Characters
Who is Pearl's father?
Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale
What does the Scarlet Letter originally represent?
Adultery, shame, and punishment
In what century is the story set?
17th century (1600s)
“Be not silent for any mistaken pity and tenderness for him.” - Who says this?
Reverend John Wilson (urging Hester to name Pearl’s father)
Why does Chillingworth live with Dimmesdale?
To help "care" for him as a physician, while also secretly tormenting him
Name one way the forest is symbolic throughout the story
Represents freedom from Puritan law, natural truth, or a place of temptation
Where does the novel take place?
Puritan Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony
What does “a scarlet letter, so fantastically embroidered and illuminated” describe?
Hester’s letter “A” that she sews with elaborate artistry
What does Pearl symbolize throughout the novel?
Guilt/sin as well as hope/redemption
How does the scaffold serve as a recurring symbol?
It represents public confession, judgment, and redemption (appears at beginning, middle, and end)
What happens to Dimmesdale at the final scaffold scene?
He confesses publicly, reveals his chest (suggesting a mark), and dies in Hester’s arms
What does Dimmesdale confess at the end?
That he is Pearl’s father and guilty of adultery with Hester
Explain how Hester changes throughout the story
She goes from being shamed and isolated to respected, strong, and compassionate; the scarlet letter shifts from symbol of shame to one of honor
What theme does Dimmesdale’s physical deterioration?
The destructive effects of hidden sin and hypocrisy
Why is the opening chapter about a rosebush important?
It symbolizes nature’s kindness and resilience, offering hope amid punishment and sorrow
Who says, “I shall seek this man, as I have sought truth in books”?
Roger Chillingworth (vowing to discover Pearl’s father)