Fourth Period Annotations Chapters 7-12
Chapter 7:
Characters:
Pearl – Older, tougher
Governor’s servant
Symbolism
Pearl’s red dress
Scarlet letter reflected in mirror larger than actuality
Suit of Armor in the Governor’s residence symbolizes nobility
Quotes
“There was a fire in her and throughout her…”
Vocabulary
Georgette – throat piece of armor
Questions
Isaac Johnson is?….One of Boston’s first settlers
Chapter 8:
Characters:
Mistress Hibbins – Sister of Bellingham (Thought to be a witch)
John Wilson – Wants to take Pearl away from Hester along with Bellingham
Pearl – Shows open affection for Dimmesdale
Symbolism
Pearl being transfixed by the garden
Pearl says she was “plucked from a rose bush by the prison door”
Hester pointed at Dimmesdale’s bosom
Quotes
“I my mother’s child
“She is my happiness, she is my torture none the less”
“God gave her to my keeping soul”
“This boon was meant to keep my soul alive”
“Pearl is capable of bringing joy or sorrow”
“I can teach Pearl what I have learned from my sins”
Vocabulary
Bedizen – to decorate
Questions
Why does Dimmesdale defend Hester?!
Chapter 9:
Characters:
Chillingworth – Investigating Dimmesdale to figure out what he’s hiding
Dimmesdale – Sick and “haunted”
Symbolism
Dimmesdale’s hand over his heart
The scaffold (Pedi stool of shame
Quotes
“Come away mother, come away, or yonder the black man will catch you for he hath gotten hold of the
minister. He will not get Pearl.”
“Good men never interpret themselves manly”
Vocabulary
Emaciated – Condemned
Questions
What is a leech? A doctor (sucking the life out of people. Like Chillingworth!)
Providence = God
Chapter 10:
Characters:
Chillingworth – Becoming more evil, closer with Dimmesdale than ever
Dimmesdale – More human, closer with Chillingworth than ever
Symbolism
The black man – sin, in the forest (the devil’s residence)
Chillingworth’s name – Represents literal chills because he’s “evil”
Plant from grave over dead man’s heart – Digging in to Dimmesdale’s heart
Quotes
“Why should not the guilty ones sooner unveil themselves of the unutterable solace?”
“You deal not, I take it, in medicine for the soul”
Vocabulary
Self-abasement - Humility
Questions
Chapter 11:
Characters:
Chillingworth – at ease; calm, gentle, and passionless
Dimmesdale – Whipping self, getting worse. More appealing to the public
Symbolism
Hallucinations involving Hester and Pearl
Pearl points at Hester’s scarlet letter then the clergyman’s chest
Quotes
“Mr. Dimmesdale suffered from anguish”
Vocabulary
Etherealized – Delicate and perfect
Impalpable – Can’t be touched (intangible)
Questions
Chapter 12:
Characters:
John Winthrop – Dead
Dimmesdale – Goes to scaffold
Symbolism
Meteor A in sky– John Winthrop becoming an Angel
Meteor A in sky– Hester’s scarlet letter
Glove at scaffold – left by Lucifer
Quotes
“They stood in the noon as if it was a light that would reveal all secrets and the daybreak would unite...”
“Come hither Hester, and you too Pearl, last time you were here I wasn’t here with you but now we will
all stand here together.”
“What right had infirmity…”
Vocabulary
Somnambulism – Sleep walking
Excursions – a trip (journey)
Questions
Why doesn’t Chillingworth acknowledge Hester and Pearl? Chillingworth doesn’t really care about
them…at all