Chapter 6 (VI) Pearl

1. Why does she call her daughter Pearl?

2. Describe Pearl.

3. Why does Hester have trouble disciplining Pearl?

4. How do the other children treat Pearl?  What is Pearl’s response?

5. What does Pearl stand for on a symbolic level (ch. 6)?

6. How does Hester dress Pearl?  What unintended effect does this have?

7. Describe the power imbalances that Hester faces as she appeals for custody of Pearl.  Do the Puritans appear to wield power in a just manner?  What power, if any, does Hester have?

Chapter 7 (VII) The Governor’s hall

1. Why does Hester go see the governor? Who lets her in?

2. How is Pearl described? How is Pearl behaving?

3. How are Old World values and images reflected?

4. What is Hawthorne’s view of Puritan children?  How do they reflect New World values in ch. 5 and 7?

5. Do you think Mrs. Hibbins is really a witch?  What is her role in the story?  How is Hester linked to witchcraft?

8. What did the rosebush symbolize in the first chapters of the novel? How does Hawthorne develop the symbolism of the rosebush in these chapters?

9. What is Hawthorne’s attitude toward the Puritans of New England? How does he convey this attitude in chapter 7? 

Possible Activity:  discuss the symbolism so far.  Look at images, names, events, etc.  also discussion regarding the involvement of the state in parenting decisions. 

Chapter 8 (VIII) The Elf-child and the Minister

1. Does Pearl know her catechism?  Why does she respond thus to her questioner?

2. Who fights for Hester?

3. Who is put in charge of making sure Pearl learns what she should be taught?

4. What would have happened if things had gone the other way?

5. How do religious beliefs and colonial laws intermingle in this story? To what extent do religion and law mix in modern American society? Explain your answer.

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Chapter 11(XI) The Interior of a heart

1. What is troubling Dimmesdale exactly?

2. Describe Dimmesdale’s psychological state the night he ascends the scaffold.

3. Throughout the novel, Chillingworth’s actions can be seen in two ways.  Explain and give examples.

4. How does Dimmesdale react to Chillingworth?  Why?

5. What is Dimmesdale's gift?

6. What does Dimmesdale do in private?

7. What does he “want” to do in public?  Why doesn’t he?

Chapter 12 (XII) The Minister’s Vigil

1. What does Dimmesdale decide to do?

2. What is the weather like?

3. Who sees him?

4. Where was everyone?

5. What does Pearl ask him?  Why won’t he do it?

6. What does the meteor symbolize?

7. What is Dimmesdale's reaction to the glove and the Sexton’s version of the meteor’s meaning?  Why?

Chapter 21 (XXI)  The New England Holiday

1. What is the holiday?

2. Describe the scene.

3. Who does Chillingworth speak to?  Why?

4. What does the captain tell Hester?

5. Why is Dimmesdale’s Election Day sermon his greatest?

6. Does Dimmesdale betray Hester by confessing?

7. What is the reason Hawthorne provides several interpretations of Dimmesdale’s revelation?

8. What do you think happens to Pearl in the conclusion?  How is her symbolic function carried out?  Why does Hester return to New England?

9. What moral does Hawthorne suggest for the story?  Does the moral have validity?

10. Describe the structure of the novel.  Pay attention to the appearances of the scaffold.  Also, pay attention to the “camera view” Hawthorne uses—wide lens versus close-ups.

11. Activity: In groups of 4, create a Political Cartoon about today’s political scene using one of the symbols from the book.  Please feel free to use the A (don’t think it’s overused). 

Chapter 22(XXII)  The Procession

1. How does Hester react to Dimmesdale’s appearance?  Why?

2. What does Pearl say about Dimmesdale?  What is her mother’s response?

3. What does Mistress Hibbins say to Hester?  How does Hester react?

4. Where does Hester stand during Dimmesdale’s speech?

5. What message does the Captain have for Pearl to give her mother?

5. How do people treat Hester?  Is this different than they have been treating her? Why?

6. Who is missing from the original group of women (see chapter 2)?  Why?  What does she symbolize that is gone?

Chapter 23 (XXIII) The Revelation of the Scarlet letter

1. What is the town’s view of Dimmesdale and his speech?

2. Physically, How is Dimmesdale doing?

3. What does he want to do?

4. Who tries to stop him?  Why?

5. What does Dimmesdale say?

Chapter 24 (XXIV) Conclusion

1. What is the opinion of the town to Dimmesdale’s final act?

2. What happens to Chillingworth?  Why?

3. To whom does Chillingworth leave his property?  Why? (infer)

4. What happens to Hester and Pearl?

5. Why does Hester return? 

6. Describe the tombstone.  Why is it this way? 

The wearing of the scarlet letter was intended to isolate Hester Prynne from society and to call attention to her sin. Given the way in which Hester’s life ends, do you think that the scarlet letter accomplished what the magistrates intended? Explain.