Scarlet Letter In-Class Annotations for First Period, Sept. 3,
2013
-Hester Prynne: Committed adultery had a child, husband not
the baby daddy; has to wear an A on her chest, she in jail, and
she is pretty.
-Rev. Dimmesdale: the pastor of Dimmesdale Church
-Hester’s baby
-Mistress Hibbins: bitter-tempered widow of the masterate.
Symbolism:
-A on her chest: Adultery
-Ignominy: not acting noble
Important Quotes:
“Let her cover the mark as she will. The pang of it will always be
in her heart.” –Young Townswoman
“Yes, these were her realities—all else had vanished.”
Vocabulary:
Physiognomies
Phantasmagoric
Rheumatic
Questions:
None
Chapter 3:
Characters:
John Wilson: Eldest clergyman
Mysterious man who is looking at Hester
Hester: refuses to tell the name of the Father
Dimmesdale: Urging Hester to tell who she…ya know
Symbolism, Motif, Theme:
Youth development
Justice
Mercy
Letter A: Glows in the passageway
Putting his hand on his heart (Dimmesdale)
Important Quotes:
“…he will be known.” –Mysterious Man
Vocabulary:
Peradventure-perhaps
Questions:
None
Chapter 4:
Characters:
-Master Bracket
-Roger Chillingworth (might not be his real name): Doctor,
studies alchemy, studied with a Native American; will not reveal
himself as her husband
-Hester: Being questioned by her husband
Symbolism:
The Black Man: the devil. Hester compares her husband to this
creature.
Important quotes:
“in the eyes of him whom thou didst call thy husband…in the
eyes of yonder child.” –Roger Chillingworth
“Even if I…peril of life.”
Vocabulary:
Sagamore
Expostulation
Besmirched
Questions:
None
Chapter 5:
Characters:
Hester: Has a bad reputation. She is shunned. Needlework (very
good.
Symbolism, Motif, Theme:
“Red infamy upon he breast”
Old fiend: Hester or Lucifer
Important Quotes:
“But now with this…or sink beneath it”
“Her sin, her…Into the soil”
Vocabulary:
Frailty
Imbibed: to drink
Questions:
none
Chapter 6:
Characters:
Pearl: Hester’s baby- just like her mom (personality); Demon
offspring; tortures her mother. Doesn’t know what the scarlet
letter means
Hester: Always crying
Symbolism, Motif, Theme:
Pearl’s smile: as if an evil spirit is in her
Pearl’s Name: her mother’s only treasure
Nature: Aries sprite
Important Quotes:
“God, as a direct consequence…a lovely child.”
Vocabulary:
Erring: to make a mistake
Despondency
Questions:
None