The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Focus on rhetorical analysis
Study Guide
Come to class prepared with your answers written for the following questions, on your own paper. Be sure to support your
answers with documented quotations (phrases, context) when appropriate, with page references.
Chapter 1: “The Prison Door”
1. Define ―Utopia.‖ Look at the diction surrounding Hawthorne’s Utopia—what does he think about the society created?
2. What are two landmarks mentioned? What can you infer about Hawthorne’s view of what the Puritans value?
3. Who is Anne Hutchinson? Why is it ironic that Hawthorne chooses to mention her in the introduction?
4. Based on the introduction of the setting, what is Hawthorne’s attitude toward the Puritans?
Chapter 2: “The Market Place”
1. Name the two punishments the women want for Hester. How does the ―A‖ affect these women?
2. Describe Hester’s demeanor as she emerges from her cell. What does she hold in her arms? What does she try not to conceal?
3. Explain: ―[the] scaffold…[was] as effectual an agent in the promotion of good citizenship as ever was the guillotine…‖(63).
4. Relate Hester’s personal history. Who are the people important in her life?
5. What is our view of Hester? How does Hawthorne establish our view of Hester versus the town’s view of her?
Chapter 3: “The Recognition”
1. Describe the man Hester recognizes from the scaffold. What has happened to him?
2. Why does Hester not receive the severe sentence? What is her punishment?
3. Explain Dimmesdale’s speech to Hester. What kind of man is Rev. Dimmesdale?
4. Who is the stern voice urging Hester to name the father?
Chapter 4: “The Interview”
1. Why is the physician called?
2. List the diction surrounding Chillingworth in the scene in which he visits Hester in jail. What can we infer about this man?
3. Describe the marriage of Hester and Roger.
4. Why does Chillingworth not want his identity known? Why does Hester agree to keep his secret?
Chapter 5: “Hester at Her Needle”
1. Why does Hester remain Boston?
2. How does Hester support herself and her daughter?
3. What legend grows about the scarlet letter?
4. How is Hester treated by the townspeople? What charitable task does Hester undertake?
Chapter 6: “Pearl”
1. Why does Hester name her daughter Pearl? What does Hester fear about Pearl?
2. How is Pearl first described? (Include appearance and character.) What does Pearl first notice as a baby?
3. How do the children of the town treat Pearl? How does she treat them?
4. Describe Hester’s mode of discipline. What are Hester’s impressions of Pearl?
5. What are the characteristic qualities of a pearl? Why is this an apt name for the little girl?
Chapter 7: “The Governor’s Hall”
1. List the two arguments of the villagers in reference to taking Pearl away from Hester.
2. Why does Hester visit Governor Bellingham’s mansion?
3. What was unusual about Pearl’s dress? How does this illustrate Hester’s pride and defiance?
4. What is a ―leech?‖ (Two definitions)
Chapter 8: “The Elf-Child and the Minister”
1. What reason does Hester give for her need to keep Pearl?
2. How does Pearl respond to her ―test‖?
3. What changes does Hester notice in Chillingworth after three years have passed? What do these foreshadow?
4. What changes have occurred in Dimmesdale?
5. Who supports Hester in her pleas to keep Pearl and by what argument?
6. How does Pearl behave toward Dimmesdale? Contrast this with her actions toward Mr. Wilson.
Chapter 9: “The Leech”
1. Why has Chillingworth been well received by the townspeople? What do the villagers begin to suspect about Chillingworth?
2. How does he come to be Dimmesdale’s personal physician?
3. What are the living arrangements between Chillingworth and Dimmesdale? How did they come to be?
Chapter 10: “The Leech and His Patient”
1. What does Chillingworth suggest is the cause for Dimmesdale’s suffering?
2. How does Pearls’ behavior in the cemetery express a link between Hester and Dimmesdale?
3. What does Pearl call Chillingworth?
4. How does Chillingworth finally discover the cause of Dimmesdale’s suffering?
Chapter 11: “The Interior of a Heart”
1. What reason is given for Dimmesdale’s ability to touch the souls of other? What effect does public veneration have on him?
2. How does Dimmesdale seek penitence? Be certain to review the definition of a scourge!
3. How does Chillingworth obtain vengeance?
4. What is the irony in Dimmesdale’s public confession?
Chapter 12: “The Minister’s Vigil”
1. Where does Dimmesdale go? Why does he call his action a ―mockery of penitence‖? What does he feel?
2. Who joins him? What does Pearl ask? Who watches?
3. What do they see? What meanings are given?
Chapter 13: “Another View of Hester”
1. What effect does the midnight vigil have on Hester?
2. What has Hester’s ―A‖ come to mean in the village? Describe the changes in Hester’s appearance and temperament brought
about by the ―A.‖ In what way has the ―A‖ freed Hester?
3. How old is Pearl now?
4. How does Hester come to view womanhood?
Chapter 14: “Hester and the Physician”
1. Describe the changes in Chillingworth. Look at the diction surrounding him.
2. Why has Hester no choice but to keep Chillingworth’s secret?
3. Why does Chillingworth refuse to leave Dimmesdale alone?
4. What does Hester suggest Chillingworth do to save himself?
Chapter 15 and 16: “Hester and Pearl” and “A Forest Walk”
1. What does Hester discover after her interview with Chillingworth?
2. How does Hester respond what Pearl makes an A for herself of eel-grass?
3. Asked what the ―A‖ truly means, what does Hester say?
4. How does Pearl explain the sun’s refusal to shine on Hester?
5. What answer does Hester give Pearl when she asks if Hester has met the Black Man?
Chapter 17: “The Pastor and His Parishioner”
1. How many years have the lovers been apart?
2. Contrast the forest and the town. Provide textual details that depict the forest and human nature versus the town and human
nature.
3. Describe Dimmesdale’s state of mind. What does Hester say to comfort him?
4. Define ―penance‖ and ―penitence.‖ Explain ―Of penance, I have had enough! Of penitence, there has been none‖ (133).
5. How does Dimmesdale react when Hester reveals Chillingworth’s identity?
6. Why does Dimmesdale say that Chillingworth’s sin is blacker?
7. What does Hester suggest they do? How does Dimmesdale respond? And then Hester?
Chapter 18: “A Flood of Sunshine”
1. What has the wearing of the scarlet letter taught Hester? What has the last year taught Dimmesdale?
2. What does Hester do to signal the beginning of a new life?
3. How does Hester think that Dimmesdale will feel about Pearl? What does he think?
Chapter 19: “The Child at the Brookside”
1. How does Pearl act when she sees her mother without the ―A?‖
2. How does Hester’s manner change when she complies with Pearl’s request? Why?
3. What does Pearl want Dimmesdale to do? Why? What is Hester implying by her answer to Pearl?
4. How does Pearl react to Dimmesdale’s sign of affection?
Chapter 20: “The Minister in a Maze”
1. What are the couple’s plans?
2. What is Dimmesdale going to do first that is so important to him?
3. How is Dimmesdale affected by his interview with Hester? (Include at least three examples of his ―impulse of shock.‖)
4. What effect does Mistress Hibbins have on him and his decision?
5. How does Dimmesdale treat Chillingworth when the two men meet?
Chapter 21: “The New England Holiday”
1. Describe Hester’s double state of mind.
2. List examples of the Puritan life of ―mirthlessness and severity.‖
3. What does Chillingworth do when he sees Dimmesdale’s transformation?
Chapter 22: “The Procession”
1. Describe the transformation in Dimmesdale’s appearance. How does Hester feel as she watches the procession?
2. What does Mistress Hibbins reveal that increases Hester’s concern?
3. What was Chillingworth’s message?
4. Reread the final paragraph of the chapter. Explain the wide gulf that separates Hester and Dimmesdale.
Chapter 23: “The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter”
1. What has the speech done for Dimmesdale? What does he do when he reaches Hester and Pearl?
2. How does Dimmesdale give Pearl recognition? How does she react? Why?
3. What does Dimmesdale reveal to the crowd? Why is Dimmesdale’s act no real surprise?
Chapter 24: “Conclusion”
1. How do the townspeople react to Dimmesdale’s confession? Examples?
2. What becomes of Chillingworth after Dimmesdale’s death?
3. To whom does Chillingworth leave his estate? Why?
4. What becomes of Hester and Pearl? Why does Hester return?