The Scarlet Letter Chapters 19-20

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Questions and Answers

What do most people say they saw on Dimmesdale's chest?

A scarlet letter exactly like Hester's.

What happened to Roger Chillingworth after Dimmesdale's death?

He faded away and died within a year, leaving a sizable inheritance to Pearl.

What happened to Pearl after her mother and Chillingworth disappeared?

She became the richest heiress in the New World but disappeared and was not seen again.

What did Hester do after Roger Chillingworth died?

She disappeared and later returned to her lonely cottage, continuing her charitable work. Signup and view all the answers

Where was Hester buried?

Next to Dimmesdale in the King's Chapel graveyard. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 19: The Child at the Brookside.

Hester calls to Pearl to join her and Dimmesdale, but Pearl refuses until Hester puts her scarlet letter back on. Once Hester does, Pearl kisses her and Dimmesdale, showing suspicion towards the minister. Signup and view all the answers

Why won't Pearl jump across the brook?

Hester isn't wearing her scarlet letter and she won't come until Hester puts it back on. Signup and view all the answers

How does Pearl respond when Hester agrees to put her scarlet letter and cap back on?

Pearl agrees to jump across the brook. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dimmesdale mean when he says, "Oh, Hester, what a thought is that, and how terrible to dread it!"?

That he feared people would see that Pearl looked like Dimmesdale. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pearl's reaction to Dimmesdale?

She showed him no favor and seemed somewhat spiteful that some of Hester's affection was going to the minister and not her. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearl do to express her distress when Dimmesdale kisses her?

She runs to the brook to wash the kiss off. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 20: The Minister in a Maze.

Dimmesdale returns to town feeling exhilarated and plans to escape to Europe with Hester and Pearl. He feels a strange detachment from reality and struggles with his inner thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

How did Hester find a ship to take her, Dimmesdale, and Pearl to Europe?

Through her charity work. Signup and view all the answers

When will the ship be departing?

In 4 days. Signup and view all the answers

Where is the ship headed to?

England. Signup and view all the answers

Why is Dimmesdale glad that the ship sails in four days?

It gives him time to give his Election Sermon and end his career on a positive note. Signup and view all the answers

What inappropriate things does Dimmesdale almost say to multiple people?

He almost shouts at a deacon, forgets scripture while speaking to an elderly woman, avoids a struggling girl, has impulses to teach children wicked words, and nearly makes inappropriate jokes with a sailor. Signup and view all the answers

Speaking to whom makes Dimmesdale concerned that he sold his soul to the Devil?

Mistress Hibbins because she knows about his visit to the forest and offers to guide him there. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dimmesdale tell Roger regarding his treatment?

He doesn't need any more drugs; this makes Roger suspect that Dimmesdale spoke with Hester and knows who he really is. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dimmesdale do with his old Election Sermon now that he sees humanity differently?

Throws it in the fire and starts a new one. Signup and view all the answers

When does Dimmesdale have to give his sermon?

In three days on Election Day. Signup and view all the answers

What is Election Day?

A religious as well as civil holiday that marks the opening of the year's legislative session. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 21: The New England Holiday.

The townspeople gather to celebrate the installation of a new governor. Hester anticipates her escape but is unsettled by Chillingworth's presence. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hester tell Pearl about what is happening in the marketplace?

People are waiting to see the procession where the Governor and magistrates walk past. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearl ask Hester regarding Dimmesdale?

She wants to know if he will be there and if he will hold their hands in public. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the 'outcasts' of the Puritan crowd? List three examples.

<ol> <li>Hester and Pearl, 2. Native Americans, 3. Sailors.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does the ship captain casually tell Hester?

They were in need of a doctor, so Roger Chillingworth decided to accompany them. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 22: The Procession.

The procession for the new governor reveals the pomp of Puritan tradition, while Hester feels disheartened and Dimmesdale seems healthier than ever. Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of people in the procession?

Band in the front, then stately soldiers, statesmen (magistrates), and Dimmesdale. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hester notice about Dimmesdale?

He has intense energy; no feebleness, stooped posture, or hand over his heart. His strength is spiritual, not physical. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearl tell her mother she wants to do?

Kiss Dimmesdale in public and see what happens. Hester scolds her for this idea. Signup and view all the answers

Who unexpectedly begins a conversation with Hester in public?

Mistress Hibbins. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mistress Hibbins tell Hester?

She is surprised that Dimmesdale went into the forest to meet Hester and implies that he is involved with witchcraft. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Hester stand to listen to Dimmesdale's sermon?

On the scaffold. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ship captain try to give Pearl?

A golden chain from around his hat. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ship captain ask Pearl to tell Hester?

Chillingworth is going to make arrangements to bring Dimmesdale on board, so Hester needs to only worry about herself and Pearl. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hester realize about the crowd?

They have formed a circle around her to rudely observe her scarlet letter. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 23: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter.

Dimmesdale's Election Day sermon ends with him confessing his sins publicly, revealing the scarlet letter on his chest, and then he dies after conversing with Hester. Signup and view all the answers

What was Dimmesdale's Election Day sermon about?

His sermon focused on the relationship between God and mankind with special emphasis on New England. The crowd was moved by it. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the band procession heading?

They were going from the church to the town hall where there would be a banquet. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Dimmesdale go? Who objects?

Dimmesdale heads up to the scaffold to confess his sins, much to the chagrin of Roger Chillingworth. Signup and view all the answers

Who does Dimmesdale call up to the scaffold?

Hester and Pearl. Signup and view all the answers

What does Dimmesdale reveal to the public?

He was an adulterer and suffered greatly for it; he should have had to bear the scarlet letter too. Signup and view all the answers

What does Pearl finally do for Dimmesdale?

She kisses him. Signup and view all the answers

What did Hester and Dimmesdale discuss before Dimmesdale died?

Hester asks Dimmesdale whether they will spend their afterlives together, and he responds that God will decide. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize Chapter 24: Conclusion.

The narrator discusses the events after Dimmesdale's death and how people interpret what they saw on his chest differently. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 19: The Child at the Brookside

Hester urges Pearl to join her and Dimmesdale, but Pearl is suspicious, reflecting her awareness of their hidden connection.
Pearl refuses to approach until Hester reattaches the scarlet letter, representing the burden of Hester’s past.
Pearl displays spite by kissing both Hester and the scarlet letter, signifying her conflicted feelings.
Dimmesdale fears that Pearl's resemblance to him will reveal his secret to the world.
Pearl symbolizes the complex union of Hester and Dimmesdale while also serving as a reminder of their shame.
When Dimmesdale tries to engage with Pearl, she runs to wash off the kiss, rejecting him.

Chapter 20: The Minister in a Maze

Dimmesdale contemplates fleeing to Europe with Hester and Pearl for a fresh start, indicating a desire for freedom.
Hester, through charity, finds a ship sailing in four days to England, emphasizing her proactive role.
Dimmesdale feels exhilarated yet alienated, struggling with impulses to act out against societal norms.
His interactions with townspeople reveal his inner turmoil; he nearly expresses blasphemous thoughts to various individuals.
Mistress Hibbins hints at Dimmesdale's connection with dark powers, unsettling him further.
Dimmesdale decides to write a new sermon for Election Day, signifying a shift in his mindset.

Chapter 21: The New England Holiday

A public celebration occurs for the new governor, juxtaposing Hester's past punishment with a festive atmosphere.
Pearl inquires about Dimmesdale, demonstrating her innocence and desire for familial connection.
Hester feels conflicted and anticipates an escape from her dreary past, disrupted by Chillingworth’s presence.
Chillingworth’s involvement as the ship's doctor complicates Hester’s plans, indicating his continued control over their lives.

Chapter 22: The Procession

The procession celebrates Puritan authority, showcasing societal values that deeply affect Hester.
Dimmesdale appears more vigorous, which perplexes Hester and raises her doubts about their future.
Mistress Hibbins converses with Hester about Dimmesdale’s secret, hinting at his moral struggles.
Dimmesdale's ascent to the scaffold marks a dramatic confession of his sins, symbolizing a climactic moment of truth.
The crowd reacts in shock to Dimmesdale's revelation, solidifying the themes of guilt and public vs. private identity.

Chapter 23: The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter

Dimmesdale's sermon emphasizes the relationship between God and humanity, showcasing his conviction.
He invites Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold, marking a final unification of their fates.
The revelation of his mark symbolizes the weight of hidden sin and his shared guilt with Hester.
Pearl finally acknowledges Dimmesdale with a kiss, closing the emotional distance created by their circumstances.
Hester and Dimmesdale discuss their afterlives, leaving the ultimate judgment to God, introducing themes of fate and morality.

Chapter 24: Conclusion

Witnesses to Dimmesdale's death have conflicting accounts of his final revelation, reflecting societal perceptions of guilt and sin.
Roger Chillingworth’s demise follows Dimmesdale's, emphasizing the intertwined fates of the characters.
Hester and Pearl's disappearance leads to the legend of the scarlet letter, intertwining personal narrative with collective memory.
Hester returns years later, transformed and accepting of her past, though the stigma of the scarlet letter has faded.
Dimmesdale and Hester rest near each other, their shared gravestone symbolizes their connection and the weight of their shared history.### Pearl's Fate
Pearl became the richest heiress in the New World, her wealth suggesting a significant legacy.
After her disappearance, there was uncertainty surrounding her fate; she was never seen again.
Hester received ornate gifts consistently, indicating that Pearl may have been sending them.
Surveyor Pue speculated that Pearl lived a fulfilling life, happily married, and remained thoughtful towards her mother.

Hester's Later Life

Following Roger's death, Hester and Pearl vanished from public life.
Hester ultimately returned to her isolated cottage, still bearing the scarlet letter on her chest.
She dedicated her remaining years to charitable acts, maintaining her purpose in society until her death.

Hester's Burial

Hester was buried next to Dimmesdale in the burial yard adjacent to King's Chapel.
Although they were interred close by, the spacing ensured they could not be united in death.
They shared a single headstone, which was black and featured the scarlet letter, symbolizing their intertwined fates.

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Explore the intricate relationships and themes in Chapters 19 and 20 of 'The Scarlet Letter'. Delve into Pearl's symbolism, Hester's burden, and Dimmesdale's inner conflict as they navigate their tangled lives. This quiz will test your understanding of these pivotal moments in Hawthorne's novel.