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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the "pedestal of infamy?"
2. Why does Hester stay in New England?
3. Which description does not apply to Dimmesdale?
4. How old is the baby in Hester's arms when we first see her?
5. Which part of The Scarlet Letter does this preface specifically refer to?
Short Essay Questions
1. How does Pearl react to other children?
2. Describe the people referred to as the five in the following quotation: "If the hussy stood for judgment before us five, that are now here in a knot together"?
3. What is Dimmesdale's argument for keeping Hester and Pearl together?
4. Describe the door to the jail.
5. How does Dimmesdale respond to his growing guilt? How does he punish himself?
6. What are some examples of Chillingworth's growing power over Dimmesdale?
7. Why is "The Leech" an appropriate and significant name for this chapter?
8. Does Hawthorne, in the end, decide to change anything?
9. How does Hawthorne describe the inhabitants of Boston?
10. What does Hawthorne find alongside the scarlet letter?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Hawthorne's preface to this novel claims that he has gotten himself in trouble for an unflattering portrait of the Customs Inspector, yet nonetheless, the novel features many real historical people anyway. Take up one of these real historical persons (for example, Governor Bellingham or Mistress Hibbins) and offer a descriptive analysis of their role in the narrative. How does Hawthorne characterize these real historical people? To what dramatic purposes or fictional ends does he put them alongside the invented characters? Be sure to consider the role these minor characters play in the historical setting of this novel.
Essay Topic 2
Despite the dark tone and dour mood of this novel, Hawthorne's narrative voice does offer some levity, irony and humor to lighten the mood at key points in this novel, including the irony in some of the chapter titles. Pick several examples of this irony, other forms of irony, archness/humor, and explain how these examples help lighten the mood.
Essay Topic 3
On your first read, "The Custom House" seems to have little or nothing to do with the "real" narrative of The Scarlet Letter, the story of Hester Prynne, yet Hawthorne's introductory essay establishes his narrative voice and justifies the origins of Hester's story. Write an analytical essay that argues the importance of this introduction to the narrative structure of the book. Key terms to consider are: frame narrative, narrative voice/point-of-view, symbolism, public/private life, etc.
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This section contains 843 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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