs is a heavenly one and she doesn't need a father on land. They also state that if she tells than she can remove the letter. Hester, however, feels that he letter is already connected to her and can not be removed. The baby responds with a pleading sound.
11. Why does Hester say the scarlet letter can never be removed from her breast?
Hester says that the scarlet letter can not be removed from her breast because she states “It is too deeply branded. Ye cannot take it off. And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!”. In other words , the scar is too deep so she can not remove it, but if she could she would she would endure his agony as well as her own.
Chapter 4 "The Interview"
13. What does Chillingworth mean when he says to Hester "we have wronged each other"?
When Chillingworth says that they have wronged each other, he is talking about how Hester, when they got married, was not actually in love with Chillingworth. Chillingworth pretty much made Hester marry him, so when Hester moved to Boston she cheated because she actually didnt love Chillingworth.
14. Why does Chillingworth ask Hester to keep his identity a secret?
He asks her to keep this a secret for his, Hester's, and the baby's safety. He also wants to find the person she commited this "crime" with and get revenge.
When Chillingworth says that they have wronged each other, he is talking about how Hester, when they got married, was not actually in love with Chillingworth. Chillingworth pretty much made Hester marry him, so when Hester moved to Boston she cheated because she actually didnt love Chillingworth.
14. Why does Chillingworth ask Hester to keep his identity a secret?
He asks her to keep this a secret for his, Hester's, and the baby's safety. He also wants to find the person she commited this "crime" with and get revenge.
Chapter 5 "Hester at Her Needle"
15. How does Hester's life change once her public humiliation is over?
Hester now has do be away from the people, she started to make a living off being a seamstress.
17. Where does Hester live after her leaving the prison? What is significant about this location?
After the prison, Hester moves on the outskirts of town alone with Pearl. Hester will not be tormented during the night about her crime and can have Pearl safe. This location ostracized Hester form everyone else, as if the scarlet letter was not enough.
20. What new and special power does the scarlet letter seem do give hester? What is Hester's reaction to this newfound ability?
The scarlet letter seems to hold the power of weakening herand causing a lot of humiliation to her and pearl. Hester feels that it is terrifying and she feels as if she can be saved with the help of others.
Hester now has do be away from the people, she started to make a living off being a seamstress.
17. Where does Hester live after her leaving the prison? What is significant about this location?
After the prison, Hester moves on the outskirts of town alone with Pearl. Hester will not be tormented during the night about her crime and can have Pearl safe. This location ostracized Hester form everyone else, as if the scarlet letter was not enough.
20. What new and special power does the scarlet letter seem do give hester? What is Hester's reaction to this newfound ability?
The scarlet letter seems to hold the power of weakening herand causing a lot of humiliation to her and pearl. Hester feels that it is terrifying and she feels as if she can be saved with the help of others.
Chapter 6 "Pearl"
22. How does the narrator account for Pearl's wild and untamed character?
The narrator addresses Pearl as "elf like"
The narrator addresses Pearl as "elf like"
Chapter 7 "The Governor's Hall"
26. Describe Pearl's dress and comment on its significance.
Pearl's dress was in scarlet to match the scarlet letter on Hester Prynnes bosom. Therefore, pearl is seen as the living scarlet letter.
Pearl's dress was in scarlet to match the scarlet letter on Hester Prynnes bosom. Therefore, pearl is seen as the living scarlet letter.
Chapter 8 "The Elf-Child and the Minister"
30.What reason does Hester give for her need to keep Pearl? Who supports her plea and why?
Hester says that Pearl is her punishment also and gives her something to do other than worry about life and what is to come. She has been teaching Pearl about her heavenly father. Dimmesdale supports her plea because he thinks that Pearl is a punishment to Hester.
Hester says that Pearl is her punishment also and gives her something to do other than worry about life and what is to come. She has been teaching Pearl about her heavenly father. Dimmesdale supports her plea because he thinks that Pearl is a punishment to Hester.
Chapter 9 "The Leech"
33. How does Chillingworth make a place for himself in Boston society? Why are we as readers suspicious of his professional and social motivations? Why does this suspicion seem to be absent from the narrator's tone?
Chillingworth makes himself a place in Boston as a doctor. Chillingworth didn't seem to know hoe to diagnose anyone or prescribe medications to people and make them better which was suspicious. The narrator doesn't seem to be confident in telling about Chillingworth.
36. What biblical stories are portrayed in the decorations of Dimmesdale's room? What themes or issues are suggested by these stories?
The decorations shown in Dimmesdale's room that tell a biblical story are, Bathseba, King David, and Nathan the Prophet. King David seduced Bathseba, so Nathan went to kill David for committing adultery with Bathseba. This is significant because Dimmesdale has committed the same sin that David and Bathseba had committed in the story. The decorations remind Dimmesdale everyday what he has done, and he may go through the same torture.
Chillingworth makes himself a place in Boston as a doctor. Chillingworth didn't seem to know hoe to diagnose anyone or prescribe medications to people and make them better which was suspicious. The narrator doesn't seem to be confident in telling about Chillingworth.
36. What biblical stories are portrayed in the decorations of Dimmesdale's room? What themes or issues are suggested by these stories?
The decorations shown in Dimmesdale's room that tell a biblical story are, Bathseba, King David, and Nathan the Prophet. King David seduced Bathseba, so Nathan went to kill David for committing adultery with Bathseba. This is significant because Dimmesdale has committed the same sin that David and Bathseba had committed in the story. The decorations remind Dimmesdale everyday what he has done, and he may go through the same torture.
Chapter 10 "The Leech and His Patient"
42. What important discovery does Chillingworth make while Dimmesdale is sleeping? How does the narrator describe Chillingworth's joy and why is this description meaningful?
Chillingworth discovers the reason why Dimmesdale always holds his hands over his chest. The narrator gives us an image of Chillingworth and his excitement. We now know that Dimmesdale the minister who all look up to, has committed the crime of Adultery with Hester Prynne.
Chillingworth discovers the reason why Dimmesdale always holds his hands over his chest. The narrator gives us an image of Chillingworth and his excitement. We now know that Dimmesdale the minister who all look up to, has committed the crime of Adultery with Hester Prynne.