The Scarlet Letter (Plot Questions)
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What is the setting for the story? correct answer Summer of 1642 in Boston, MA What is Hester's
Prynne's sin? correct answer She had an affair and is an adulterer What were the 2 parts of Hester's
punishment? correct answer1. She had to stand on a scaffold for 3 hours and get mocked by the town 2.
She must wear a red 'A' on her clothing What was the typical Puritan woman's view of this punishment?
correct answer They didn't think the punishment was harsh enough Name at least 3 things we learn
about Hester's Past correct answer1. She had a happy but poor childhood 2. Her parents are in Europe 3.
She is married to a scholar Describe her husband. Where has he been? Who is with him and why?
correct answer Chillingsworth is a deformed scholar that Hester does not love. He had been kidnapped
by Native Americans and one of them is holding him ransom at the hearing. What is his attitude toward
Hester? Why does he partially blame himself? correct answer He knows that she doesn't love him yet
he is still filled with anger. He blames himself because he wasn't there to protect him. Who is
Dimmesdale? What appeal does he make to try and Hester to name the father? correct answer-The
town preacher -To take some of the blame because he is probably too scared to admit to it What does
Chillingsworth make Hester promise? Why doesn't he want anyone to know he is married to her?
correct answer-not to reveal his identity -if they find out she was married then she would be punished
even further After prison where does Hester live? correct answer Seaside cottage/ shack on sterile
land What is Hester's Occupation? correct answerSeamstress What 2 reasons are possible why she
doesn't leave town? correct answer1. She wants serve her punishment where she committed her sin 2.
She wants to be near Dimmy What is Pearl's purpose in respect to Hester's destiny? correct answer To
be her torture and her joy; to remind of her sin, but save her from the dark side. What is the ambiguity
concerning Pearl? correct answer gift from god OR devil child Why does Hester go to see the governor?
correct answer She hears that they may take away Pearl and she wants to make sure that doesn't
happen Why is Hester able to keep Pearl? correct answer Dimmesdale makes an appeal to the
governor for Hester According to Pearl, who made her? correct answerNo one, she was plucked from a
rosebush According to Dimmesdale, what is Pearl's twofold role? correct answer1. Will save
Hester--joy 2. Represents sin--torture Why is Dimmesdale's health is bad? correct answer His has
caused his health to deteriorate. Explain the twofold purpose for the term leach in regards to
Chillingsworth. correct answer1. It's another word for doctor 2. It's also a parasite that latches onto
people's skin and sucks their blood. What is the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth?
correct answer Doctor and patient What action of Dimmesdale's suggests that he is hiding something
on his chest? correct answer He is always touching his heart. What does Chillingsworth do while
Dimmesdale sleeps? What is Chillingsworth's reaction? correct answe rHe lifts Dimmy's shirt and
becomes as excited as the devil when he wins a soul. What makes Dimmesdale such a good minister?
correct answe rHis voice sets him apart...He is able to empathize--he is like his people because he is a
sinner, but he cannot confess. His congregants do not understand what it is that they like so much
about him, and they assume that he holy. 2 ways Dimmesdale tortures himself correct answer1.
Scourges himself 2. Fasts--doesn't eat Why does Pearl pull away from Dimmesdale? correct
answerShe doesn't like him because he refuses to publicly acknowledge them. Describe the
"supernatural occurrences" that shows up in the night sky? correct answer A meteor/comet leaves an
"A" is left in the sky What is Hester's position in the community during the time? correct answer She is
treated much better and is caring for the poor What does the A stand for now? correct answer Able->
Hester In what way does Chillingsworth look like the devil? correct answer He is frequently associated
with the notion of fire and the color red. There is anger/hatred in his eyes What does Hester ask of
Chillingsworth? correct answerShe asks him to allow her to reveal that he is her husband to Dimmy.
Why do Hester and Pearl go into the forest? correct answer to talk to Dimmesdale In ch. 18 what
contrast does the narrator point out between Hester and Dimmesdale> correct answer Hester has been
humiliated and punished for her sin, and able to show her pain. Dimmesdale hasn't been able to show
his point and has to suffer internally. What do the roses stand for outside the prison? correct answer
The power of nature to provide hope and relief from the darkness of life. When does Chillingsworth first
suspect Dimmesdale? correct answer At the Governor's mansion What event does Hester say will take
her to the "Dark Side"? correct answer if they took pearl away Did Hester ever love chilling worth?
correct answer No; married him to have someone support her What question does Wilson ask Pearl?
What was her answer? correct answer Where did you come from? I was plucked from the rose bush.
Are they united after death? correct answer Buried close, but not together because they are not
married Why do children taunt Hester? correct answer they listen to their parents What is Pearl's
personality in most of the book? correct answer brat, difficult, strange Who pities Hester on the scaffold?
correct answer The newly married young women What happens to Dimmy, Chilly, Hester, and Pearl?
correct answer D: dies after confessing C: Shrivels up, dies, gives $ to Pearl H: moves back England
Save
What is the setting for the story? correct answer Summer of 1642 in Boston, MA What is Hester's
Prynne's sin? correct answer She had an affair and is an adulterer What were the 2 parts of Hester's
punishment? correct answer1. She had to stand on a scaffold for 3 hours and get mocked by the town 2.
She must wear a red 'A' on her clothing What was the typical Puritan woman's view of this punishment?
correct answer They didn't think the punishment was harsh enough Name at least 3 things we learn
about Hester's Past correct answer1. She had a happy but poor childhood 2. Her parents are in Europe 3.
She is married to a scholar Describe her husband. Where has he been? Who is with him and why?
correct answer Chillingsworth is a deformed scholar that Hester does not love. He had been kidnapped
by Native Americans and one of them is holding him ransom at the hearing. What is his attitude toward
Hester? Why does he partially blame himself? correct answer He knows that she doesn't love him yet
he is still filled with anger. He blames himself because he wasn't there to protect him. Who is
Dimmesdale? What appeal does he make to try and Hester to name the father? correct answer-The
town preacher -To take some of the blame because he is probably too scared to admit to it What does
Chillingsworth make Hester promise? Why doesn't he want anyone to know he is married to her?
correct answer-not to reveal his identity -if they find out she was married then she would be punished
even further After prison where does Hester live? correct answer Seaside cottage/ shack on sterile
land What is Hester's Occupation? correct answerSeamstress What 2 reasons are possible why she
doesn't leave town? correct answer1. She wants serve her punishment where she committed her sin 2.
She wants to be near Dimmy What is Pearl's purpose in respect to Hester's destiny? correct answer To
be her torture and her joy; to remind of her sin, but save her from the dark side. What is the ambiguity
concerning Pearl? correct answer gift from god OR devil child Why does Hester go to see the governor?
correct answer She hears that they may take away Pearl and she wants to make sure that doesn't
happen Why is Hester able to keep Pearl? correct answer Dimmesdale makes an appeal to the
governor for Hester According to Pearl, who made her? correct answerNo one, she was plucked from a
rosebush According to Dimmesdale, what is Pearl's twofold role? correct answer1. Will save
Hester--joy 2. Represents sin--torture Why is Dimmesdale's health is bad? correct answer His has
caused his health to deteriorate. Explain the twofold purpose for the term leach in regards to
Chillingsworth. correct answer1. It's another word for doctor 2. It's also a parasite that latches onto
people's skin and sucks their blood. What is the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingsworth?
correct answer Doctor and patient What action of Dimmesdale's suggests that he is hiding something
on his chest? correct answer He is always touching his heart. What does Chillingsworth do while
Dimmesdale sleeps? What is Chillingsworth's reaction? correct answe rHe lifts Dimmy's shirt and
becomes as excited as the devil when he wins a soul. What makes Dimmesdale such a good minister?
correct answe rHis voice sets him apart...He is able to empathize--he is like his people because he is a
sinner, but he cannot confess. His congregants do not understand what it is that they like so much
about him, and they assume that he holy. 2 ways Dimmesdale tortures himself correct answer1.
Scourges himself 2. Fasts--doesn't eat Why does Pearl pull away from Dimmesdale? correct
answerShe doesn't like him because he refuses to publicly acknowledge them. Describe the
"supernatural occurrences" that shows up in the night sky? correct answer A meteor/comet leaves an
"A" is left in the sky What is Hester's position in the community during the time? correct answer She is
treated much better and is caring for the poor What does the A stand for now? correct answer Able->
Hester In what way does Chillingsworth look like the devil? correct answer He is frequently associated
with the notion of fire and the color red. There is anger/hatred in his eyes What does Hester ask of
Chillingsworth? correct answerShe asks him to allow her to reveal that he is her husband to Dimmy.
Why do Hester and Pearl go into the forest? correct answer to talk to Dimmesdale In ch. 18 what
contrast does the narrator point out between Hester and Dimmesdale> correct answer Hester has been
humiliated and punished for her sin, and able to show her pain. Dimmesdale hasn't been able to show
his point and has to suffer internally. What do the roses stand for outside the prison? correct answer
The power of nature to provide hope and relief from the darkness of life. When does Chillingsworth first
suspect Dimmesdale? correct answer At the Governor's mansion What event does Hester say will take
her to the "Dark Side"? correct answer if they took pearl away Did Hester ever love chilling worth?
correct answer No; married him to have someone support her What question does Wilson ask Pearl?
What was her answer? correct answer Where did you come from? I was plucked from the rose bush.
Are they united after death? correct answer Buried close, but not together because they are not
married Why do children taunt Hester? correct answer they listen to their parents What is Pearl's
personality in most of the book? correct answer brat, difficult, strange Who pities Hester on the scaffold?
correct answer The newly married young women What happens to Dimmy, Chilly, Hester, and Pearl?
correct answer D: dies after confessing C: Shrivels up, dies, gives $ to Pearl H: moves back England
