The Scarlet Letter

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Questions and Answers

  1. Which building in colonial Boston has a rosebush right outside it?

  1. True or false: Most of the crowd in the novel’s opening scene is sympathetic to Hester Prynne and disapproves of the ministers who have punished her.

False (B)

  1. Where is Hester’s baby while she is standing on the scaffold during her punishment?

  1. A stranger in the crowd asks why Hester is being punished, and a local man says he must be a visitor if he has never heard of Hester’s sin. According to the stranger, where has he been that he has not received news of the incident?

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  1. True or false: Even though he is still young, Reverend Dimmesdale is already very well respected by the townspeople.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

  1. True or false: Reverend Wilson says that if Hester tells the community the name of her lover and repents of her sin, she will be allowed to take the scarlet letter off.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Crowd's view of Hester

The majority are judgmental and unsympathetic towards Hester, reflecting the Puritan society's strict moral code.

Stranger's whereabouts

He claims to have been held in captivity by Native Americans.

Townspeople's view on Reverend Dimmesdale

He is highly revered and seen as an almost saintly figure by the community.

Hester's Scarlet Letter Removal

Hester has to confess and repent to God not to the community.

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Study Notes

Colonial Boston and Hester Prynne

  • The building in colonial Boston with a rosebush outside is the Old Manse.
  • The rosebush symbolizes resilience and beauty amid hardship.

Opening Scene Reactions

  • The majority of the crowd in the opening scene of Hester Prynne's punishment shows disapproval of the ministers and sympathy toward her.

Hester’s Baby

  • Hester’s baby, Pearl, is with her on the scaffold during her public punishment, adding to her shame while emphasizing their connection.

Stranger's Inquiry

  • A stranger in the crowd questions why Hester is being punished; a local man informs him that he must be a visitor unaware of Hester’s sin.
  • The stranger has just arrived from a foreign land, suggesting a lack of local knowledge about the scandal.

Reverend Dimmesdale's Reputation

  • Reverend Dimmesdale, although young, holds significant respect among the townspeople for his preaching and moral integrity.

Conditions for Hester's Release

  • Reverend Wilson states that Hester can remove the scarlet letter if she confesses the identity of her lover and expresses genuine repentance for her actions.

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