Scarlet Letter Ch. 1 & 2 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does Hawthorne mean when he calls the colony a 'utopia'?

It is what they dreamed of

What structures are required and why?

A prison and a cemetery because the Puritans recognize it is human nature to have crime and death

Why does he point out the rose bush?

It is hope to offset the bad in a dark place

Who is Ann Hutchinson?

Religious believer with unorthodox beliefs. Arrested for she was seen as a threat. Banished and killed by the Indians Signup and view all the answers

What two necessities, according to the author, must the founders of a new colony provide immediately to the community?

Cemetery and prison Signup and view all the answers

What is the occupation of the narrator?

Custom officer Signup and view all the answers

What is situated immediately outside the door of the prison in which Hester is kept?

A rose bush Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator offer the reader at the end of Chapter 1?

A flower to serve as a sweet moral Signup and view all the answers

Hawthorne introduces contrasting symbols early in Chapter 1 that will be used throughout the novel. These key symbols are?

Prison door, rose bush, and scaffold Signup and view all the answers

According to the narrator, which two adjectives most accurately describe the majority of the first generation of female residents of Boston?

Women are smaller and more delicate in frame and character Signup and view all the answers

According to the narrator, which two adjectives most accurately describe Hester?

Young, beautiful Signup and view all the answers

For how long does Hester have to stand on the scaffold in public shame?

3 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is Hester skilled at?

Embroidery Signup and view all the answers

For what did the letter A stand?

Adultery Signup and view all the answers

How long must she wear the scarlet letter?

The rest of her life Signup and view all the answers

Hester sees a disfigured man in the crowd at the end of Chapter 2. Who can we assume the man is?

Her husband Signup and view all the answers

Most of the women of Boston want Hester's sentence to be?

Iron brand; killed Signup and view all the answers

What is proof of Hester's adultery?

Her 3 month old baby Signup and view all the answers

A key symbol of Chapter 2 would have to be the scaffold on which Hester stands in her guilt and public shame. It most likely represents?

Hester's shame and emotion she had to face and deal with Signup and view all the answers

What do the women standing outside of the prison feel should be Hester Prynne's sentence? Why?

The women want her branded on her forehead because she went against their religious beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What is the reaction of the women to Hester's A?

The A is really pretty and the women were angry because she seems proud of her sin Signup and view all the answers

Do they all agree?

False Signup and view all the answers

Explain: 'one token of her shame would but poorly serve to hide another'

Her baby can't cover the A because both represent the sin Signup and view all the answers

How does Hester look? Is this what the town expected? Why or why not?

She looks really beautiful and ladylike. No, they didn't expect this because she just got out of prison so they expected her to look like a rebel Signup and view all the answers

What must she do during this short time out of prison? For how long?

She has to stand at the scaffold for 3 hours as public shame Signup and view all the answers

What is Hester's background (past)?

She was born in England and grew up there. She met a scholar who was slightly deformed, having a left shoulder higher than his right. Her husband, later revealed to be Roger Chillingworth, first took her to Amsterdam and then sent her to America to await his arrival. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 1 & 2 Overview

The colony is referred to as a "utopia," representing their aspirations for a perfect society.
Foundational structures, such as a prison and cemetery, are necessary as Puritans acknowledge human nature's flaws, including crime and death.
A rose bush outside the prison symbolizes hope amid darkness and despair.
Anne Hutchinson was a controversial religious figure whose unorthodox beliefs led to her arrest and eventual banishment, where she was killed by Native Americans.
Hester Prynne, the protagonist, faces public shaming and must wear the scarlet letter "A" for adultery, reflecting societal judgment.

Character Details

The narrator holds the occupation of a customs officer, providing a lens through which the story is narrated.
Hester Prynne is described as young and beautiful, contrasting with the expected appearance of a convicted sinner.
The women of Boston desire harsher punishment for Hester than what is prescribed, indicating their strict moral beliefs.

Key Symbols and Themes

Contrasting symbols introduced include the prison door (sin and punishment), rose bush (hope), and scaffold (public shame).
Public scaffold represents Hester's guilt, exposing her emotionally and literally to the judgment of society.
The letter "A" embodies not just Hester's sin but also the complexity of her situation and her strength in facing condemnation.

Hester's Punishment and Community Response

Hester must publicly stand on the scaffold for three hours, illustrating the community's desire for visible punishment.
Despite the shame of wearing the letter "A," Hester's skill in embroidery turns the symbol into something beautiful, fueling envy and anger from the townspeople.
The women of the community suggest Hester receive an iron brand on her forehead, showing their extreme views against her perceived immorality.

Hester's Personal Background

Hester is an immigrant from England who suffered a troubled marriage with Roger Chillingworth, who dispatched her to America under false pretenses.
Their failure to reunite highlights the theme of isolation and the impact of sin on personal relationships.

The narrative explores the dichotomy between Hester's external beauty and her internal shame, challenging societal expectations.
Hester's plight raises critical questions about justice, morality, and the nature of sin within a strictly religious society.

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Description

This quiz contains flashcards covering the first two chapters of 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Explore key concepts, themes, and characters presented in these chapters, including the symbolism of the rose bush and the necessity of a prison and cemetery in the Puritan society.