Name:Date:

CP English IIIMrs. Lynch

The Scarlet Letter Chapter 17-24 Questions

Chapter 17:
1) Why are Hester and Dimmesdale referred to by the author has ghosts?
2) Why have neither Hester nor Dimmesdale found peace?
3) Hester reveals the truth about Chillingworth to Dimmesdale. How does he react when she asks for forgiveness?
4) What does Hester think Dimmesdale’s plan should be? How does Chillingworth reply?
Chapter 18:
1) What were Hester’s teachers? What had she learned from them?
2) “This had been a sin of passion, not of principle, or even purpose.” Does this make their sin more excusable or not? Explain.
3) Why does Dimmesdale exclaim, “Oh Hester, thou art my better angel?”
4) “She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom!” Explain this quote.
5) Hester calls to Pearl. Describe what she is doing during this scene using sensory details.
Chapter 19:
1) “She had been offered to the world, these seven years past, as the living hieroglyphic, in which she was revealed the secret they so darkly sought to hide…” Explain this quote.
2) “It was strange, the way in which Pearl stood, looking so steadfastly at them through the dim medium of the forest-gloom; herself, meanwhile, all glorified with a ray of sunshine that was attracted thitherward as by a certain sympathy.” What does this quote reveal about Hester, Dimmesdale, and Pearl?
3) Why does Pearl remain on the other side of the brook? (Respond with a quote.)
4) Pearl says, “Come thou and take it up!” To what is she referring and why does she make her mother due this rather than picking it up herself?
5) Why can’t Hester get rid of the “burden” on her chest?
6) Pearl asks, “Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together into the town?” Once again, the answer is no. What is Pearl’s deeper motive here?
7) Dimmesdale kisses Pearl. What does she do as a response and why?
Chapter 20:
1) We learn where Hester and Dimmesdale’s moment of passion was. How do we know?
2) How is Dimmesdale going to terminate his professional career? Where is he going to go after?
3) “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.” Explain how this relates to Dimmesdale.
4) Why has Dimmesdale changed so drastically?
5) Dimmesdale is tempted in this chapter. By whom and what?
6) How does Mistress Hibbins know he has been to the forest?
7) Explain how the forest is symbolic.
8) How does Chillingworth now know that the minister is his enemy?
Chapter 21:
1) As Hester and Pearl go to the marketplace, Hester recalls that it is the 7-year anniversary of her time on the scaffold. What is symbolic about the number 7 (think in terms of the Bible)?
2) What is Hester anticipating?
3) Pearl analyzes Dimmesdale quite accurately. What does she say?
4) What do the Puritans look like? The Indians? Why is there this stark contrast?
5) Who is the mariner and what does he say to Hester? Where does he know her from?
Chapter 22:
1) There is a procession. Who leads it? Why do you think this is?
2) Dimmesdale is walking with certain lightness. Why?
3) Hester feels dreary when she sees Dimmesdale. What does this foreshadow?
4) Mistress Hibbins shows up again. Summarize what she says to Hester and Hester’s reaction.
5) Mistress Hibbins tells Pearl that she is “the art of the lineage of the Prince of the Air.” To whom is she referring? Does Pearl understand, do you think?
6) Hester wants to leave the market-place. Why doesn’t she?
7) What does the mariner want Pearl to tell her mother?
8) Explain this quote: “The sainted minister in the church! The woman of the scarlet letter in the market-place! What imagination would have been irreverent enough to surmise that the same scorching stigma was on them both?”
Chapter 23:
1) How does the crowd react to Dimmesdale’s sermon?
2) How has Dimmesdale changed? (Cite past and present examples).
3) Dimmesdale begins stumbling out into the crowd. Why does the author have him stumble, instead of stride, walk confidently, or even crawl?
4) As he calls for Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold, Chillingworth says, “Wave back that woman! Cast off this child! All shall be well! Do not blacken your fame and perish in dishonor!” Why doesn’t Chillingworth want Dimmesdale to reveal his secret?
5) Why, all of a sudden, is Dimmesdale dying, do you think?
6) Describe this scaffold scene. How is Hester acting? Pearl? What is the crowd doing and what do they see? Obviously, include Dimmesdale’s words and actions.
7) Why does Pearl’s kiss “break a spell”?
8) What happens to Dimmesdale at the end of the chapter? Why is this a sick twist of fate, especially for Hester?
Chapter 24:
1) What do you think was on Dimmesdale’s chest? Why?
2) What happened to Chillingworth? Why do you think this happened?
3) Why does Hester return to the cottage? What does she resemble?
4) How do we know what happened to Pearl?
5) Explain the saying on Hester’s gravestone.