essay questions the scarlet letter

The Scarlet Letter

By nathaniel hawthorne, the scarlet letter essay questions.

Is Hester truly penitent for her crime?

Answer: Though Hester regrets the effect her crime has had on her child and on her position in society, she sees Chillingworth's betrayal of Dimmesdale as an even greater crime. Ultimately, Hester learns to forgive herself for her sins while Dimmesdale does not.

Why does Dimmesdale intervene on Pearl's behalf when Governor Bellingham orders her removed from Hester's care?

Answer: There are two possibilities: either he fears Hester revealing his name or he truly believes that Hester deserves to care for her daughter, since he is emotionally connected to Pearl as her father and wants Hester to raise her. Ultimately, we believe that it is guilt which motivates him most, since he comes to Hester's defense only after she looks at him with imploring eyes.

What is the difference between how adultery is viewed now and how it was viewed by Puritan society? In other words, where does the blame lie?

Answer: In modern society, adultery is seen as a breach of contract between two people and therefore a private matter. In Puritan society, adultery was seen as a breach of contract between two people and the community in which they lived.

How is the Scarlet Letter embodied by Pearl?

Answer: Pearl, in her wild, unrepressed passion, represents the adulterous passion of her parents, as does the scarlet letter. In her society, she is completely out of place, a child of illicit passion and a constant reminder, like the scarlet letter, of that passion.

Why does Dimmesdale keep putting his hand over his heart?

Answer: Pearl asks this question repeatedly of her mother, but Hester will not answer her. Over time, we understand that Dimmesdale has literally and figuratively inscribed his own scarlet letter into the flesh above his heart so that he can commune with Hester's guilt, shame, and public excommunication.

Do people in the community believe Hester's punishment for adultery is too light or too strict?

Answer: For the most part, they believe it is too lenient, and some advocate branding her with a hot iron or death, the sentence associated with the crime of adultery both in the New England statutes of the time and in the Bible. As time progresses, however, they loosen slightly in their attitudes, though not as much as Hester would expect. Those who acknowledge their own sinfulness are somewhat less quick to judge Hester and can see the case for a less strict punishment by the community.

What are the purposes of the opening Custom-House essay?

Answer: The Custom-House introduction does more than increase the length of the novel, which Hawthorne thought was too short. It also adds a frame story and a romantic sense of truth or non-fiction to the tale. It introduces themes and imagery that will appear later in the novel. And it adds weight to the story by suggesting that the actual fabric of the scarlet letter continues to hold power.

Who is more racked by guilt, Hester or Dimmesdale?

Answer: Dimmesdale has sinned according to his own system of beliefs, since as the town minister he has violated the values he has preached against for decades. He takes his guilt to heart and suffers mightily. Hester, meanwhile, has come to terms with her sin over time.

What do Dimmesdale and Chillingworth share, other than Hester herself?

Answer: Both Dimmesdale and Chillingworth conceal their relationships to the adulterous act, leaving Hester as the only person to take public responsibility for the affair. They continue to maintain prominent roles in society. Both men are ultimately destroyed by this secrecy as they become entangled in a parasitic relationship.

Does Chillingworth ever forgive Hester?

Answer: Chillingworth seems forgiving of Hester at the outset, and he seems to transfer his rage onto Dimmesdale, whom he pursues relentlessly. Indeed, he seems to understand that he shouldn't have married a woman who would never love him, but Dimmesdale must be punished for allowing Hester to indulge her passion. His sinister acts toward the end of the novel are ameliorated somewhat by his choice to leave his estate to Pearl.

The Scarlet Letter Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Scarlet Letter is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Scarlet Letter Quotes Please

Her breast, with its badge of shame , was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one. ch 13

Why does Dimmesdale decide to flee with Hester?

Dimmesdale looks beyong his place in the community and embraces his role as a father. He wants his family, so he decides to leave.

who is the elder clergyman who speaks to hester

The elder minister is John Wilson.

Study Guide for The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter study guide contains a biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Scarlet Letter
• The Scarlet Letter Summary
• The Scarlet Letter Video
• Character List

Essays for The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

• The Little Human A Incarnate
• Perception Blanketed by Passion
• Original Sin
• Hawthorne's "Witch-Baby" in The Scarlet Letter
• Hester's Role as Both the Sinner and Saint

Lesson Plan for The Scarlet Letter

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Scarlet Letter
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Scarlet Letter Bibliography

E-Text of The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter e-text contains the full text of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

• INTRODUCTORY. THE CUSTOM-HOUSE
• CHAPTER I. THE PRISON-DOOR
• CHAPTER II. THE MARKET-PLACE
• CHAPTER III. THE RECOGNITION
• CHAPTER IV. THE INTERVIEW

Wikipedia Entries for The Scarlet Letter

• Introduction
• Major theme
• Publication history
• Critical response

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel hawthorne, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Scarlet Letter: Introduction

The scarlet letter: plot summary, the scarlet letter: detailed summary & analysis, the scarlet letter: themes, the scarlet letter: quotes, the scarlet letter: characters, the scarlet letter: symbols, the scarlet letter: literary devices, the scarlet letter: quizzes, the scarlet letter: theme wheel, brief biography of nathaniel hawthorne.

Historical Context of The Scarlet Letter

Other books related to the scarlet letter.

• Full Title: The Scarlet Letter
• When Written: 1848-1850
• Where Written: Salem, Massachusetts
• When Published: 1850
• Literary Period: Transcendentalism
• Genre: Novel
• Setting: Boston, Massachusetts in the 1640s
• Climax: Dimmesdale's confession and death
• Antagonist: Roger Chillingworth; the Puritans
• Point of View: Third person omniscient

Extra Credit for The Scarlet Letter

Hawthorne and the Salem Witch Trials: Nathaniel Hawthorne was a direct descendent of John Hathorne, (1641-1717), a Puritan justice of the peace. Justice Hathorne is best known for his role as the lead judge in the Salem Witch Trials, in which he sentenced numerous innocent people to death for allegedly practicing witchcraft. Nathaniel added a "w" to his name to distance himself from his infamous ancestor.

The Scarlet Letter

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction

Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

One of the defining characteristics of Romantic literature is an appreciation of nature’s beauty and an association of the natural world with inspiration, authenticity, and freedom. How does The Scarlet Letter reflect these broader Romantic trends?

Although the novel takes place prior to the Salem witch trials, Hawthorne references the trials in the Introduction with the assumption that readers are already familiar with them. How does knowledge of these trials color the novel’s meaning?

Compare and contrast the scene of Hester’s punishment on the scaffold with Dimmesdale’s confession and death. What do these similarities and differences reveal about the novel’s characters or themes?

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'The Scarlet Letter' Questions for Discussion

• M.A., English Literature, California State University - Sacramento
• B.A., English, California State University - Sacramento

The Scarlet Letter is a seminal work of American literature written by New Englander Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in 1850. It tells the story of Hester Prynne , a seamstress newly arrived in the New World from England, whose husband, Roger Chillingworth, is presumed dead. She and local pastor Arthur Dimmesdale have a romantic interlude, and Hester gives birth to their daughter, Pearl. Hester is convicted of adultery, a serious crime in the time period of the book, and sentenced to wear the scarlet letter "A" on her clothing for the rest of her life.

Hawthorne wrote The Scarlet Letter more than a century after the events in the novel would have occurred, but it is not difficult to discern his contempt for Boston's Puritans and their rigid religious views. Thinking through some key passages and the questions below will help deepen your understanding of the book.

Questions for Discussion

Consider the following questions as you learn about  The Scarlet Letter . Whether you're studying for an exam or leading a book club, these discussion questions will strengthen your understanding of the novel.

• What is significant about the novel's title?
• The Scarlet Letter is considered a romance by many literary scholars. Do you think that is an accurate categorization? Why or why not?
• Is Hester Prynne an admirable character? Why or why not?
• How does Hester evolve through the course of the story?
• How do we learn the true character of Roger Chillingworth? Is he believable as a villain?
• Is Arthur Dimmesdale an admirable character? How would you describe him and his relationship with Hester?
• What does Pearl symbolize? How is her name significant?
• What is the significance of Pearl not recognizing Hester without her scarlet 'A'?
• What is the moral statement Hawthorne is making throughout The Scarlet Letter?
• Do you agree with what how Hawthorne interprets the shortcomings of Puritan society?
• What are some symbols in The Scarlet Letter ? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
• Does the story end the way you expected? What's significant about the novel's ending?
• Would you consider The Scarlet Letter to be a work of feminist literature? Why or why not? 
• How essential are the settings, both geographical and temporal, to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else or in any other time period?
• Does this novel give you a better appreciation for how women were treated in early New England ? Does it give you a new perspective on other events from the region's history, such as the Salem Witch Trials?
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• 'The Scarlet Letter' Characters
• 'The Scarlet Letter' Plot Summary
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• 'The Scarlet Letter' Quotes Explained
• 'The Scarlet Letter' Vocabulary
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The Scarlet Letter: Essay Questions, Topics, & Prompts

Welcome to our article about The Scarlet Letter . This novel is a masterwork of Nathaniel Hawthorne and one of the most significant works of American literature. It was also the first novel that made an impact this big in Europe.

Here you’ll find everything you need to write The Scarlet Letter essay:

• Basic info about the novel
• Essay ideas and tips
• 40 The Scarlet Letter essay questions for your assignment.

Let’s get started!

• ️🗝️ Key Facts about the Novel
• 📝 Essay Prompts & Ideas
• 💡 40 Essay Questions

🗝️ The Scarlet Letter: Key Facts

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was one of the first and most recognized American writers. Hawthorne made a huge impact on fiction and is also well-known for his use of allegory and symbolism.

The Scarlet Letter setting is Boston in the 1600s, which was the Puritan Bay Colony of Massachusetts . Puritan ideas supported strict religious beliefs. During that time, adultery was considered not only a sin but crime. So, those who failed at keeping up with the religious traditions were considered outcasts.

The Scarlet Letter: Short Summary

The Scarlet Letter tells a story about a woman named Hester. While her husband was away, Hester had an affair and had a baby with another man. The people from their town made her wear a scarlet letter A, which stands for Adulteress, on her clothes for the rest of her life as a punishment for her sin.

Here’s a summary of the main events of The Scarlet Letter :

1. Hester committed adultery with a priest Dimmesdale because her husband was away, and she thought he might have been already dead. 2. She gave birth to a child and named her Pearl. 3. Her husband Chillingworth arrived and decided to hide his identity. 4. Chillingworth was driven by revenge and tried to make Dimmesdale confess his sin by manipulating him. 5. Dimmesdale couldn’t bear his guilt and died after his confession. 6. Chillingworth died as he no longer had a reason to live. 7. Hester left Boston with Pearl and then came back again after many years. 8. Hester continued living in her old house and wearing the scarlet letter for the rest of her life.

📝 The Scarlet Letter: Essay Prompts & Ideas

If you are about to write The Scarlet Letter theme essay, here are some prompts for you!

The Scarlet Letter: Literary Analysis Essay

A literary analysis is a type of academic writing aimed at interpreting a piece of literature. An analytical essay about a literary work is also a kind of an argumentative essay. So, you should not summarize the work or conduct a rhetorical analysis.

To conduct a literary analysis, you need to:

• Study the text;
• Break down its themes;
• Figure out the reason behind the author’s choices.

To write The Scarlet Letter literary analysis essay, make sure to analyze the language used, the author’s perspective, text structure, and literary devices.

The Scarlet Letter Literary Devices

Writers use literary devices to express ideas and meanings in their works.

The Scarlet Letter literary devices include:

• Metaphors ;

You can analyze them separately but also altogether. If you are about to write about the literary devices in The Scarlet Letter essay, you can analyze how the author used them to express the religious idea in the novel.

Literary devices analysis might be too broad to analyze in an essay paragraph. However, it is a good topic for discussion in a research paper or term paper .

Irony in The Scarlet Letter

There are three kinds of irony:

• situational,

The author expresses dramatic irony in The Scarlet Letter through Chillingworth and Dimmesdale. Chillingworth is driven by his revenge and desire to find a man who had an affair with his wife. It turned out that Dimmesdale, who he lived with, was the one.

Situational irony describes unexpected events. For example, when Dimmesdale decided to go on a scaffold to confess his sin. He believed that his confession could set him free and let him be together with Hester and Pearl. However, something unexpected happened. He died after his confession.

Verbal irony is when someone’s words do not match the real meaning behind them. The example is when Dimmesdale asked Hester to reveal who is Pearl’s father in front of everyone because he didn’t have the courage to do so.

Metaphors in The Scarlet Letter

A metaphor is a figure of speech where a word or expression is used to convey some meaning by comparison to something else.

For example, the expression “a black sheep” means a person who is disgracing a family.

Nathaniel Hawthorne used metaphors in The Scarlet Letter to convey his idea about sin, guilt, and purity. For example, in chapter 16, Hawthorne used the metaphor “a Black Man” to express Hester’s sin.

Allusions in The Scarlet Letter

An allusion is a reference to a thing, event, person, etc. It can be both direct and indirect.

Nathaniel Hawthrone used Biblical and historical allusions in The Scarlet Letter . One of the historical allusions refers to Anne Hutchinson , who was mentioned in the first chapter. She was an actual historical figure -a Puritan spiritual leader born in 1591.

One of the Biblical allusions is Pearl, who Nathaniel Hawthorne named after the pearl of great price in the Bible.

The Scarlet Letter Symbolism Essay

Symbolism in literature is a figure of speech to represent an idea through different things.

If you are about to write The Scarlet Letter symbolism essay, here are some of the main symbols in the novel.

• The scarlet letter symbolism . The scarlet letter that Hester had to wear was supposed to symbolize her sin. However, the author refers to it as a “mystic symbol.”
• Red and black symbolism . Hawthorne uses color symbolism too. Red symbolizes passion, while black – sin.
• Pearl symbolism . Hester’s daughter Pearl also served as a symbol in the novel. In the 19 th chapter, the author referred to Pearl as “living hieroglyphic.”

The Scarlet Letter Theme Essay

Themes in literature can be either something that the reader thinks of while reading or the idea conveyed through the literature piece.

The Scarlet Letter has several essential themes:

• Conformity and Individuality . The town tried to make Hester conform to the religious beliefs. However, Hester remained loyal to her individuality.
• Sin . Since the story takes place in a Puritan community, it has a lot to do with the sin theme. The novel is centered around Hester’s sin and its consequences.
• Puritanism . Puritanism is shown as a very narrow-minded and unforgiving culture. Religion plays an essential role in their community, so all their actions are driven by it.

Essay on The Scarlet Letter Setting

Setting can also be The Scarlet Letter essay topic. The Scarlet Letter takes place in the Puritan community in Boston of the 1600s . This setting plays a crucial role in understanding the theme and idea in the novel.

Puritans left England and moved to Plymouth because of their different beliefs. They wanted to organize a community where they could follow their strict religious rules.

Nathaniel Hawthorne describes the setting in a detailed way to show the conflict between nature and society.

Forest as a setting can also be a discussion of The Scarlet Letter essay questions.

Essay on the Conflict in The Scarlet Letter

Conflict in literature is used as another literary device to show a conflict between two opposite believes.

The main conflict in The Scarlet Letter is between Hester and society . The townspeople accused her of her sin and made her an outsider. However, it didn’t break her. Instead, she remained strong and decided to wear the scarlet letter even after returning to the town after many years.

Another conflict is an inner conflict that Dimmesdale had. He suffered from shame, but at the same time, he was too afraid to open up about it.

💡 40 The Scarlet Letter Essay Questions

Here’s our list of 40 The Scarlet Letter Essay Topics. Find something that you would be interested in writing about. And if there is nothing suitable for you in the list, try using our topic generator for more ideas.

• How is the conflict of man vs. society depicted in The Scarlet Letter?
• What are the literary devices used in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author use irony in the Scarlet Letter?
• How does the introduction of The Scarlet Letter help us understand the historical background?
• What are the metaphors in The Scarlet Letter?
• What are the allusions in The Scarlet Letter?
• What do colors symbolize in The Scarlet Letter?
• What does scarlet letter symbolize?
• What role does religion play in The Scarlet Letter?
• What are the themes in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does setting impact the themes in The Scarlet Letter?
• What are the main conflicts in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author use dramatic irony in The Scarlet Letter?
• What is situational irony in The Scarlet Letter?
• What is the metaphorical meaning behind “a Black Man” in The Scarlet Letter?
• How is the verbal irony depicted in The Scarlet Letter?
• In what ways does Hester confront society?
• What is the Biblical allusion in The Scarlet Letter?
• What are the historical allusions in The Scarlet Letter?
• How is conformity depicted in The Scarlet Letter?
• What does Pearl symbolize in The Scarlet Letter?
• What role does personality play in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author represent the sin theme in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author portray the Puritanism theme in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author depict Dimmesdale’s inner conflict?
• Why does the author is so detailed about the settings in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author show the conflict between a man and nature in The Scarlet Letter?
• What is the role of Native Americans in The Scarlet Letter?
• What is the difference between Hester’s attitude towards society and society’s attitude towards her?
• What are the symbols that the author uses in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does Dimmesdale punish himself?
• What are the similarities between Dimmesdale and Chillingworth?
• Why did Chillingworth forgive Hester in The Scarlet Letter?
• How does the author portray Chillingworth’s obsession with revenge?
• In what ways is The Scarlet Letter a feminist novel?
• Why did Chillingworth decide to hide his identity?
• Why did the author incorporate a hundred-year-old manuscript in The Scarlet Letter?
• How is American History connected to The Scarlet Letter?
• Why is Pearl both a blessing and a curse to Hester?
• What is the difference in punishments for men and women in the Puritan community?
• What are Chillingworth’s ideas of revenge?

Do you have any other ideas for The Scarlet Letter essay title? What questions and answers would you discuss in your thesis? Let us know what you think about our The Scarlet Letter essay prompts in the comments below!

❓ The Scarlet Letter Essay: FAQ

Where does the scarlet letter take place.

The Scarlet Letter takes place in the Puritan Bay Colony of Massachusetts in Boston of the 1600s. Puritans supported extreme religious beliefs and social morals. It led to many punishments for the ones who failed to follow the Puritan ideas.

How many chapters are in The Scarlet Letter?

The Scarlet Letter has 24 chapters.

What does The Scarlet Letter symbolize?

The Scarlet Letter symbolizes a stigma that lets everyone know Hester’s sin. Although it was supposed to be a sign of shame, it became an identification of Hester’s power instead. She was not ashamed of it and even proceeded to wear the scarlet letter after coming back to the town after many years.

When was The Scarlet Letter published?

The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850 by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

🔗 References

• The Scarlet Letter – Project Gutenberg
• The Scarlet Letter: Study Guide | SparkNotes
• The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Goodreads
• The Scarlet Letter | Summary, Analysis, Characters, & Facts
• ‘The Scarlet Letter’ by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Reviewed
• Nathaniel Hawthorne – Books, Quotes & Scarlet Letter

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By Zach Montague

Reporting from Washington

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Mattathias Schwartz contributed reporting.

Zach Montague is based in Washington. He covers breaking news and developments around the district. More about Zach Montague