"The Scarlet Letter" Reading Check: Part 2 Flashcards
How did Pyrnne behave as she re-entered the jail?
She was in nervous excitement
What was the name of the man who caught Pyrnne’s attention as she stood on the scaffold?
Roger Chillingworth
What does “prithee” mean?
Please
What occupation was Roger Chillingworth?
He was a practitioner?
As a practitioner, what did Chillingworth do to help Pyrnne and her baby calm down?
-He urged Pyrnne to give the baby a medical preparation mixed with water that he mingled
-Since Pyrnne kept hestitating, Chillingworth did it himself and the baby started calming down
-He also gave Pyrnne a cup of medicine to calm her down
What does “delude” mean?
Mislead
Who is Chillingham in relation to Pyrnne?
He is her husband whom she cheated on (?)
What does Chillingham believe his wrong was against Pyrnne?
He believed he wronged her by betraying her youth with his age;
(Marrying her when she was so young while he was so old)
What is Chillingham bent on doing?
Finding out who Pyrnne cheated on him with
Why did Chillingham not want Pyrnne to reveal him as his husband?
He says it’s for many reasons, but one of his reasons is that he doesn’t want to bear the dishonor of being a husband of a faithless woman
Did Chillingham urge Pyrnne to never reveal his identity?
Yes
Did Chillingham smile at Pyrnne as he left her alone with the scarlet letter, with the reality of her sin?
Yes;
Smiling at things people wouldn’t normally smile at seems to be a commonality in Hawthorne’s stories
Where did Hester go after being released from prison?
She came to live within the outskirts of Boston in loneliness with her son
What craft did Hester use to support for herself and her infant?
Needlework
Why was Hester’s handiwork in demand?
Because of ceremonial gatherings that required formal clothing and the demand for baby clothes
What was the one formal occasion Hester was not allowed to craft veils for?
Weddings
How did Pyrnne view her craft as needlework?
She found it to be a mode of expression, the passion of her life
What was Pyrnne’s torture as she went about her everyday life?
-She was often the talk of the town, even in Church
-People would always see the scarlet letter
What was the power that Pyrnne gained through wearing the scarlet letter?
She was granted the sympathetic knowledge of the hidden sin in other hearts
Did Hester believe she was the only one who deserved the scarlet letter?
No
Why did Hester name her daughter as “Pearl”?
Because she was of great price;
Hester had to purchase all she had–her mother’s only treasure
Did Pearl donn rustic clothes?
No, Hester presented her to be a baby with radiance and splendor in her appearance
Did Pyrnne see herself in Pearl?
Yes;
But Pearl was her own person in many ways
Was Pyrnne strict with Pearl?
Hmm, not really;
She realized that either form of reward or punishment would not really have an impact on Pearl’s behavior and sometimes though it better for Pearl to discover truths on her own
Why was Pearl regarded an outcast?
Because she came to be seen as a emblem of sin
How did Pearl react to receiving hate?
She reacted with hate, defending herself from her aggressors
How did Pearl spend her time at home?
She used unlikely objects like flowers and played with them
What was the first thing Pearl saw when she entered the world?
Pyrnne’s scarlet letter
How did the Puritans regard Pearl?
They thought of her as a demon child
Why did Pyrnne visit Governor Bellingham’s mansion?
-To deliver a pair of embriodered gloves for some grand occasion
-To discuss the matter of Pearl being taken away from her on the matter of her being of demon origin (Bellingham sided with these sentiments)
What did Hester come to view Pearl as?
The scarlet letter in human form
What is stucco?
In which fragments of broken glass are plentifully intermixed
When she was at the governor’s house, what did Little Pearl cry at?
At the sight of the rosebushes
What lie did Pearl say when questioned regarding where she came from?
She said she was plucked by her mother off the bush of wild roses that grew by the prison door
How old was Pearl when her and her mother visited the governor’s home?
Three years old
Who was Hester’s pastor?
Mr. Dimmesdale
What is the Black Man in the story?
Roger Chillingworth
Did Boston have a lot of physicians?
No
What was Dimmesdale’s reputation in the story?
As good as an Apostolic Father
Why was Chillingman so treasured in Boston?
Because he was both holy and skilled in the sciences
Why was Dimmesdale looking like he was dying?
Because he was fasting a lot, tending to his duties as part of the Church, and also keeping up with his studies
What was the rumor going around regarding why Chillingworth went to Boston, the wilderness?
He was sent by God to address/cure Dimmesdale’s illness
Did Dimmesdale enjoy Chillingworth’s company?
Yes, he very much did;
He saw it as a chance to look at the universe from a different type of intellect:
It was refreshing to him
Did Dimmesdale and Chillingworth grow close to each other?
Yes, they did;
They grew pretty intimate with each other as Chillingworth, the physician, wanted to probe secrets out of Dimmesdale
Who lived with Dimmesdale and Chillingworth?
A pious widow of good social rank
What rumor was being spread about regarding the relationship between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth?
That Dimmesdale was being haunted by Satan or another demonic entity in the form of old Roger Chillingworth
What is Chillingworth looking for when he investigates Dimmesdale?
Morality and corruption
How does Pearl treat graves?
She steps upon them as though they are stepping stone;
She dances upon them
What does Chillingworth believe the cause of Dimmesdale’s sickness is?
He believes it’s an issue with his soul
What did Chillingworth do when he found Dimmesdale in deep slumber?
He touched his heart and thrust aside his vestment
How did Chillingworth reacting to touching Dimmesdale’s heart?
He threw up his arms towards the ceiling;
He stamped his foot upon the floor
What made Arthur Dimmesdale different from the other clergymen? What made him stand out?
He had the Tongue of Flame;
He had a way with his words where he was able to reach the hearts of people up from his ivory tower
What does Dimmesdale want to admit?
That he’s the vilest of the vile;
That he’s an abomination;
Practically, that he was a horrid sinner
How does Dimmesdale treat himself?
He hurts himself with a bloody scourge;
He fasted as an act of penance, not to purify himself;
What caused Dimmesdale to get up on the scaffold?
Remorse and Cowardice;
As a vain show of expiation
What did Dimmesdale do on the scaffold?
He screamed
Who did Dimmesdale encounter while he was on the guilty scaffold?
Father Wilson
Who else does Dimmesdale meet while he’s on the scaffold?
Hester Pyrnne and her daughter, Pearl
What does Dimmesdale do upon seeing Hester and Pearl?
He invites them to go up on the scaffold with him, all three of them together
What did Dimmesdale see in the sky?
A letter “A”
What happened while Dimmesdale was up on the guity podium?
People were around Governor Winthrop’s deathbed
What does the letter “A” mean at this point in the story (halfway) in order?
“Adulterer;”
“Angel;”
“Able”
