MINI NEWSPAPER ACTIVITY

Who is Hester Prynne? How is she being punished in chapter 1?
Who punishes Hester? Why is it considered lenient?
Who is Roger Chillingworth in reality? What does Hester refuse to tell him?
What jobs do these characters have: Hester, Chillingworth,
Dimmesdale?
What supernatural/hysteria concepts of Puritans are presented in the story?

Event 1: Hester at the jail.
Event 2: ?
Event 3: Hester & Chillingworth meet in the jail. Relationship?
Event 4: ?
Event 5: Pearl is uncontrollable; denies having a “Heavenly
Father”.

• End of Chapter I: The rosebush at the jail
• What does it represent? How is Romanticism seen here?
• Chapter II: The women standing outside the prison
• How does Hawthorne characterize Puritan society here?
• What can be said about the women who are judgmental of
Hester? What about the one who tries to defend her?
• Chapter II: “It irks me, nevertheless, that the partner of her iniquity should not, at least, stand on the scaffold by her side. But he will be known!—he will be known!—he will be known!” (58)
• Foreshadows what?

• Chapter III: The description of Rev. Dimmesdale and his plea to Hester to reveal her lover
• How does the community view him?
• What kind of diction does he utilize? What is the effect?
• Chapter IV: Chillingworth and Hester’s discussion about guilt
• What relationship did they have?
• Why is it important that “the scale hangs fairly balanced”
(69)?
• Chapter V:
• Hester’s decision to stay in Boston
• Effects of wearing the scarlet letter

• Chapter VI: Pearl
• What is significant about her name?
• How does she interact with society?
• How does Hawthorne view Hester’s sin?
• Chapter VII: The Governor’s Hall
• What is significant about Pearl’s attire?
• Why would the elect want to take Pearl?
• Chapter VIII: Pearl and the Elect
• Why does Pearl respond to their questions in such a way?
• What has changed about Dimmesdale?
• What supernatural element is introduced at the end of the chapter?
• What is being foreshadowed about Dimmesdale?

1. Using what we discussed in class and your novel, you are going to create a mini newspaper for the events of the first eight chapters.
2. SIDE ONE: Write a headline story for your paper. Cover the main event of the community. You should use quotes from the novel to support the information in your article.
3. SIDE TWO: Person of Interest piece. Using the assigned character, write an article about him or her.
• What personal details are known about this person?
• What major event is going on at the moment for this character?
• Why would the Puritans be interested in reading about this person?