Precourse Independent Reading Assignment
English III
Mrs. Monn
This summer English III will read The Scarlet Letter. Set aside time regularly and read one
chapter (or so) at a time. You will answer questions that cover four to five chapters; remember, as
you write provide the page numbers, in parenthesis ( ), where you located the sources of your
information for the questions. Citation is critical for this class. Begin the novel early in the summer.
Do not wait until school starts to begin this assignment.
To help you along you will find it helpful to find and bookmark the class website. You may
locate the class website by going to www.teacherweb.com. On the website, look in the top right
hand corner and click on “Find My Teacher.” From here, you will be prompted to enter your state
(Florida), your school (Deane Bozeman School) and your teacher (L Monn). Once you reach Mrs.
Monn’s English Classes, please bookmark (or save to favorites) this page so that you may return to
it quickly in the future. This page will contain other helpful information for both the pre-course
reading assignment along with future assignments.
Email me during the summer if you have questions about the assignment or would like to
comment/questions on the novels. Use this address to contact me through Bay District School
system: monnlm@bay.k12.fl.us. Also, please check out my Facebook Page - Mrs. Monn's English
Class - where you can post questions and receive quick responses. You will need to request to
join the group before you can make any posts.
Remember, if you have any questions about the work over the summer, email me at the
above email address, or go on the class Facebook page and post your questions.
Mrs. Monn
Pre-course Independent Reading Assignment for English III
The Scarlet Letter
Answer the following questions in complete sentences. While there is not a word count for your answers,
make sure that all questions are answered completely with support from the novel. Make sure you cite the
page number where you are pulling your support in your answer. Make sure you label your work and your
work is organized when you turn it in.
Before reading, answer the following questions:
How do you expect society to treat a person who has broken one of its most basic laws? Why?
1. Who is worse, the known sinner or the hidden sinner? Explain.
2. What is conscience? What role does conscience play in the choices you make in your life?
Chapters 1 – 5
1.
What one idea about Hester’s moral character becomes most clear to you as you read Chapters 1
– 5?
2. Hawthorne sets up a deliberate pattern of ambiguity, or uncertainty of meaning, in the novel.
 Is Hester a sinner or a saint?
 Does the wearing of the scarlet letter bring good as well as evil?
These questions and many more raise issues that Hawthorne wants you to think about.

Notice other ambiguities that Hawthorne presents. Explain two more important
examples of ambiguity (uncertainty of meaning) that you find.
3. Do you think that staying in Boston will purify Hester and leave her a better person? Why?
Chapters 6 – 10
1. What does Chillingworth see when he thrusts aside Dimmesdale’s shirt?
2. The theme of “appearance versus reality” runs through the entire novel. Hawthorne supports this
theme by associating images of light and dark – sunlight or shadows – with each of the major
characters. Answer these questions about the imagery.
a. Which character is most often associated with sunlight? Why is this significant?
b. Which characters are associated with darkness and shadows? Why is this significant?
c. In which scenes were the contrast of light and dark most obvious to you?
3. Explain which character in the novel you identify most closely? Which character do you admire the
least? Why?
Chapters 11 – 15
1.
What one idea concerning conflict becomes most clear to you as you read Chapters 11-15?
2. The conflicts within the novel are especially complex and deep-rooted. Create a Character Chart
to organize for yourself the interior (himself) and exterior (with fellow Puritans, with Roger
Chillingworth, with Hester & Pearl) conflicts that tormented Arthur Dimmesdale.
3. What have you learned from these chapters about the effects of guilt and the power of conscience?
Do you agree or disagree with Hawthorne’s beliefs? Explain with textual support from the novel.
Chapters 16 – 19
1. What one idea concerning theme becomes most clear to you as you read Chapters 16 – 19?
2. The theme presents the message that the writer wants you to get from reading his or her book.
Often a number of subthemes support and help define the main theme. Create a Theme Chart by
briefly explaining each subtheme (sin, suffering, appearances verses reality, and the nature of evil).
Then state Hawthorne’s main theme.
3. Why is Hester so much stronger than Dimmesdale at this point in the novel? Do you agree or
disagree with Hawthorne’s reasons for making her so? Explain.
Chapters 20 – 24
1. What one idea concerning symbols becomes most clear to you as you read Chapters 20 – 24?
2. A symbol is something that stands for something else. Help yourself understand the symbolism in
The Scarlet Letter by creating a Symbol Chart where you explain the meaning of each person
(Pearl, Chillingworth) or object (the rose outside the jail, sunlight, the scaffold, and the scarlet
letter) in the context of the novel.
3. Did Dimmesdale have to die? If you were Hester, would you have returned to Boston? Explain.
After Reading:
1. What in Hawthorne’s message has relevance to the contemporary reader? Why?
2. What idea has reading The Scarlet Letter made you feel more strongly about?
After reading the novel and completing the work, look for a credible article that discusses personal morals
and ethics for the 21st century. (Print or copy the article for your use.) Read and annotate the article. Write
a short reflection (150 – 200 words) comparing and contrasting the ideas of ethics and morality between
the Puritan ideas in the novel The Scarlet Letter and the ideas in your article.
Within himself
Conflict Chart: Describe the interior
and exterior conflicts that beset
Arthur Dimmesdale.
With Roger
Chillingworth
With Fellow Puritans
Arthur Dimmesdale
With Hester & Pearl
Theme Chart: Briefly explain each subtheme. Then state Hawthorne’s main theme.
Subtheme: Sin
Subtheme: Suffering
Subtheme: Appearances versus reality
Subtheme: The nature of evil
Main Theme:
Symbolism Chart: Complete the following chart about symbolism from the book. Explain the meaning
of each person or object below in the context of the novel.
The rose outside the jail
Sunlight
The scaffold
Pearl
The scarlet letter
Chillingworth