The Scarlet Letter - Character Analysis
Choose one of the following topics to develop into a thorough character analysis.
1. One character’s development through the 3 scaffold scenes
2. One character
Pearl – relationship with nature, intuition
Hester – defined by the scarlet letter, changes
Chillingworth – changes
Dimmesdale – respect, changes
3. One character’s internal struggles revealed through physical traits
4. Who is more despicable – Dimmesdale or Chillingworth?
5. Compare/contrast Hester and Dimmesdale
6. Mother/Daughter relationship
7. Hester as Dimmesdale’s source of strength
8. Dimmesdale and Pearl’s relationship
9. How is each of the characters affected by the scarlet letter?
HOW TO ORGANIZE AN ANALYSIS.
Just like the 5 paragraph essays you’ve written before, this paper should have three main sections:
 Introduction
 Body
 Conclusion
Have a minimum of 5 paragraphs with 5-7 sentences each. You may find that you have enough examples and
explanations to justify making the body more than three paragraphs, and the entire paper more than five paragraphs.
Introduction
The Introduction should include a motivator that states the author, title, and brief summary of the novel. The thesis
statement will state your interpretation or understanding of the novel. A thesis makes a claim that can be argued.
Not a thesis: “Nathaniel Hawthorne writes about sin and revenge in The Scarlet Letter.”
Problem: Oh hey, that’s the plot. I read that on the back cover!
A thesis! “In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne, through Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, proves that guilt and
obsessive revenge destroys the victim as well as the perpetrator.
Improvement: Person A can agree, “Oh, definitely! Remember how disgusting Chillingworth got?” while
Person B can argue, “Chillingworth wasn’t destroyed, he embodied his revenge and became more passionate!”
The Body Paragraph
Each paragraph in the body section works to prove the Thesis Statement. Each paragraph has its own topic sentence –
an outline of what that paragraph will discuss. Each paragraph should contain quotes or quote bits to illustrate a quality
or characteristic. Quotes do not tell the story; they illustrate it. Do not depend on your quotes to prove your point.
What you say about your quote (how you logically tie your quotes into your argument) should prove your point. You
should be able to take your quotes out of your paper and the logic and sense of your point should still be there. You
need to discuss each quote and show how it illustrates the point you are making. Never expect the reader to do this for
himself. You must show the reader why the particular quote you chose is relevant to the point you are making. This
means you will always discuss each quote you use to show how it illustrates you point.
The three steps in proving a point are:
1. Make a statement
2. Use a quote or quote bit to illustrate your point
3. Analysis: logically show the reader how the particular quote or example proves your point
The Conclusion
The conclusion paragraph should summarize your interpretation by reviewing the thesis statement. End the paragraph
with a “clincher” – a broad statement about the quality of the novel, how the points you focused on added to the
novel’s worth, etc.
Character Analysis Rubric – 100 points Name__________________________________________Date______________
Requirements
Introduction
Thesis
Statement
Body
paragraphs Content
Quotes &
Evidence
Conclusion
MUGS
Exceeds Expectations
Meets Expectations
Below Expectations
Needs Improvement
5 paragraphs, 5-7
sentences each,
typed, double spaced,
creative title, TNR 12
point font, one inch
margins, page #s
Gives author, title,
and a brief summary
of the work. Includes
interesting hook/
motivator.
Complete, detailed,
takes a stance, and
can be argued.
Includes a “blueprint”
for the essay.
Almost all of the
requirements are met.
Most of the
requirements are met.
Many requirements
were not met.
At least 3. Include
topic sentences,
transitions, excellent
support and rationale.
Logically supports and
proves thesis
statement. Clear
transitions are used
and written in logical
order. Includes
quotations, reasons,
and other evidence.
Uses a variety of
sentence structures.
Exceptional
incorporation of
quotes and other
evidence. Each quote
inserted correctly into
paragraph and
explained clearly.
Correct parenthetical
documentation.
Reviews thesis
statement. Sums up
main points of essay,
5 sentences, and
includes clincher.
MUGS are nearly
perfect. Verb tense is
consistent.
Score
/10
Summary of work too
general or too
detailed; adequate
hook/ motivator.
Inadequate or missing
hook/ motivator.
Adequate summary of
work.
Missing author, title,
summary of work,
and hook/motivator.
Takes an adequate
stance, can be
somewhat argued.
Includes a basic
“blueprint” for essay.
Does not take a stance
or does not include a
blueprint for the
essay.
At least 3. Includes
topic sentences and
some transitions.
Includes adequate
quotations, reasons,
and other evidence.
Clear transitions are
used but one or more
ideas seem out of
place. Uses occasional
variety of sentence
structures.
At least 3. Includes
topic sentences and
some transitions.
Some ideas seem out
of place, unrelated, or
unsupported. Includes
some quotes and
evidence OR quotes
and evidence lack
explanation. Some
transitions used,
paper lacks order.
Repetitive or basic
sentence structure.
Few quotes
incorporated;
paragraphs lack
evidence. Quotes
stand alone and lack
evidence. Some
correct parenthetical
documentation.
Does not take a
stance, does not
include a blueprint
for the essay, basic
summary of
book/idea.
Missing topic
sentences and/or
transitions. Many
ideas seem out of
place, unrelated, or
unsupported. Lacks
quotes and evidence.
Paper hard to follow.
Repetitive or basic
sentence structure.
Incorporates quotes
and other evidence.
Each quote relates to
paragraph and has
some explanation.
Correct parenthetical
documentation.
Refers to thesis
statement. Slightly
repetitive and
includes adequate
clincher.
MUGS are generally
correct. Verb tense is
usually consistent.
Restates (copy/paste)
thesis statement. Less
than 5 sentences or
missing adequate
clincher.
Frequent MUGS
errors. Verb tense is
inconsistent.
/15
/10
/20
Paragraphs lack
quotes and evidence
or quotes inserted
without reason or
explanation, not
incorporated into
sentence. Incorrect
parenthetical
documentation.
Lacks review of thesis
statement. Less than
5 sentences, missing
clincher, and vague
summary of ideas.
MUGS make writing
hard to understand.
Total __________/100
/20
/15
/10