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Custom House
Custom House
Click for chapters 6-24
What is Hawthorne’s/the narrator's view of Salem (where he lives), the Custom House and its officials?
How does Hawthorne/the narrator describe his ancestors?
How does Hawthorne/the narrator use the eagle as a symbol? Is it a positive one? Negative? What text evidence helps support your interpretation?
How does the narrator imagine his forefathers would react toward his profession as a writer?
What does the narrator reveal to be the inspiration for The Scarlet Letter?
Describe why Hawthorne/the narrator lost his position and his reaction to the events.
What sensation does the narrator have when he holds the scarlet letter? What does the narrator discover about Hester?
Who is the author ofThe Scarlet Letter?
From what point of view is "Custom House" told?
...Compare the voice of the narrator in “The Custom House” with that of The Scarlet Letter.
QUIZ over "CUSTOM HOUSE" HERE
Chapters 1 – 3
Chapters 1 – 3
Ch. 1 "The Prison-Door" II Ch. 2 "The Market-Place" III Ch. 3 "The Recognition"
Ch. 1 "The Prison-Door" II Ch. 2 "The Market-Place" III Ch. 3 "The Recognition"
Ch. 1 "The Prison-Door"
Ch. 1 "The Prison-Door"
What do you think is Hawthorne’s purpose of beginning with a chapter of fewer than two pages? And why is it only about a prison door?
What does Hawthorne mean when he calls the colony a “utopia”?
Why does he point out the rose bush?
Who is Anne Hutchinson?
One of the first decisions a novelist makes is to choose a point of view. What is Hawthorne’s point of view? What can a reader surmise about his narrator?
Chapter 2 (II) The market place:
What do the women standing outside of the prison feel should be Hester Prynne’s sentence? Why?
What is the reaction of the women to Hester’s A?
EXPLAIN: “one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another”
How does Hester look? Is this what the town expected? Why or Why not?
What must she do during this short time out of prison? For how long?
What is Hester’s background (past)?
What are examples of irony so far?
Make a prediction: who is the man in the crowd at the end of Chapter 3?
Chapter 3 (III) The recognition
Who does Hester recognize? Where has he been?
What does he mean when he puts his finger to his lips?
Why does she find sanctuary in the crowd? Do we? Do you?
Why is Hester being punished, according to the story told to Chillingworth?
What does Roger Chillingworth vow?
What is Dimmesdale’s argument?
What do they ask her? What is her answer?
Who says “Speak and give your child a father?” How do you know?
What does Dimmesdale mean when he says “Wondrous generosity of a woman’s heart?”
LET'S DISCUSS: What is the historical accuracy of the scarlet letter? The Puritans thought public shaming was a stronger punishment than a public execution. Do you agree? Consider how public shaming has changed through the years, especially 1600s compared to today.
Chapters 4 - 5
Chapters 4 - 5
Ch. 4 "The Interview"
Ch. 4 "The Interview"
Ch. 5 "Hester at Her Needle"
Ch. 5 "Hester at Her Needle"
Chapter 4 (IV) The interview
Why is Roger Chillingworth in the prison?
Why is he summoned to Hester’s cell? What is the significance of the jailer inviting the physician into Hester’s prison cell? What does this say about the community?
What is Hester afraid he will do? Why?
Why won’t he?
How does he describe the marriage?
Who will he go after?
What does he make her promise?
Who is “the Black man”?
Jot down some notes about Hester’s life after she is freed from jail. Why does she stay on the outskirts of the Boston settlement?
Does the fact that Hester creates fine needlework have any significance? Explain.
Chapter 5 (V) Hester at her needle
Why is it harder to leave prison at the end of her sentence?
What will be on her gravestone? Why?
Where does she live?
How does she earn her living? What can’t she do?
How does she dress herself? Her daughter? Why?
How do the town-folk treat her? What is her relationship with the poor? How do they treat her? Why?
In Chapter 5, the narrator states that Hester occasionally feels someone looking at her letter in a way that gives her momentary relief “as if half of her agony was shared.” “The next instant, back it all rushed again, with a still deeper throb of pain; for in that brief interval, she had sinned anew. Had Hester sinned alone?” Interpret this passage.
In Chapter 5, the narrator says Hester begins to sense secret scarlet letters on others in the community. What is Hawthorne suggesting about the Puritans?
For a google doc version of these questions, go HERE
Character Motivation
The characters in The Scarlet Letter were all motivated by different desires. Explain the real reasons for the character’s actions.
Motivation
Descriptive
Phrase
Memorable
Quotes
Hester Prynne
Roger Chillingworth
Arthur Dimmesdale
Pearl
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