The Scarlet Letter
Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart
1. What is Chillingworth’s new plan of revenge?
2. Dimmesdale acquires great acclaim as a minister over the years since Hester stood
upon the scaffold. Why has he been able to attain this popularity over more
venerable or worthy clergymen?
3. How does Dimmesdale feel about this love from his parishioners? How does it
influence his sermons? Why does this make him loathe himself?
4. What is a scourge? Why does Dimmesdale use it?
5. What images torture Dimmesdale?
Chapter 12: The Minister’s Vigil
1. Why does Dimmesdale stand upon the scaffold?
2. Who does Dimmesdale almost speak to as he passes the scaffold? Would it be better
if he had spoken?
3. Who does happen upon the minister as he stands upon the scaffold?
4. What does Pearl ask the minister? What is his reply? How does Pearl respond to
this answer? Why do you suppose she responds thus?
5. What does Dimmesdale see in the sky? What importance could this possibly have?
6. Who sees the three on the scaffold? How does Hester reply to Dimmesdale’s
question about the man?
7. What does the sexton claim the “A” in the sky stands for? What do you make of
this?
8. Based on the novel’s opening scene and this chapter, what significance does the
scaffold seem to have?
Chapter 13: Another View of Hester
1. What shocks Hester the most about her meeting with Rev. Dimmesdale?
2. What is the only link that Hester feels she has yet to humankind?
3. Explain how Hester’s position has changed, and why this change has been able to
take place, according to our narrator.
4. What new levels of meaning have taken rest in the scarlet letter? What new legend is
circulated among the town?
5. What effect, both on mind and on physical form, has the scarlet letter had upon
Hester? Why has this happened?
6. Hester turns her thoughts to the existence of all women, and entertains what some
might call scandalous ideas for that time period. How does she question a woman’s
place in the world, and what leads the narrator to say that the “scarlet letter had not
done its office”? (159)
7. Why does Hester feel she has wronged Dimmesdale? Why does she feel she can
now grapple more confidently with Roger Chillingworth?