The Scarlet Letter Questions on Chapter 23
The Scarlet Letter
Discussion Questions for Various Chapters of The Scarlet Letter
To discuss various chapters of The Scarlet Letter, consider questions such as: How does Hester Prynne's character evolve throughout the novel? What is the significance of the scarlet letter "A"? How...
The Scarlet Letter
Where does Chillingworth say Dimmesdale could have escaped him in The Scarlet Letter?
Chillingworth says Dimmesdale could have escaped him by mounting the scaffold, as he does at the novel's end. This act of public confession frees Dimmesdale from Chillingworth's psychological...
The Scarlet Letter
How are the conflicts in The Scarlet Letter resolved?
In The Scarlet Letter, conflicts are resolved on the scaffold, where key character arcs conclude. Reverend Dimmesdale publicly confesses his sin alongside Hester and Pearl, breaking Pearl's "spell"...
The Scarlet Letter
In The Scarlet Letter, why does Hester stand during the procession and Dimmesdale's sermon?
Hester stands during the sermon because she is still an outcast and cannot sit with the rest of the Puritans in church. Because Hester and Dimmesdale are planning to run away together, her standing...
The Scarlet Letter
Analysis of the significance and literary devices in the quote from "The Scarlet Letter": "Wherefore not; since all...
The quote from "The Scarlet Letter" signifies the inevitable revelation of hidden sins. Literary devices include personification, as "the powers of nature" urge for confession, and symbolism, with...
The Scarlet Letter
In The Scarlet Letter, why doesn't Chillingworth want Dimmesdale on the scaffold near the end?
Chillingworth opposes Dimmesdale's appearance on the scaffold because it threatens to expose both Dimmesdale's sin and Chillingworth's identity as the wronged husband. Chillingworth fears the...
The Scarlet Letter
In which chapter of The Scarlet Letter is Dimmesdale's mark first revealed?
Dimmesdale's mark is first revealed in Chapter 23, "The Revelation," of The Scarlet Letter. After delivering the Election Day sermon, Dimmesdale calls Hester and Pearl to the scaffold, confesses his...
The Scarlet Letter
How does Dimmesdale react to Chillingworth, and how does Chillingworth respond to Dimmesdale's transformation?
Dimmesdale reacts to Chillingworth by firmly rejecting his influence, declaring that Chillingworth's power over him has diminished. As Dimmesdale ascends the scaffold to confess his sins,...