'Jane Eyre' Questions for Study and Discussion, 'Brave New World:' Questions for Study and Discussion, 'The Thirteenth Tale' by Diane Setterfield: Book Club Discussion Questions, 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' Book Club Questions, 7 Young Adult Novels That Encourage Discussions on Racism, 'Life of Pi' by Yann Martel: Book Club Discussion Questions, 'The Invention of Wings' by Sue Monk Kidd - Discussion Questions, M.A., English Literature, California State University - Sacramento, B.A., English, California State University - Sacramento. Despite, his desire for revenge, this goal ultimately eludes him, as Dimmesdale reveals his secret to the entire community and then promptly dies (and in Prynneâs arms no less). https://www.thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-characters-4586448 (accessed April 25, 2021). It also refers to symbols writers use to convey specific meanings, and they vary depending on the circumstances. Cohan, Quentin. Dimmesdale is the young and highly respected Puritan minister in the colony. A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else; it represents something beyond literal meaning. How would you describe him and his relationship with Hester? Chillingworthâas his name impliesâis not usually so emotionally warm, though. How did Hawthorne show that Hester Prynne was a strong woman in The Scarlet Letter? This inner turmoil leads him one night to wander to the scaffold in the town square, where he confronts the fact that he cannot bring himself to publicize his transgressions. Does the story end the way you expected? What is the moral statement Hawthorne is making throughout The Scarlet Letter? This is in direct contrast to Prynne, who was forced to make this fact public in the most humiliating of ways. While there, they discuss their marriage, and both acknowledge their own shortcomings. 'The Scarlet Letter' Questions for Discussion, Romantic Period Fiction - American Literature, 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' Book Club Questions, Top Novels for American Literature Classes, 'The Tempest' Characters: Description and Analysis, 'Mother Courage and Her Children' Play Overview. Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter more than a century after the events in the novel would have occurred, but it is not difficult to discern his contempt for Boston's Puritans and their rigid religious views. Prynne, however, is fiercely protective of her daughter, and prevents this from happening. Could the story have taken place anywhere else or in any other time period? The Bible describes sin by the color of scarlet and that thorns first appeared after the fall, as a sign of the curse. Due to her motherâs exclusion from the rest of the community, she grows up ostracized as well, with no playmates or companions other than her mother. How do we learn the true character of Roger Chillingworth? When these revelations have played out, Prynne decides that she wants not only to move back to Europe, but to do so with Dimmesdale, ridding herself of Chillingworth. What can you tell me about Grendel from Beowulf? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-questions-for-study-741327. The irony of this is, of course, that he winds up living with Dimmesdale, but has no knowledge of the ministerâs relationship with his wife. For the most part, though, Dimmesdale represents the interior, personal guilt felt by those who transgress laws and norms, as opposed to Prynne, who must bear the public, societal guilt. 'The Scarlet Letter' Characters. Is Hester Prynne an admirable character? Lombardi, Esther. Hester is convicted of adultery, a serious crime in the time period of the book, and sentenced to wear the scarlet letter "A" on her clothing for the rest of her life. He is known and adored by all of the deeply religious community, but keeps hidden from them until the very end of the novel that he is Pearlâs father. Whether you're studying for an exam or leading a book club, these discussion questions will strengthen your understanding of the novel. Scarlet letter: a punitive mark of adultery that originated with the novel (1850) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Esther Lombardi, M.A., is a journalist who has covered books and literature for over twenty years. Quotes About Color Red. https://www.thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-questions-for-study-741327 (accessed April 25, 2021). What purpose do the three witches serve at the beginning of Macbeth? (2020, January 29). Red is such an interesting color to correlate with emotion, because it's on both ends of the spectrum. What is significant about the novel's title? In the United States, red, white and blue and the Statue of Liberty don't just symbolize America but also patriotism. Additionally, even though Chillingworth leaves her a sizable inheritance, it is never stated that she learns of his and her motherâs marriage. The Scarlet Letter is a seminal work of American literature written by New Englander Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. Is Arthur Dimmesdale an admirable character? As a result, he feels racked with guilt, so much so that his health begins to deteriorate. How does Hester evolve through the course of the story? "'The Scarlet Letter' Characters." Prynne, however, does notice him, because he is her presumed-dead husband from England. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a seamstress newly arrived in the New World from England, whose husband, Roger Chillingworth, is presumed dead. What is the significance of Grendel's cave in Beowulf? "'The Scarlet Letter' Questions for Discussion." What does Pearl symbolize? They had twisted a crown of thorns: Kings wear crowns, but not crowns of torture. The balance of the narrative takes place in the seven years following the public outcry over her crime and focuses mainly on her relationship with the revered town minister, Arthur Dimmesdale, and the newly-arrived physician, Roger Chillingworth. Given his educated pedigree, Chillingworth begins to suspect that Dimmesdale has a guilty conscience, but he nonetheless struggles to figure out why. How essential are the settings, both geographical and temporal, to the story? ThoughtCo. ThoughtCo, Jan. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-characters-4586448. Consider the following questions as you learn about The Scarlet Letter. Upon learning of Prynneâs infidelity, he vows to discover and exact revenge on the man who usurped him. This is also antithetical to his very powerful public persona, in that he speaks before an audience every week, and is well known to all of them. What can you tell me about Grendel from Beowulf? When Prynne catches wind of this, she appeals directly to the governor, showing how protective she is of her daughter. Symbolism is a literary device that refers to the use of symbols in a literary work. What's significant about the novel's ending? How is her name significant? Cohan, Quentin. Definition of Symbolism. She later expresses her independence again, when she decides to reveal to Dimmesdale that Chillingworth is her husband from England, and to Chillingworth that Dimmesdale is Pearlâs father. In literature, a symbol can be a word, object, action, character, or concept that embodies and evokes a range of additional meaning and significance. Lombardi, Esther. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorneâs 1850 novel about Puritan Boston, then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony, tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who has given birth to a child out of wedlockâa grave sin in the deeply religious community. Would you consider The Scarlet Letter to be a work of feminist literature? The protagonist, Hester Prynne, as well as every other significant character exhibit a great deal of psychological and emotional complexity and individuality. Even when the minister dies, she leaves Boston nonetheless, striking out on her own back in the Old World. (2020, June 17). What does the scarlet letter symbolize? 17, 2020, thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-questions-for-study-741327. Discover grammar tips, writing help, and fun English language facts. Chillingworth is a new arrival in the colony and is not noticed by the other townspeople when he enters the town square during Prynneâs public shaming. He is much older than Prynne, and sent her off ahead of him to the New World, whereupon she had an affair with Dimmesdale. Despite her good deeds, the townspeople begin to worry about Pearlâs rambunctious behavior, even going so far as to suggest that the girl be taken away from her mother. ThoughtCo, Jun. Additionally, this moment highlights Prynneâs refusal to apologize for her crime (as the town sees it), arguing, straight at Dimmesdale, that it isnât a crime for a woman to follow her heart. Thinking through some key passages and the questions below will help deepen your understanding of the book. What is the significance of Grendel's cave in Beowulf? Is he believable as a villain? How did Hawthorne show that Hester Prynne was a strong woman in The Scarlet Letter? The significance of the scarlet robe and crown of thorns is to emphasize Jesus' taking the sins of the world upon His body. What purpose do the three witches serve at the beginning of Macbeth? Thus ever does the gross fatality of earth exult in its invariable triumph over the immortal essence which, in this dim sphere of half development, demands the completeness of a higher state. Over the course of the novel, these charactersâ relationships with each other and with the townspeople undergo major changes, resulting in the revelation of all they had at one point wished to keep hidden. From the beginning of the novel, Jack and Ralph both want to be leader of the boys, and disagree not only about who the leader should be, but what style of leadership is most effective. Do you agree with what how Hawthorne interprets the shortcomings of Puritan society? 'The Scarlet Letter' Questions for Discussion. Symbolism means an artistic and poetic expression or style using figurative images and indirect ideas to express mystical concepts, emotions, and states of mind. Does this novel give you a better appreciation for how women were treated in. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts on Christmas Eve of toys and candy to well-behaved children, and either coal or nothing to naughty children. They first reconnect when Prynne is in jail, after the shaming, because Chillingworth is a physician, a fact that he uses to gain access to her cell. She is born just before the book starts, and grows to seven years old by the book's completion. The tension mounts between Jack and Ralph until Chapter 8, when they argue openly. ThoughtCo. Curiously, she later decides to return to the New World, and even start once more wearing the scarlet letter, but there is little to suggest that at that point she is doing so out of shame; rather, she seems to do so out of reverence for humility and earnestness. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-scarlet-letter-characters-4586448. This, and her charitable efforts around the town, earn her back, somewhat, into the good graces of the townspeople, and some of them start thinking of the âAâ as standing for âable.â (Interestingly, this is the only time, other than an off-hand joke made to Pearl, her daughter, that the letter is given a concrete meaning). "'The Scarlet Letter' Characters." As the book begins with Prynne having already committed her crime, there is no way to discern her character before becoming the town pariah, but following this change in relations, she settles into an independent and virtuous life in a cottage on the edge of town. Cohan, Quentin. She and local pastor Arthur Dimmesdale have a romantic interlude, and Hester gives birth to their daughter, Pearl. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, a seamstress newly arrived in the New World from England, whose husband, Roger Chillingworth, is presumed dead.She and local pastor Arthur Dimmesdale have a romantic interlude, and Hester gives birth to their daughter, Pearl. What does the scarlet letter symbolize? Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter contains lots of symbolism, but it is not an allegory. Additionally, though he does, in fact, wear a mark on his chest of personal shame, mirroring Prynneâs, it is only made public following his death, whereas Prynneâs mark was very public during her life. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1850 novel about Puritan Boston, then known as the Massachusetts Bay Colony, tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman who has given birth to a child out of wedlock—a grave sin in the deeply religious community. Despite the pairâs closeness, Pearl never learns the meaning of the scarlet letter or the identity of her father. Symbolism in The Great Gatsby carries different meanings to different readers based on their perception. Why or why not? Lombardi, Esther. Discussion Questions for Frankenstein Written by Hailey Toporcer, Hiram College Class of 2019 Edited by Prof. Kirsten Parkinson As you read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, either on your own or with a group, we invite you to use these questions to add layers to your discussion or thinking about the novel. What is the significance of Pearl not recognizing Hester without her scarlet 'A'? And he does do right by Prynne when she visits the governor to argue that Pearl shouldnât be taken away from her and he speaks up on her behalf. She dedicates herself to needle-pointing, and begins to produce work of remarkable quality. Prynne is the novelâs protagonist who, as the transgressor in the community, is forced to wear the eponymous totem. This is an interesting moment, as the narrator compares Chillingworth to the Devil, further highlighting his lack of ability to connect with other people. At first the pairâneither of whom knows of the otherâs relationship with Prynneâget along well, but the minister starts to withdraw when the physician begins asking him about his obvious mental anguish. The specific thorn … Why or why not? On one end you have happiness, falling in love, infatuation with someone, passion, all that. The original papers, together with the scarlet letter itself,—a most curious relic,—are still in my possession, and shall be freely exhibited to whomsoever, induced by the great interest of the narrative, may desire a sight of them. Pearl is the product of, and as such symbolizes, Prynne and Dimmesdaleâs affair. At the end he does acknowledge the affair somewhat publicly and as something other than utterly sinful. When this happens, it is suggested that he take up residence with Roger Chillingworth, the newly arrived physician. The Scarlet Letter is a seminal work of American literature written by New Englander Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. In fact, even when he sees the mark on Dimmesdaleâs chest, he does not put it all together. As a result, she becomes unruly and troublesomeâa fact that, despite the mother and daughterâs isolation from the town, draws the attention of many local women who attempt to have her taken away from her mother. He, too, dies shortly thereafter, but does leave a substantial inheritance to Pearl. "'The Scarlet Letter' Questions for Discussion."
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