English 11 Academic
Scarlet Letter Study Questions - Chapters 9-11
CHAPTER 9
1. This chapter is mostly about
(a) how Chillingworth learned to practice medicine
(b) how Chillingworth becomes close to Dimmesdale
(c) Dimmesdale’s decision not to marry
(d) Chillingworth’s anger at Hester
2. Before Chillingworth arrived, the only person practicing as a
physician in Boston was
(a) Master Wilson
(b) a druggist
(c) Mistress Hibbins
(d) a Native American medicine man
3. Dimmesdale’s health begins to decline
(a) after he meets Chillingworth
(b) before Chillingworth comes to town
(c) before Dimmesdale leaves England
(d) after he moves into the widow’s house
4. Most of the people in Boston think that Chillingworth
(a) may be able to cure Dimmesdale
(b) is an imposter
(c) is trying to kill Dimmesdale
(d) is really Pearl’s father
5. After settling in Boston, Chillingworth’s appearance becomes
(a) more attractive
(b) uglier
(c) more spiritual
(d) more cheerful
6. Dimmesdale finally agrees to see a physician because
(a) he is feeling worse
(b) he wants to get to know Chillingworth
(c) members of his church urge him to do so
(d) he is terrified of dying
7. When Chillingworth says, “Good men ever interpret
themselves to meanly,” he means “too
(a) viciously”
(b) humbly”
(c) selfishly”
(d) highly”
8. The fact that Chillingworth is so readily accepted as a
physician suggests that
(a) his reputation has preceded him
(b) medicine was primitive in those days
(c) he has a strong influence with the Governor
(d) he once attended medical school
Thinking it over
Two contrasting views of Chillingworth and his relationship to Dimmesdale are held by the people of Boston. Describe
both the favorable and unfavorable views in your own words. Which one better fits the situation?
CHAPTER 10
1. This chapter is mostly about
(a) how drugs are made from plants
(b) the relationship of Chillingworth to his patient
(c) Pearl’s education in religion
(d) Dimmesdale’s burst of anger
2. The herbs Dimmesdale asks Chillingworth about were picked
(a) in the forest
(b) near the prison
(c) beside the scaffold
(d) in the graveyard
3. Dimmesdale and Chillingworth see Hester and Pearl walking
(a) in the marketplace
(b) in the garden of the Governor’s mansion
(c) in the graveyard
(d) along the beach
4. The person Pearl calls the “old Black Man” is
(a) Dimmesdale
(b) Chillingworth
(c) the Devil
(d) Master Wilson
5. In his discussion with the minister, Chillingworth argues that
a guilty person should
(a) confess publicly
(b) keep the crime hidden
(c) work for the poor
(d) pray for forgiveness
6. Which best describes Chillingworth’s feelings at the end of
the chapter?
(a) amazed and joyous
(b) angry and resentful
(c) regretful
(d) quiet and thoughtful
7. The word leech in the title of this and the preceding chapter (a) selfish person
is an old word meaning
(b) physician
(c) patient
(d) imposter
Thinking it over
Dimmesdale argues that a person might conceal a crime in order to be able to do good to others. Do you agree with
this view? Explain.
CHAPTER 11
1. The purpose of this chapter is to show
(a) the minister’s growing fame
(b) how deeply the minister is suffering
(c) the minister’s affection for Pearl and Hester
(d) the minister’s growing dislike of Chillingworth
CHAPTER 11 (cont’d)
2. As Dimmesdale begins to dislike Chillingworth more, he
(a) avoids him
(b) pokes fun at him
(c) continues to see him regularly
(d) attacks him publicly
3. When the minister confesses from the pulpit to being sinful,
the congregation
(a) is shocked
(b) blames Hester
(c) thinks he is exaggerating
(d) demands a new minister
4. Dimmesdale’s congregation is sure that he will
(a) die young
(b) quarrel with Chillingworth
(c) become the next governor
(d) confess to being Pearl’s father
5. In a locked, secret closet, the minister keeps
(a) a piston
(b) a book of love poems
(c) a whip
(d) a lock of Hester’s hair
6. In the expression “the very truth,” the old meaning of very is
(a) mostly
(b) real
(c) opposite
(d) bitter
7. The probable reason that Hester and Pearl appear in the
minister’s nightly visions is that
(a) he sees them often
(b) Hester is a sinful person
(c) Chillingworth is always talking about them
(d) he is Pearl’s father
Thinking it over
Hawthorne says that Dimmesdale “has spoken the very truth, and transformed it int ... falsehood.” Explain what the author
means by this statement.