Study Guide: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

All page references are for the Signet Classics edition

Skip "The Custom House" section and go right to Chapter 1, about 50 pages into the book.

Chapters 1-6

1. Notice Hawthorne's description of the jail and its surroundings in Ch. 1. (a) What is the overall mood of this scene? How does Hawthorne achieve this mood? (b) There is one item mentioned that contrasts with all that has previously been described. What is that item?

2. What does Hawthorne say about Puritan punishment in Ch. 2? What sorts of acts were people regularly punished for? What were the punishments? (p.57)

3. (a) What are Hawthorne's comments on Puritan law and religion? (b) How does what he notes contrast with law and religion after the establishment of the Constitution of the United States? (pp. 57-8, "a people amongst whom")

4. What contrast does Hawthorne make between Puritan women and those of his own (Victorian) time? (p. 58)

5. What is the attitude of the group of female spectators towards the woman who comes out of the prison? (pp. 59, 61-62)

6. Describe Hester Prynne. (pp. 60-61)

7. What does Hester hold in her arms?

8. Describe the scarlet letter. (pp. 60-61)

What does it signify (i.e., what does the "A" stand for)?

9. What are Hester's thoughts as she stands on the scaffold? (pp. 64-66)

What does she remember about her life in England and Europe?

10. Who does the figure of a stranger that takes possession of Hester's thoughts at the beginning of Chapter 3 turn out to be? (p. 67)

11. (a) Describe Roger Chillingworth's physical characteristics. (b) What is his demeanor?

12. According to the townsman with whom Chillingworth speaks, what is Hester Prynne's past history?

13. What has Hester said to the community about the father of her child? (p. 68)

14. What is Hester's sentence for having committed adultery (it has two or three parts)?

15. (a) Upon what or whom is Hester's gaze fixed as she stands on the scaffold? (b) How does she feel about the object of her gaze?

16. What does Hawthorne say about the men responsible for passing judgement on Hester? (p. 70, middle-bottom)

17. Describe Rev. Dimmesdale, in terms of physical appearance and personality. (pp. 72-3)

18. Why is Chillingworth allowed go to see Hester in the prison? (pp. 75-6)

19. What does he want Hester to tell him? (p. 79)

20. What does Chillingworth vow to do? (p. 80)

what does he make Hester promise? (pp. 80-81)

21. In what way is Hester "giving up her individuality"? What has she become? (p. 83)

22. Explain why Hester Prynne does not leave New England and start a life elsewhere. (pp. 83-4)

23. Does her staying here have anything to do with the father of her child? Explain. (p. 84)

24. How does Hester support herself and her child? (p. 85)

25. Who are her customers?

26. What is the one thing on which Hester has never been asked to work? Why is this? (p.86)

27. How does Hester dress her child? (p. 87)

28. How does the public treat Hester? (pp. 87-89)

29. Every once in a while, some person gazes on Hester's scarlet letter and the gaze gives her "momentary relief." (a) Why does this happen? (b) What knowledge does Hester suppose she might have because of her sin? (c) How does Hester feel about this supposed knowledge? (d) Why do you think she feels this way? (pp. 89-90)

30. According to Hawthorne, what sorts of games did the Puritan children liked to play at? Where did they learn such things? (p. 96)

How does Pearl get along with these children? Explain.

31. In this chapter, how does Hawthorne develop the character of Pearl as a living symbol of Hester's sin? Give five examples from throughout the chapter.

32. Where do some people think Pearl came from? (p. 100) What characteristics of the child make her seem unearthly?

Chapters 7-10

1. What do some of the "leading inhabitants" of Boston want to do? (p. 101)

2. What are their two reasons for wanting to do this? (p. 101)

3. (a) Was Hester Prynne trying to make Pearl look like the scarlet letter? (b) Why? (p. 103)

4. What do the Puritan children say on p. 103??

What is Pearl's reaction?

5. What is ironic in the reaction to Hester's letter of the servant who opens Bellingham's door? (p. 105)

6. What is the Governor's house like?

7. What gets reflected in the suit of armor, and who is quick to point this out?

8. At the end of Ch. 7, what does Pearl want?

9. What do the men think of Pearl's attire in Ch. 8?

10. What is Pearl's reaction to Mr. Wilson? (2nd ¶ on p. 111)

What simile does Hawthorne use here to describe Pearl?

11. (a) Has Hester been educating Pearl on religious matters? (b) Does it show in Pearl's response to the questions asked of her? Explain. (pp. 111-112)

12. What change does Hester notice in Chillingworth? (p. 112)

What is the change indicative of?

13. What argument does Hester use to convince the Governor to let her keep Pearl? (p. 112)

14. Who eventually is responsible for convincing the Governor? (pp. 113-114)

15. What is Dimmesdale's current condition? (pp. 113 & 119)

16. Give three examples of how Ch. 8 foreshadows the revelation that Dimmesdale is Pearl's father.

17. What happens as Hester and Pearl are leaving? (p. 116)

How has being allowed to keep Pearl "saved Hester from Satan's snare"?

18. Why doesn't Chillingworth reveal himself as Hester's husband? (p. 117)

19. What is Chillingworth's "new purpose" (remember what he said to Hester in the prison)?

20. From what two sources has Chillingworth gained medical knowledge?

21. Whom does Chillingworth choose as his "spiritual guide"?

22. To many of the parishioners, what does Chillingworth seem to have been sent by God to do? (p. 120)

23. Where do Chillingworth and Dimmesdale end up living? (p. 123, last ¶)

24. Will Dimmesdale marry? (p. 124, top)

25. Does the entire community love Chillingworth? Explain. (pp. 125-6)

26. What is Chillingworth trying to do to Dimmesdale? what's he "dig into"? (p. 127)

27. Why can't Dimmesdale recognize Chillingworth as his enemy? (p. 128, 2nd ¶, "yet Mr. Dimmesdale...")

What is the moral or lesson about relationships that Hawthorne seems to be conveying to the reader here?

28. What two reasons does Dimmesdale give for why a man may not confess a sin? (pp. 129-30)

29. To whom is Pearl referring when she talks of "The Black Man"? (p. 132)

Why is her remark significant or apropos?

30. What does Dimmesdale say when he sees Hester? (p. 132, "But still, methinks...")

31. What does Chillingworth say about physical versus spiritual sickness? (pp. 133-4)

On whom will Dimmesdale call to cure him?

32. What does Dimmesdale's fit of passion at this point make Chillingworth realize? (p 134, 3rd ¶)

33. What sort of revelation is made at the end of Chapter 10? How does Chillingworth react as he looks at Dimmesdale's chest? WHY?

Chapters 11-15

1. (a) What knowledge does Chillingworth now have?

(b) How does this affect him; how is he using the "revelation"? (p. 132)

2. Does Dimmesdale realize what is going on? Explain. (pp. 137-38)

3. How are people reacting to him as a preacher these days? (pp. 138-9)

4. Why has Dimmesdale's sin made him a better minister? (p. 139)

5. How does Dimmesdale feel about himself now?

List the several things he tries to do to assuage his guilt. (pp. 140-141)

What does Hawthorne say at the top of p. 141 about the "constitution of his nature"?

6. Where does Dimmesdale go in Ch. 12?

7. Is this really such a brave act? Explain.

8. Who stands with Dimmesdale on the scaffold? (p. 148)

9. What does Dimmesdale see in the sky? (p. 149)

10. Who is standing nearby watching? (p. 151)

What is Dimmesdale able to see in this person now?

11. What criticism does Pearl have for Dimmesdale on p. 152?

12. Was the "A" in the sky really there? Explain.

13. How much time has passed since the beginning of the novel by ch. 13? (p. 155)

14. How has Hester's position in the community changed? (p. 155) WHY?

15. What comments about freedom of thought does Hawthorne make on pp. 158-9?

16. What does Hester think of doing that prompts Hawthorne to write, "the scarlet letter had not done its office"? (p. 160)

17. At the end of Ch. 13, what does Hester resolve to do and why? (See the beginning of the chapter as well.)

18. What does Hester say about her letter when Chillingworth suggests it might be removed? (p. 163)

19. What has Chillingworth transformed himself into? (p. 163, bottom)

20. Does Hester feel at all responsible for this? (p. 164)

21. Does Chillingworth want to speak of Dimmesdale? (p. 164)

22. What does Hester say would have been a better fate for Dimmesdale? (p. 165)

Do you agree with her?

Does Chillingworth agree with her?

23. What revelation or realization comes to Chillingworth as he is telling Hester what he's done to Dimmesdale?

24. What does Hester ask Chillingworth on p. 166?

What's his response?

25. In what way do Hester and Chillingworth commiserate after she says she must reveal Chillingworth's identity to Dimmesdale?

(p. 167)

26. How does Hester feel about Chillingworth? (p. 169)

Does this seem logical? Explain.

27. What does Hawthorne say about marriage in the last ¶ of p. 169?

28. What does Pearl create with her seaweed on p. 171?

29. What does Pearl keep asking Hester in chapter 15?

30. What is Hester tempted to tell Pearl? (pp. 172-3)

Does she?

31. What is Hester doing for the first time ever in her reply to Pearl? (p. 173, bottom)

What does she believe made her do this?

Chapters 16-20

1. Why won't Hester visit Dimmesdale in his study? (p. 174-5)

2. What does Pearl think will come of its own accord when she is grown? (p. 175, bottom)

3. What does Hester say about herself and Satan? (p. 177, bottom)

4. What does Pearl ask about Dimmesdale as they hear him approaching? (p. 179)

5. What does Dimmesdale look as though he would be glad to do? (p. 180)

6. What do Hester and Arthur think and feel as they meet again alone for the first time in seven years in Ch. 17?

7. Look at the ¶ beginning ,"None! &emdash; nothing but despair!" (a) What does Arthur say he'd have to be in order to find peace?

(b) Do you agree with this as far as people in general are concerned? (I.e., does one have to be religious in order to be moral, have a conscience, etc.?) Explain why you feel as you do.

8. What does Hester say to comfort Arthur?

9. In the ¶ beginning, "More misery. . .," Dimmesdale says there's no way he can truly perform good works.

(a) Do you believe he is correct; in your view, can someone who has sinned still help others?

(b) In the Puritans' view, could a sinner do this?

(c) Would it have been possible for Arthur to have confessed and then gone on to do good works? Is there an apparent contradiction, so to speak, in the Puritan view on all this?

(d) What does Dimmesdale say he sees a huge "contrast" between? (p. 182, bottom)

10. What is Arthur's reaction when Hester confesses that Chillingworth is her husband? (p. 185)

11. What does Dimmesdale finally decide? Why? (p. 185, bottom)

What does Dimmesdale say here about his sin, Hester's sin, and Chillingworth's sin? (pp. 185-6)

12. What does Hester now say her former relationship with Dimmesdale had? (p. 186, top)

What does Dimmesdale tell her to do when she mentions this?

13. Who takes charge now? (p. 187)

Why is this necessary?

14. By the end of chapter 17, what have Hester and Dimmesdale decided to do?

15. What difference between Hester and Dimmesdale is detailed in ¶'s 2-4 of Ch. 18?

16. (a) What is implied by the statement that Hester's experiences have "made her strong, but taught her much amiss"? (b) Are her ideas "amiss" in Hawthorne's view? (c) In Hester's view? (b) In the view of the Puritans?

17. In the 4th ¶, Hawthorne comments that "the breach which guilt has once made into the human soul is never . . . repaired" and that once we have sinned we are ever in danger of doing so again. In the next ¶, Dimmesdale resolves to go away with Hester. What is implied by this juxtaposition?

18. In the 2nd full ¶ of p. 191, how does Arthur justify his decision?

19. What are Dimmesdale's thoughts and feelings regarding Pearl? (p. 193)

20. What does Pearl's seeming unity with the forest and its creatures at the end of Ch. 18 signify?

21. Why won't Pearl come to Hester right away in Ch. 19? What does Hester have to do because of this?

What is Dimmesdale's reaction to this?

What does Hester have to do?

22. Towards the end of chapter 19, what two questions does Pearl ask about the minister?

23. Why, apparently, does Pearl show no affection for Dimmesdale now?

24. Describe what happens as Dimmesdale comes back from the forest and walks through the village in Ch. 20.

(a) How do things seem to him?

(b) What would he like to do when he meets:

the deacon?

the oldest woman?

the virgin?

the sailor?

25. What does Mistress Hibbins do?

26. Does Dimmesdale himself think his plans with Hester are sinful?

27. What important event will be taking place in the next few days? What role will Dimmesdale play?

Chapters 21-24

1. Find the ¶ beginning, "Then, too, the people were countenanced… ." Look at the description of the various activities people are involved in during the election day festivities, and take a look at what activities Hawthorne tells us they are NOT engaged in. Explain how the Puritan influence can still be seen in America today, based on this description and your knowledge of American pastimes.

2. Find the ¶ beginning, "It may not be too much to affirm . . ." on p. 227. What social commentary does Hawthorne engage in here, concerning this generation of Puritans, the next one, and Americans in his own time?

3. Why can Hester talk to the ship's captain without being overheard? (p. 220, top)

4. What will Chillingworth do? (p. 220)

5. What are Hester's thoughts as she sees Dimmesdale pass by in the procession? (p. 224)

6. Explain what is meant (in the larger sense) by the line, "We must not always talk in the market-place of what happens to us in the forest." (p. 225)

7. What does Mistress Hibbins say to Hester? (pp. 225-227)

8. Where does Hester stand as Arthur gives his sermon? (p. 227)

9. What message does Chillingworth have for Hester? (p. 229)

10. How does Hester feel on Election Day and WHY?

Ch. 23

1. What did the parishioners think of Arthur's sermon? (pp. 231-2)

2. How does Dimmesdale "escape" from Chillingworth? (pp. 236 & 238)

3. What are Pearl's actions towards Dimmesdale now? (p. 238)

What does Hawthorne say this signifies?

4. As Dimmesdale says "farewell" to Hester, what does she ask him and what does he reply? (p. 239)

How does this passage illustrate the basic difference between Hester and Arthur, leading to her survival but his demise?

Whose view of their love relationship&emdash;Hester's or Arthur's&emdash;do you share?

Could they have had a happy life together if they could have gotten away from Chillingworth? Explain.

5. Was there a mark on Dimmesdale's chest? (pp. 240-241) Explain.

6. What eventually happened to Chillingworth? (p. 242)

To Pearl? (pp. 242-3)

To Hester? (pp. 243-5)

7. Describe Hester's grave. (p. 245)

8. If Emerson were to comment on or analyze the actions of Hester Prynne and of Arthur Dimmesdale, what would he have said about each?