Questions and Answers
Dimmesdale realizes that he has gone unnoticed, and in his __________ and pain he cries out.
horror
The elderly woman looks out, as does the __________, but both withdraw soon enough.
Governor
Dimmesdale continues to __________ with his guilt and shame.
wrestle
This plan is foiled by ______ ______ ________ who approach the scaffold unexpectedly.
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Pearl asks him to stand with her and Hester the next day, but he __________.
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Just then, a bright __________ shoots across the sky, lighting the scene.
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He thinks he sees the shape of the __________ in the meteor's passing.
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Dimmesdale is agitated and asks, 'Who is that man, Hester?' but she cannot reveal Chillingworth's __________ because of her oath.
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Pearl whispers __________ in his ear as punishment for declining to stand with her and Hester.
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Dimmesdale allows himself to be taken away by Chillingworth after seeing him at Governor Winthrop's __________.
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Afterward, the Sexton returns a __________ that was found on the scaffold.
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The minister __________ about seeing it.
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He had been driven by the impulse of that __________ which dogged him everywhere.
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On that spot, the gnawing and poisonous tooth of __________ pain.
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As if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, he shrieked aloud: an outcry that went pealing through the night, and was beaten back from one house to another, and __________ me here!
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Beyond the shadow of a doubt, this venerable witch-lady had heard Mr.Dimmesdale's outcry, and interpreted it as the clamour of the fiends and night-hags, with whom she was well known to make excursions in the forest.
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The good old minister came freshly from the death-chamber of _____ __________.
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Now surrounded with a radiant _______, that glorified him amid this gloomy night of sin.
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The glimmer of this luminary suggested the above _______________ to Mr.Dimmesdale.
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What is the nightmare mentioned here referring to? The whole tribe of decorous personages, would start into public view with the disorder of a nightmare in their aspects.
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Who does Hester say this to? 'I have been watching at a death-bed,' answered Hester Prynne.
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At the great judgment day, the sense that he was a professional teacher of the ________ impelled him to answer the child so.
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Then, and there, before the judgment-seat, thy truth, thy ________ and thou, and I must stand together.
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The light in this part of the story is represented by a __________.
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We impute it solely to the disease in his own eye and heart that the minister beheld an immense letter—________________—marked out in lines of dull red light.
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So vivid was the expression, or so intense the minister's __________ of it, that it seemed still to remain painted on the darkness after the meteor had vanished.
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Overcome with __________, 'I shiver at him! Dost thou know the man? I hate him, Hester!'
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Did your reverence hear of the portent that was seen last night? A great red letter in the sky—the letter A, which we interpret to stand for ________.
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Study Notes
Dimmesdale's Night on the Scaffold
- Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold alone during a dark May night, feeling horror and pain, but goes unnoticed by the townsfolk.
- An elderly woman and the Governor briefly look out but don't intervene, leaving him isolated.
- Dimmesdale fantasizes about calling out to Wilson, but instead wrestles with his guilt, hoping someone will find him by morning.
Interaction with Hester and Pearl
- When Pearl takes Dimmesdale's hand, he feels a surge of energy but is also overwhelmed by fear of being discovered.
- Pearl asks him to join her and Hester on the scaffold the next day; he refuses, saying "not tomorrow."
- A bright meteor streaks across the sky, interpreted by Dimmesdale as a sign of looming disaster and revealing his guilt through its shape resembling a scarlet letter.
Chillingworth's Presence
- Chillingworth observes from a distance, and while Dimmesdale inquires about him, Hester cannot reveal his identity due to her oath.
- Pearl, not bound by such an oath, teases Dimmesdale by whispering gibberish in his ear.
- Dimmesdale feels mocked and helpless as Chillingworth approaches.
Aftermath of the Scaffold Incident
- Chillingworth had witnessed Governor Winthrop's death and encounters Dimmesdale afterward, who is consumed with fear but allows himself to be led away.
- The next morning, Dimmesdale preaches an exceptional sermon, but a sexton returns a glove found on the scaffold, mistakenly attributing it to a cruel joke.
- Dimmesdale lies about witnessing a meteor-shaped scarlet A, indicating his shame and duplicity.
Themes of Remorse and Cowardice
- Dimmesdale is haunted by remorse and a cowardice that keeps him from revealing his true self and guilt.
- On the scaffold, he feels a terrifying visual of the scarlet letter on his breast, symbolizing his internal struggle and despair.
- His horrific outcry echoes through the night, and he believes the entire town will awaken to discover his secret.
Mistress Hibbins and Public Perception
- The narrator implies that Mistress Hibbins interprets Dimmesdale's cry as a call of fiends and witches.
- Dimmesdale reflects on being surrounded by the 'halo' of Governor Winthrop’s spirit, perceiving it as an inheritance of glory amid his own guilt and sin.
Judgment Day and Truth
- Dimmesdale contemplates the future judgment day, expressing a longing to confront the truth alongside Hester and Pearl.
- The meteor's light symbolizes revelation and the potential unification of Dimmesdale, Hester, and Pearl.
Scarlet A in the Sky
- Dimmesdale sees a massive letter A formed by the meteor, symbolizing his guilt, interpreted through his skewed perception.
- Others may not perceive the same symbol—which emphasizes how guilt alters one's view of reality.
Chillingworth's Arch-Fiend Role
- Dimmesdale perceives Chillingworth as the embodiment of evil and feels intense terror in his presence.
- The nearby sexton’s comment links the letter A to the notion of angelic transformation, highlighting Dimmesdale's inner turmoil and the narrative's moral complexity.
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Description
Test your knowledge of key concepts and vocabulary from Chapter 12 of 'The Scarlet Letter' with these flashcards. Explore Dimmesdale's emotional turmoil and the symbolism of the scaffold scene. This guide will help reinforce your understanding of the chapter's themes and characters.
