... , page 171: "Now was heard again the clangor of the music, and the measured tramp of the military escort, issuing from the church door." Chapter 24, page 178: " some children were at play, when they beheld a tall women, in a gray robe, approach the cottage-door." The symbol door, ... the world what she has done and the sin that she has committed. The symbol door can also give mood to the story. For example, in chapter one it talks about the prison-door. The description and detail they give about the door and the surrounding area, gives feeling and mood to the story ... novel was step, o...

• Word Count: 1018
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• Grade Level: High School

... hypocrisy as regards the scarlet letter are, "a venerable minister or magistrate," people who are viewed as models of "piety and justice." Chapter Six: Pearl Summary Hawthorne discusses the choice of the name Pearl. He indicates that Hester chose the name to represent something of great ... then goes to look at the garden, from which she demands a red rose. When the Governor approaches, Pearl falls excitedly falls silent. Chapter Eight: The Elf-Child and the Minister Summary Governor Bellingham, accompanied by the Reverend John Wilson, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth, enters t...

• Word Count: 5572
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• Grade Level: High School

... invites her to a witches meeting. Hester says that if Pearl would have been taken from her than she would have attended. Chapter IX: The Leech This chapter is named The Leech and is about Chillingworth. Chillingworth becomes friends with Dimmesdale who is now very sick. Chillingworth knows about medicine ... move into a widows house and each take half of the first floor. Chillingworth suspects thing about Dimmesdale and hopes to come to a conclusion. Chapter X: The Leech and His Patient Chillingworth is still trying to find out things about Hester from Dimmesdale without being to obviou...

• Word Count: 2183
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• Grade Level: High School

... Europe with Dimmesdale? Towards the beginning of The Scarlet Letter, we see Hester being punished publicly for the sin she has committed with Dimmesdale. In chapter 2, Hawthorne writes, "He laid his right hand upon the shoulder of a young woman, whom he thus drew forward; until on the threshold ... of her shame and she is constantly hurting because of her punishment. When she walks around town, the people look at her in a humiliating way. In chapter 5, Hawthorne writes, "Another peculiar torture was felt in the gaze of a new eye. When strangers looked curiously at The Scarlet Letter, - a...

• Word Count: 944
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• Grade Level: High School

... make friends with other children in the town because of her status, thus leaving her only with nature and her mother as companions. In chapter fifteen, Pearl "flirted fancifully with her own image in a pool of water, beckoning the phantom forth, and--as it declined venture-- ... Soon finding however, that either she or the image was unreal, she turned elsewhere for better pastime." Pearl's reflection is very real, and chapter sixteen smoothly continues this concept through another body of water--the brook in the forest. "Pearl resembled the brook, inasmuch as the current of her ... the b...

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... scenes that show Hester Prynne's love for the mutual partner of her sin. Such scenes can be found in: (1.) Chapter Two, The Market-Place (2.) Chapter Thirteen, Another View of Hester (3.) Chapter Seventeen, The Pastor and His Parishioner. Within the beginning of the novel, we the reader are introduced to Hester Prynne and ... finger, to assure herself that the infant and the shame were real. Yes! "these were her realities,--all else had vanished!- Within the thirteenth chapter, Another View Of Hester, we the reader begin to learn that the once accusers of Hester Prynne's sin are now chan...

• Word Count: 1213
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• Grade Level: High School

... evil. The scaffold in The Scarlet Letter serves as an important symbol with many different purposes throughout the novel. The first scaffold scene occurs in chapter two where Hester has just exited the prison and is escorted to the scaffold, which is in the center of the town. The scaffold is ... , the scaffold has done two things: first, it has punished Hester through humiliation, and second it has changed her views and beliefs. In Chapter twelve Dimmesdale attempts to absolve himself at night on the scaffold with no one watching. He intends to free himself from all his inner anguish and...

• Word Count: 917
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• Grade Level: High School

... he publicly announces his true identity near the end of the novel. Evidence of such hints is found as early in the novel as the third chapter, "The Recognition." Reverend Dimmesdale opens conversation, pressing Hester to speak up against her coconspirator. After receiving a haranguing from Mr. Wilson, who ... identity of her child's father a secret provides a great hint to the fact that Dimmesdale may have something he is hiding. Further into the novel in chapter 8, "The Elf-Child and the Minister", Roger Chillingworth accuses Dimmesdale of speaking "with a strange earnestness" (105) as...

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... to the story and the symbolism. An important concept of romanticism includes a close connection to the earth and natural scenes. A large occurrence of this comes in the first chapter of the book. The chapter mentions a rose bush outside of the prison. The novel then goes on to outline the rosebush as a beautiful thing that rises out of a bad place. The rosebush symbolizes ... asks for forgiveness for her sins nor apologizes for her acts. She stands strong and takes whatever consequences come to her. Hester proves she has complete and utter pride in chapter fourteen when Chillingworth te...

• Word Count: 1687
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• Grade Level: High School

Kiran Thomas 10/27/02 English 10 Honors The Scarlet Letter: Chap. 1-2 Chapter One In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne sets a gloomy and dark mood. The descriptions of the peoples clothing " in sad colored garments and gray ... the reader's mind of the tone and mood of the novel. The term juxtapose can be best defined as to place one on top of another. In the opening chapter of The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne juxtaposes the image of a prison against the image of a rosebush. The weathered prison described with its "gloomy front," which "seemed never ... the prison with the beauty ...

• Word Count: 808
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... self-respect and survives her punishment with dignity, grace, and ever-growing strength of character. From the moment Hester Prynne is introduced into the plot of The Scarlet Letter in chapter 2, "The Marketplace", the reader realizes she is very prideful and strong. As an adulteress, she is forced to endure ignominy from her peers and is sentenced to have the letter ... courage all throughout The Scarlet Letter. The best example of this courage is her willingness to stay in Boston, the town where both the sin and punishment took place. In chapter 5, Hester arrives at a reason for her t...

• Word Count: 909
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• Grade Level: High School

... in the novel, which is quite frequently, Hawthorne conveys formal and proper language which assists the reader in understanding the Puritan culture and the ancestry of the Boston inhabitants. In chapter 23, Roger Chillingworth kneels down toward the dying Reverend Dimmesdale and says "Thou hast escaped me!" In response, the reverend says, "Thou, too, hast deeply sinned! (p.232)" When I began the ... is a witch or a servant of "The Black Man" when Hibbins says, "Will thou [Pearl] ride with me, some fine night, to see thy father?" The mistress is even "present" in chapter 12 when Dimmesda...

• Word Count: 1296
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• Grade Level: High School

... self-respect and survives her punishment with dignity, grace, and ever-growing strength of character. From the moment Hester Prynne is introduced into the plot of The Scarlet Letter in chapter 2, "The Marketplace", the reader realizes she is very prideful and strong. As an adulteress, she is forced to endure ignominy from her peers and is sentenced to have the letter ... courage all throughout The Scarlet Letter. The best example of this courage is her willingness to stay in Boston, the town where both the sin and punishment took place. In chapter 5, Hester arrives at a reason for her t...

• Word Count: 912
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ; Hawthorne technique of using symbolism is brilliant and it helps the reader understand the whole concept. In The Scarlet Letter, images increase the reader's understanding of the characters. The first chapter sets the tone for the story. Though the initial settlers of New England set out to establish a "Utopia of human virtue," (Hawthorne 1358) they nevertheless recognized the need to allot ... congenial in the soil that had so early born the black flower of civilized society," the prison (1358). The rose is a symbol referred to throughout the story. In this first chapter it illustrate...

• Word Count: 1915
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• Grade Level: High School

... "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The first scaffold scene occurred in the beginning of the story which was about Hester and the second scaffold scene happened in chapter 12 which was about Dimmsdale. In a "utopia" like the puritan's society, one can never get away after committing crime, in the end they get punished and pays for ... , the minister and Hester's lover. It occurred really early in the morning when the sun wasn't up and only few people awake. Nobody was aware of Dimmsdale's crime in this chapter. He had the scarlet letter on his chest. It's giving him pain and ma...

• Word Count: 560
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• Grade Level: High School

... the glimmering of the gold embroidery about the letter' and, putting up her little hand, she grasped at it, smiling not doubtfully, but with a decided gleam," (Hawthorne, 88). Pertaining to chapter 6, Pearl is viewed at the age of three and begin to learn that she possesses a rich and luxuriant sense of beauty; "a beauty shown with deep and vivid tints." ... to her being born out of sin (Chapters 7-12). It does not help that Pearl frequently displays an array of odd and cruel behaviors as well as sheepish remarks. In chapter 10, Pearl is seen dancing in the graveyard and hooking bur...

• Word Count: 845
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• Grade Level: High School

... agony as well as mine!" Her statement signifies an early attachment to the letter and declares her plans to willingly endure her punishment. The scaffold is again made prominent in chapter 12, when Dimmesdale ascends its steps as Hester had done seven years prior. Hawthorne depicts Dimmesdale as evidently overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and remorse, saying, "Mr. Dimmesdale was ... 's heart. After recognizing the man as Chillingworth, they grow more suspicious of the "physician" and his intentions. Dimmesdale mounts the scaffold in unison with Pearl and Hester in chapter 23. This time,...

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Symbolism in The Scarlet Letter Pearl is a great example of symbolism in The Scarlet Letter. In chapter six when Hester is talking about her daughter Pearl, of The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne says, "in giving her existence a great law had been broken." Since Pearl was born, she ... if Pearl had never have been borne, Hester would have never been found guilty of adultery, and would have never had to wear such a burden on her chest. Also, in chapter six. it shows Pearl's fascination of the scarlet letter and seems to torture her mother by playing with it. Pearl symbolized God's way of p...

• Word Count: 647
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• Grade Level: High School

... burdens displays his great sense of strength and intellect. We first see Dimmesdale portrayed as a nervous and sensitive individual. Despite his outer appearance, inside Dimmesdale is a very stable, strong person. Chapter Three states that he showed, nervous sensibility and a vast power of self restraint. While this seems to give Dimmesdale great strength, it is also his largest flaw. His body refuses ... had all that he can bear and lets out a yell that draws the attention of fellow villagers. He curses himself for his silence and cowardice. On the scaffold in the chapter 23 the true s...

• Word Count: 475
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• Grade Level: High School

... , the novel opens after the sin has been committed and Pearl, the offspring of the sinful, but natural, union is three months old. As Hawthorne himself states in the opening chapter, the novel is about human weakness and its resulting sorrow. Hawthorne's focus of attention is the effect the sin has on Hester and Dimmesdale. They constantly suffer from shame and ... the fact that the most respected member of this Puritanical society, the Reverend Dimmesdale, is Hester's partner in sin. THE TITLE OF THE BOOK The title is significant to every chapter of the book, as the scarlet letter is di...

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... the human soul: guilt, revenge, and evil. With its complex, emotional plot and its rich symbolism, this masterpiece has become a highly prized classic in American literature. The book opens with a chapter called "The Custom House," in which the narrator of the book writes a long description recalling his days as the chief executive officer of the Customs House in Salem, Massachusetts. He ... 's thoughts, it can be concluded that the scarlet letter stands for "adulteress." Hester has been accused of adultery and the small child in her arms is illegitimate.   In the third chapter, a small...

• Word Count: 3653
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• Grade Level: High School

Three Symbols What is a symbol? A symbol is sign or representation of something i.e. a dove represents peace. In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, is full of symbolism throughout. Every chapter and page has symbolism. The three most important symbols in the novel are the scarlet letter, the rose bush and pearl. The most important symbol is the scarlet letter. The ... said it meant Able." The scarlet letter could be interpreted differently in many ways. The Rose Bush is also an important symbol. The symbol is first mentioned in the first chapter as a "wild rose-bush, cove...

• Word Count: 420
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• Grade Level: High School

... one of the most significant contributions to the rise of American Literature. Much of Hawthorne's symbolism is very hard to find but several symbols are also obvious. In the first chapter Hawthorne describes the prison as "the black flower of civilized society". The prison represents the crime and punishment that was incorporated in the early Puritan life. He also contrasts the ... prison with the tombstone at the end of the novel by suggesting that crime and punishment bring about the end of civilized life. In the same chapter he describes the overgrown vegetation of weeds around the p...

• Word Count: 502
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• Grade Level: High School

... it. The first scaffold scene occurs on a Sunday morning so everyone in town can see her. The second scaffold scene takes place right in the middle of the novel in chapter 12. One of the characters that is involved in this scaffold scene is Dimmesdale. The reason why Dimmesdale went to the scaffold was to go and confess his sin. Dimmesdale ... scaffold scene takes place late at night as a sign of fear, cowardness, evil, and concealment. The third and final scaffold scene takes place at the end of the book in chapter 23. One of the characters that is involved in this final scaffold scene ...

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• Grade Level: High School

... anguish, much like the scarlet letter. Everyday, Hester is reminded of her sin, not just by looking at her daughter, but by observing her daughter's alienation and rebellious nature. In chapter 16 the reader observes Pearl and her mother taking a walk in the woods. While Pearl dances freely and gayly in the rays of the sun light, her mother walks somberly ... physical allusion of Pearl to the scarlet letter appears in the way Hester dresses her daughter. Hester makes sure that her daughter dresses in only the finest of materials. In Chapter 7 the reader observes Pearl wearing a crimson ...

• Word Count: 790
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• Grade Level: High School