English 11 Academic
Scarlet Letter Study Questions - Chapters 15-17
(Due Monday, 11/30)
CHAPTER 15
1. Pearl stops throwing stones when
(a) she fears she has injured a bird
(b) she finds a jellyfish
(c) Hester calls to her
(d) all the birds have flown away
2. The decoration Pearl makes out of seaweed is
(a) a wreath
(b) the letter A
(c) a veil
(d) a sash
3. When Pearl asks the meaning of the scarlet letter, Hester
(a) tells her
(b) locks her in the closet
(c) cries
(d) lies to her
4. In this chapter Hester feels all of the following toward
Chillingworth except
(a) resentment
(b) repulsion
(c) affection
(d) hatred
5. Pearl’s connection the minister’s habit of holding his hand
over his heart with the scarlet letter is
(a) childish fancy
(b) wrongheaded
(c) amusing
(d) correct
Thinking it over
The author says that “In all the seven bygone years, Hester Prynne had never before been false to the symbol on her
bosom.” Explain how she has been false to it in this chapter. Do you think she is justified in doing what she does?
CHAPTER 16
1. One reason that Hester does not visit the minister in his
study is that
(a) she does not know where he lives
(b) she fears Chillingworth’s interference
(c) she would not be welcome
(d) people would guess their secret
2. Hester chooses to meet the minister
(a) in the forest
(b) on the beach
(c) in the graveyard
(d) in the marketplace
CHAPTER 16 (cont’d)
3. While in the forest, Pearl begs to hear a story about
(a) Hansel and Gretel
(b) England
(c) Chillingworth
(d) the Black Man
4. Pearl has heard about the Black Man from
(a) Hester
(b) a woman at a house they visited the night before
(c) the minister
(d) Chillingworth
5. Which of the following best describes Hester’s feeling when
she tells Pearl that she has met the Black Man once?
(a) boastful
(b) amused
(c) indifferent
(d) regretful
Thinking it over
Hester tells Pearl that she has met the Black Man once and that the scarlet letter is his mark. Does she mean this
literallly – that she has met the Black Man in the forest? If not, what does she mean?
CHAPTER 17
1. The chapter is mainly about
(a) Hester’s earlier affair
(b) Hester’s & Dimmesdale’s first conversation in years
(c) Pearl’s naughtiness
(d) plans for Dimmesdale’s new career
2. The time since Hester and Dimmesdale were lovers has been (a) two years
(b) seven years
(c) twenty years
(d) six months
3. The first things Hester and the minister say to each other are
(a) small talk
(b) accusations
(c) warnings
(d) expressions of love
4. During Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s conversation, Pearl is
(a) secretly listening
(b) off playing
(c) sitting on the minister’s lap
(d) home at the cottage
5. Hester reveals
(a) the identity of Pearl’s father
(b) who Chillingworth really is
(c) her love for Dimmesdale
(d) her desire to leave Boston
CHAPTER 17 (cont’d)
6. In relation to themselves, Hester and Dimmesdale consider
Chillingworth
(a) an injured person
(b) a misunderstanding friend
(c) a great sinner
(d) someone to confide in
7. The reason that Dimmesdale does not leave Boston as
Hester suggests is that
(a) he fears Chillingworth
(b) he doesn’t want to leave her
(c) he lacks the strength to start a new life alone
(d) he doesn’t want to leave his parishioners
Thinking it over
At the end of the chapter, Hester assures Dimmesdale he will not have to venture into the world alone. What is she
telling him? Is she revealing a plan that she made before meeting him? What do you think?