The Scarlet Letter: Chapter 21-24 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Hester's face is compared to what?

A mask; like the frozen calmness of a dead woman's features.

Pearl resembles the 'shimmer of a ________'.

diamond

Where does Hester plan to throw the letter?

The ocean

Who is Master Brackett?

The old jailer Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearl ask Hester if Dimmesdale will do?

Hold out his hand to her in the procession like he does when they are alone. Signup and view all the answers

Pearl refers to Dimmesdale as 'a ____________, sad man.'

strange Signup and view all the answers

How were important holidays treated in England?

Bonfires, banquets, pageantries, and processions; times of celebration. Signup and view all the answers

Who is not allowed at the Election procession?

Theatrical kinds of people Signup and view all the answers

What sport, the most manly and great of all sports in all of human history, is performed on Election day?

Wrestling matches Signup and view all the answers

What other two groups are present amongst the townspeople?

Native Americans and mariners Signup and view all the answers

What are sailors allowed to do in town that others can't?

Smoke tobacco and drink Signup and view all the answers

What bad news does the ship captain give Hester?

That Chillingworth will be joining them on their journey. Signup and view all the answers

What is Chillingworth doing as Hester spots him across the street?

Staring and smiling at her. Signup and view all the answers

Pearl floats along like what as she listens to the parade music?

A seabird Signup and view all the answers

What returns Pearl to her former mood?

The shimmer of sunshine of the weapons and bright armor. Signup and view all the answers

The officials are powerful but 'not often ________'.

brilliant Signup and view all the answers

What is different about Dimmesdale as he walks in the procession?

He exhibits lots of energy in his pace, no feebleness in his steps, frame not bent, hand was not over his heart. Signup and view all the answers

What is Dimmesdale unable to do as he walks along?

Not specified. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hester think of as she witnesses Dimmesdale go by?

The dim forest and the time they spent there. Signup and view all the answers

If Pearl had recognized Dimmesdale, she says she would have done what?

Run to him and kissed him. Signup and view all the answers

Who first approaches Hester to speak?

Mistress Hibbins. Signup and view all the answers

Hibbins knows that Dimmesdale has been where?

The forest. Signup and view all the answers

Hibbins tells Pearl she is descended from whom?

The prince of the air. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Hester stand as Dimmesdale delivers his Election Sermon?

By the scaffold of the pillory. Signup and view all the answers

Whose nature is wilder than Pearl's?

The Indians. Signup and view all the answers

What does the captain give Pearl?

A gold chain. Signup and view all the answers

The captain says that who is paying for Dimmesdale's voyage?

Arthur Dimmesdale. Signup and view all the answers

What do the Indians assume as they look at Hester?

That she was one of high dignity among her people. Signup and view all the answers

How does the letter physically affect Hester during these final hours of wearing it?

Burned more painfully. Signup and view all the answers

What is the subject of Dimmesdale's sermon?

The deity and communities of mankind. Signup and view all the answers

How does Dimmesdale's speech differ from that of old prophets?

He foretells a high and glorious destiny for the people instead of one of ruin. Signup and view all the answers

The people see Dimmesdale as what?

An angel. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs that is nothing like anything that has ever occurred in New England before?

The shouts of the people ring louder than before. Signup and view all the answers

Who first tries to aid Dimmesdale?

John Wilson. Signup and view all the answers

Dimmesdale asks Hester and Pearl to join him where?

The scaffold. Signup and view all the answers

Dimmesdale tells Chillingworth, 'Methinks thou are too ________.'

late Signup and view all the answers

Dimmesdale asks Hester to 'twine thy __________ about me!'

strength Signup and view all the answers

Dimmesdale asks Hester, 'Is this not _______?'

better Signup and view all the answers

Dimmesdale declares, 'behold me here, the one __________ of the world!'

sinner Signup and view all the answers

After Dimmesdale collapses, Chillingworth sits beside him and says what?

'Thou hast escaped me.' Signup and view all the answers

What does Dimmesdale request of Pearl?

That she kiss him. Signup and view all the answers

Hester wants to know if she and Dimmesdale will meet where?

Heaven or hell. Signup and view all the answers

The first group of witnesses of what transpired on the scaffold saw what on Dimmesdale's chest?

A scarlet letter. Signup and view all the answers

Some feel that Dimmesdale's mark was made by whom?

Chillingworth. Signup and view all the answers

Another group claims that Dimmesdale never had a mark on him and that his chest was as clean as what?

Like a newborn infant. Signup and view all the answers

People interpret Dimmesdale's final moments as illustrating that 'we are ______ all alike.'

sinners Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator say that the moral or theme of the tale is?

Not specified. Signup and view all the answers

Chillingworth is said to have disappeared like a '__________ that lies wilting in the sun.'

uprooted weed Signup and view all the answers

What two emotions both suffer when their subject is removed?

Hatred and love. Signup and view all the answers

What happens within a year of Dimmesdale's death?

Roger Chillingworth lied. Signup and view all the answers

To whom does Chillingworth bequeath his land and possessions?

Pearl. Signup and view all the answers

Some say they see Hester where?

At her old sea-shore cottage. Signup and view all the answers

What is the evidence that Hester may have been loved by someone from far away?

The coming of letters with armorial seals on them. Signup and view all the answers

Who visited Hester after Dimmesdale's death for comfort and advice?

Women. Signup and view all the answers

In time, what 'new truth' will be revealed?

Mutual happiness. Signup and view all the answers

An angel and apostle will eventually show us how what can make us happy?

Sacred love. Signup and view all the answers

It is said that two sunken graves are dug where?

Near King's Chapel. Signup and view all the answers

What do Hester and Dimmesdale share in death?

The right not to mingle. Signup and view all the answers

What is inscribed on the tombstone?

'On a field, sable, the Letter A, gules'. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Scarlet Letter: Chapters 21-24 Highlights

Hester's face is likened to the stillness of a dead woman's features, emphasizing her emotional turmoil.
Pearl is described as resembling "the shimmer of a diamond," signifying her unique and radiant nature.
Hester intends to throw away the scarlet letter into the ocean, symbolizing a desire for freedom and a new beginning.
Master Brackett serves as the old jailer within the community's justice system.
Pearl questions whether Dimmesdale will reach out to her in public as he does in private, showcasing her yearning for connection.
Dimmesdale is referred to as "a strange, sad man" by Pearl, highlighting his internal struggles.
Celebrations in England, such as bonfires and banquets, emphasize the cultural significance and communal joy during important holidays.
The Election procession excludes theatrical types, reflecting societal values and norms surrounding public celebrations.
Wrestling matches are highlighted as the most esteemed sport of Election day, showcasing male camaraderie and competition.
Townspeople include Native Americans and sailors, bringing diverse cultural elements to the community.
Sailors possess unique privileges to smoke tobacco and drink in town, differentiating them from other citizens.
Hester receives troubling news from the ship’s captain that Chillingworth will join them on their journey, heightening her anxiety.
Chillingworth is observed staring and smiling at Hester, indicating his manipulative and watchful nature.
Pearl moves gracefully like a seabird while listening to the parade music, symbolizing her vibrant spirit.
The return of sunlight's shimmer on armor lifts Pearl’s mood, highlighting the power of beauty and nature.
The officials in the procession are powerful yet not often seen as brilliant, reflecting their moral and intellectual limitations.
Dimmesdale’s lively pace in the procession suggests newfound strength and confidence, contrasting his previous frailty.
Hampered by guilt, Dimmesdale struggles to openly acknowledge Hester and Pearl as he walks among the crowd.
Memories of the dim forest and shared times with Dimmesdale haunt Hester as she witnesses his procession.
Pearl claims she would run to Dimmesdale and kiss him if she recognized him, showcasing her innocence and longing for affection.
Mistress Hibbins is the first to approach Hester, indicating themes of witchcraft and social hierarchy.
Hibbins suggests Dimmesdale has been in the forest, hinting at the secrecy of their meetings and the transcendence of nature.
Hibbins remarks that Pearl descends from the "prince of the air," suggesting a mystical heritage.
Hester stands by the scaffold of the pillory as Dimmesdale preaches his Election Sermon, linking her to public shame.
Pearl’s nature is described as wilder than her mother's, representing freedom and untamed spirit.
The captain gifts Pearl a gold chain, symbolizing wealth but also her connection to legitimacy.
The captain asserts that Arthur Dimmesdale has financed his voyage, revealing hidden societal connections.
The Indians speculate on Hester’s nobility among her people, showcasing their perception of her status.
Wearing the letter intensifies Hester's suffering, illustrating the deep emotional pain associated with her shame.
Dimmesdale's sermon centers on the divine and the moral aspects of humanity, suggesting hope amidst guilt.
Dimmesdale’s hopeful prophecy for the people contrasts with the ruin foreseen by old prophets, reflecting a shift in narrative tone.
The crowd perceives Dimmesdale as an angel, illustrating their idealization of him and misunderstanding of his plight.
A unique phenomenon occurs as the shouts of the people intensify, marking an extraordinary moment in New England’s history.
John Wilson attempts to aid Dimmesdale, representing the communal concern for leadership and well-being.
Dimmesdale summons Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold, culminating in a pivotal moment of revelation.
He remarks to Chillingworth about his late arrival, indicating his foreboding intuition of fate.
Dimmesdale urges Hester to "twine thy strength about me," signifying their intertwined fates.
Dimmesdale expresses, "Is this not better?" as he grapples with the concepts of truth and acceptance.
He dramatically declares himself the "one sinner of the world," showcasing his burden of guilt and public confession.
Upon collapsing, Chillingworth chillingly claims, "Thou hast escaped me," revealing the culmination of his malevolence.
Dimmesdale asks Pearl for a kiss, highlighting a moment of connection amidst chaos and revelation.
Hester wonders if they will reunite in "heaven or hell," reflecting her despair and hope for redemption.
Witnesses observe a scarlet letter on Dimmesdale’s chest, a physical manifestation of his guilt and connection to Hester.
Some believe Dimmesdale’s mark was influenced by Chillingworth, highlighting themes of manipulation.
Others assert Dimmesdale’s chest was clear, likening it to a newborn's, signifying purity amid sin.
The interpretation of Dimmesdale’s final moments suggests that "we are all sinners alike," highlighting the universal human experience.
The narrator implies an overarching theme regarding moral lessons and societal judgment throughout the tale.
Chillingworth is said to have vanished like an "uprooted weed," symbolizing the loss of evil in its absence.
The dual emotions of hatred and love both diminish when their subjects are removed, illustrating the complexity of human relationships.
Within a year of Dimmesdale's passing, it is revealed that Roger Chillingworth had lied, suggesting the consequences of deceit.
Chillingworth bequeaths his land and possessions to Pearl, signifying a final twist in heritage and legacy.
Hester is reported to have been seen at her old seaside cottage, symbolizing a return to her roots and solitude.
Letters with amorial seals arriving for Hester suggest love from afar, indicating potential for new beginnings.
Women visit Hester post-Dimmesdale’s death seeking comfort, showcasing the communal bond among women.
Over time, a "new truth" will be revealed regarding the interconnectedness of happiness and relationships.
An angel and apostle's message conveys that sacred love ultimately leads to fulfillment and joy.
Two sunken graves are noted to be near King's Chapel, marking a significant resting place for key characters.
Hester and Dimmesdale share "the right not to mingle" in death, underscoring their shared secret and eternal bond.
The final inscription on Dimmesdale’s tombstone reads, "On a field, sable, the Letter A, gules," cementing his legacy and connection to Hester.

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Test your knowledge of the final chapters of Nathaniel Hawthorne's 'The Scarlet Letter' with these flashcards. This quiz covers key themes, characters, and symbolism found between chapters 21 and 24. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike!