Scarlet Letter Chapters 7, 8 and through 16 study guide E2H
Chapter 7
1. What significance do you see in Pearl’s outfit?
2. What significance in her demand for sunshine and in Hester’s answer?
3. What significance in the magnification of the letter A in the armor in the governor’s
mansion?
Chapter 8
1. What ironies are there in Hester’s plea to Dimmesdale and in his arguments for
Hester’s right to keep the child?
2. Compare the governor’s and Wilson’s impressions of the scarlet-clad child. How do
these relate to Hester’s own impressions?
3. How would Hawthorne account for the physical changes in Chillingworth?
4. Note Pearl’s gesture of affection to Dimmesdale- What purposes does it serve?
Chapter 9
1. What is Chillingworth’s philosophy of treatment? How does it compare with
modern theories?
2. How do the people react to Chillingworth?
3. What irony is there in the tapestry of David and Bathsheba and of Nathan the
Prophet in Dimmesdale’s apartment?
Chapter 10
1. How is Pearl’s impression of Chillingworth justified by later events?
2. Note her impression about him (p. 139).
3. What does Pearl throw at the minister? What is the symbolism in this?
4. How does Dimmesdale reveal himself when he talks about Hester’s suffering?
5. In what way does this chapter provide a minor climax?
Chapter 11
1. What is Chillingworth’s scheme of revenge? Why does Dimmesdale continue to
associate with him?
2. How does Dimmesdale combine hypocrisy and remorse?
3. How does he do penance?
Chapter 12
1. How are remorse and cowardice united in the minister?
2. What does the scaffold symbolize? Why does the minister go to it at NIGHT?
3. How does Pearl show herself to be a very perceptive child?
4. When were the f major characters together near the scaffold last? What is the
extent of Chillingworth’s knowledge each time?
Chapter 13
1. How has time changed the way in which Hester is regarded by the townspeople?
2. How does Hester differ from the Puritans in general?
3. Explain the comment that “The scarlet letter had not done its office.”
4. What events and what observations cause Hester to re-examine her behavior in
regard to Dimmesdale?
Chapter 14
1. How are the moral and physical aspects of Chillingworth linked?
2. What does he see in himself in his brief moment of insight?
3. How does he explain all the evil that has occurred in his and Hester’s and
Dimmesdale’s lives?
4. Why does Hester plan to break, for the second time, her vows to Chillingworth?
Chapter 15
1. Is Hester honest with herself and Chillingworth as she recalls their past?
2. How is she troubled by her relationship with Pearl?
Chapter 16
1. Seek out symbolism of forest, sunshine and brook.
2. Why does Hester tell Pearl the story of the Black Man? Do you think she is wise to
do so?
3. How does Pearl associate Dimmesdale and the Black Man?