Scarlet Letter Chapters 9-10 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

How does the town of Boston feel about Roger Chillingworth?

They adore him because he is a doctor.

Who does Roger Chillingworth choose as his spiritual advisor?

Reverend Dimmesdale.

What is happening to Arthur Dimmesdale?

He is dying slowly.

Who becomes Arthur Dimmesdale's medical advisor?

Roger Chillingworth. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the sentence that begins 'It was as if a window were thrown open...' on page 112.

Whenever a new point of view is shared with Dimmesdale, it's like how you breathe fresh air but you're still rotting away from it. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator say it is best to 'avoid the intimacy' of your physician if you are burdened with a secret?

Because it puts your secrets at risk of being shared with everyone. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Roger Chillingworth move into Dimmesdale's home?

So Chillingworth could observe Dimmesdale's life on a personal level. Signup and view all the answers

Why do you think the narrator focuses on the tapestry bearing pictures of David and Bathsheba?

The narrator focuses on the tapestry because David and Bathsheba compare to Dimmesdale's and Chillingworth's lives. Signup and view all the answers

What remarkable change has Chillingworth's 'aspect' undergone since he has lived in Boston?

He was calm, thoughtful, and studious, but now his face shows hints of evil. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the paragraph on page 116 that begins 'To sum up the matter, it grew to be a widely diffused opinion...'.

Reverend Dimmesdale was haunted by the Devil through his friend Chillingworth. God allowed this to happen so that Dimmesdale would emerge a better man in his spiritual walk, but he had to suffer through this first. Signup and view all the answers

What is Roger Chillingworth's purpose for spending so much time with Dimmesdale?

Chillingworth wanted to investigate Dimmesdale and cure his illness. Signup and view all the answers

What does Chillingworth find while searching the 'minister's dim interior'?

He would search the 'minister's dim interior' and all the good he found was like trash, and he would turn back to find something else. Signup and view all the answers

According to Chillingworth, what happens when a person dies with a guilty heart?

Ugly plants will grow above his grave reflecting his guilty heart revealing itself from the grave. Signup and view all the answers

What is Dimmesdale's explanation for the reason some people keep secrets?

It's in human nature but perhaps they don't wish to appear dirty in other people's view. Signup and view all the answers

Does Dimmesdale think that Hester is more or less miserable because she has to wear the scarlet letter? Explain.

Dimmesdale believes Hester is less miserable because now that she shows her secret to the world, floods of relief come over her and she rejoices. Signup and view all the answers

What gives Chillingworth a 'wild look of wonder, joy, and horror'?

Something displayed on the minister's chest that was kept secret from Chillingworth. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Roger Chillingworth's Role and Perception

Boston's townspeople admire Roger Chillingworth as a much-needed doctor, reflecting their dependence on his medical expertise.
Chillingworth selects Reverend Dimmesdale as his spiritual advisor, indicating a deeper interest in Dimmesdale's life and struggles.

Arthur Dimmesdale's Condition

Dimmesdale is physically deteriorating, suffering from an unknown ailment that causes him to slowly die.
Chillingworth becomes Dimmesdale's medical advisor, further intertwining their fates.

Tension and Secrets

A passage describes new perspectives as refreshing yet juxtaposed with Dimmesdale's ongoing internal decay, highlighting his moral and physical struggle.
The narrator warns against the close relationship with a physician when harboring secrets, suggesting confidentiality may be compromised.

Observation and Manipulation

Chillingworth moves into Dimmesdale's home to gain intimate insights into his life, revealing his manipulative intentions.
A tapestry depicting David and Bathsheba serves as a metaphor for the moral parallels between Chillingworth, Dimmesdale, and the consequences of sin.

Chillingworth's Transformation

Chillingworth's appearance shifts from calm and studious to sinister, reflecting the corruption of his character as he becomes fixated on Dimmesdale.

Dimmesdale and Guilt

The community believes Dimmesdale is haunted by evil, implying divine influence aiming to strengthen his spiritual resolve through suffering.
Chillingworth's obsession with uncovering Dimmesdale's secrets reveals his intent to both investigate and exploit the minister's guilt.

Nature of Secrets and Guilt

Chillingworth suggests that dying with a guilty conscience results in grotesque vegetation growing above the grave, symbolizing unresolved guilt.
Dimmesdale reflects on humanity's tendency to conceal secrets, often driven by fear of judgment.

Hester Prynne's Experience

Dimmesdale argues that Hester is less miserable despite wearing the scarlet letter, as revealing her secret provides her relief and a sense of liberation.

Revelation of Secrets

Chillingworth experiences a mix of wonder and horror upon discovering a hidden truth about Dimmesdale, underscoring the themes of guilt and the consequences of hidden sins.

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Description

Test your knowledge with this quiz focusing on Chapters 9 and 10 of 'The Scarlet Letter'. Explore character relationships and themes such as guilt and redemption. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of the text.