Ms. Hamden NAME:
The Scarlet Letter Test Review
1.
Hester’s argument for keeping Pearl

Pearl is the scarlet letter. Keeping her will make her a better person.

The power of her retribution
2.
Dimmesdale and Chillingworth’s relationship
Living arrangements

They live together.

Dimmesdale puts up scenes from the bible as a constant reminder of his sin.
Discussions

The discussion of weeds pg113
 the minister wont confess his sin because he will no longer be able to do good works
 because Dimmesdale is false he is unable to see Chillingworth’s true nature
Discovery

Chillingworth sees the mark on Dimmesdale’s chest.
3.
Chapter 12 scaffold scene

A mockery of penitence in the middle of the night

Pearl and Hester see Dimmesdale on the scaffold

Pearl asks to stand on the scaffold with him at noontide. Pg 134

Chillingworth appears and a meteor comes into view

The meteor reveals the adultery to the world but mostly Chillingworth because it looks like an A
4.
Hester confronts:
Chillingworth- Stop torturing Dimmesdale and she is going to tell him that they were married. She pleads with Chillingworth to learn to forgive. He will never be satisfied and will not forgive
Dimmesdale.

Hester resents Chillingworth for marrying her, even though she did not love him

Pearl creates a green “A”, CH 15 this is a warning for Hester to become a better person.

When Pearl asks her about the letter, she lies to her and says she wears it for the fanciness.CH15
Dimmesdale- Look at Water and Forest Imagery

He should be able to forgive himself because Hester explains all of his good deeds should have made up for his sin. CH 17

Hester comes up with the plan to run away, the narrator disagrees with Hester about this. The
Letter is a passport CH18

Dimmesdale is conflicted with his choices to run away

He is wearing a mask because he is false, he does not know who he is Ch20

He is happy about them leaving because he can complete his election sermon to end his career. He left no duty ill-preformed

Chillingworth suspects Dimmesdale is going to run away

5.
Pearl and Dimmesdale
 Pearl is confused about Dimmesdale because he doesn’t show their relationship in public which is why she is so willing to go to him in the final scaffold scene.
6.
Chapter 23 scaffold scene: changes in characters
Pearl

She knows that she no longer has to bring her parents towards redemption, she can be a normal child with human sympathy
Hester

She asks Dimmesdale if they will meet again in heaven

She has to change her ways which is why she comes back.
Chillingworth

He had no other purpose in life except for his revenge

Dies

Scaffold is the only place Dimmesdale can hide
Dimmesdale

Shows the A to the public

Reveals his sin and the burden

Multiple interpretations of the A
7.
Transformation of the A
Able to Awe—explain how Hester has changed.
She returns of her own free will
Her heart is in it—she helps all women in need
Tombstone—Puritans forgive her and recognize true love
She is buried next to Dimmesdale
8.
Fate of characters
Final message—be true
Pearl leaves—rejects Puritans, becomes wealthy, has her own child, starts her own life in Europe
Hester returns to fulfill her penitence and redemption—to be with Dimmesdale in Heaven
Chillingworth dies—has no purpose; the shell of a man; leaves money to Pearl; last shred of humanity