Scarlet Letter Test
Review Sheet
Name______________________________
Your best sources for review……..
 your study questions
 your post-it notes and/or annotations in the book
 class notes and envelope themes/quotations
Be sure you can answer detailed questions about the important lines in this book. Your
test will be made up primarily of QUOTATIONS and be in a short answer format. You
will need to know not only the speaker and context of the quotations, but how these
lines relate to symbols, character development, themes, and the novel as a whole.
Consider the following ideas as you study:

How does each of the three scaffold scenes show the major characters in conflict
with themselves or with the community?

How does Chillingworth exemplify the theme that revenge and hatred can
destroy a person?

The symbol A takes on many different forms and meanings. How does the
symbol show the ambiguous nature of sin?

What does the character Pearl represent? Consider what she represents for
Hester, how her passionate and high-spirited character is indicative of Nature,
and what is shown in her interactions with Dimmesdale…

Explain the symbolic significance of the scaffold, Pearl, the forest, the market
place, the rose bush, the sunshine, the darkness, the prison, and the brook. Be
sure you understand how Hawthorne links these symbols together.

Be familiar with all the major characters as well as the minor ones (Mistress
Hibbins, Rev. Wilson, Gov. Bellingham…) and what they might represent.

How does the duality of Nature and humanity play a role in this novel? Which
characters and symbols have DUAL meanings and natures?

How does Hawthorne use ambiguity in this novel? What does this say about his
view of human nature and sin?