Term
|
Definition
~ Married to (Chillingworth)
~ Commits adultery with Dimmesdale and has child
~ Is the mother of Pearl
~plans to move away with Dimmesdale, but stays when he dies and helps other sinful women. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Hester and Dimmesdale's daughter
~ Crazy good intuition
~ "spirt" and evil
~grows up to be a good woman |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Hester's husband
~uses fake name
~ lived with Indians for many years (became a good doctor)
~ decides to get revenge on Dimmesdale |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Boston’s elder clergyman. Reverend Wilson is a scholarly yet grandfatherly figure. Like Governor Bellingham, Wilson follows the community’s rules strictly but can be swayed by Dimmesdale’s eloquence. Unlike Dimmesdale, his junior colleague, Wilson preaches hellfire and damnation and advocates harsh punishment of sinners. |
|
|
Term
| Revered Arthur Dimmesdale |
|
Definition
Hester's baby dad
~Wants to do good, and therefore hides the truth
~ Carves the A into self |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A widow and sister of Governor Bellingham. She is commonly known to be a witch who ventures into the forest at night to ride with the “Black Man.” |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A wealthy, elderly gentleman who spends much of his time consulting with the other town leaders. Bellingham tends to adhere strictly to the rules, but he is easily swayed by Dimmesdale’s eloquence. He remains blind to the misbehaviors taking place in his own house: His sister, Mistress Hibbins, is a witch. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Former surveyor of the Salem Custom House some 200 years after the events described in the novel take place. The unnamed narrator discovers an old manuscript in the building’s attic that tells the story of Hester Prynne. When he loses his job, he decides to write a fictional treatment of the narrative. |
|
|
Term
| Link between psyche and physical appearence |
|
Definition
Hester- young beauty, to old lady with dull hair as she becomes serious and educational, but when she is in the sun and she has allows herself to not be a scarlet letter- and when that happens she becomes beautiful again.
Chillingworth becomes more old and ugly as he puts all of his efforts into being evil
Dimmesdale loses his youth as the guilt eats him alive and as Chillingworth suck out his energy. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Pearl is the Scarlet letter
She represents what Hester did
She represents the crazy aspects of her family
She represents the good that can be born of sin |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Before Sin- Hester= beautiful, hair is shiny, she is stunning, and youthful
After- Hester cuts off her hair, and looks plain, she becomes intellectual. she learns about society because she is not a part of it, as well as what it means to be a woman, and the true nature of her punishment
when in the light without letter- burden is lost and apears youthful again. Only lasts while she has it off (not very long, like one scene) |
|
|
Term
| Dimmesdale's Transformation |
|
Definition
Before- Strong young man, trembling voice, kind, and gentle. Simple and children like, many people thought he was like an angel
after- becomes very sickly, and worn. seems like he will die at any moment. He is cutting an A into his chest. |
|
|
Term
| Chillingworths transformation |
|
Definition
Chillingworth is a small, studious man. He loves books and learning, and the dark. Deformed.
Beomes evil- makes him look really ugly MAD DEFORMED YO. crazy look people avoid him. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| She is a good enough baby. Then she becomes wild and crazy elf child. Becomes a normal nice girl in the end of the book, able to live in society. |
|
|
Term
| Puritan religion and beliefs |
|
Definition
sought to create the ideal Christian society
~everyday life was seen as a struggle between God and the devil
~any act "against God" was a crime and an opportunity to the devil to gain a foothold in the Puritan society |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Sin was useually involved public humiliation.
Common Punishments:
~stocks and pillory= most common punishment, heavy wooden frames with ankle and wrist holes
~ Dunking Stool= for women who gossiped/ scolded husbands, dunked into river/ lake on chair
~whipping
Severe Punishments:
~hot awl =used to pierce the tougnes of those who spoke out against the puritan faith.
~execution= was omnipresent (hanging, or burning at the stake too)
~lettering (A= adultery, T=thief, D=drunk) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
~always talking about Dimmesdale's hand on his heart vs. Hester's letter (knows about his guilt somehow)
~know that Chillingworth is bad, and knows that Dimmesdale should stand with her mother and she in guilt |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
~ Dimmesdale is not guilty of what he has done (he is happy that he was with Hester)
~ He is guilty that she got in trouble for i, and that he is too weak to step forward as the father. He carves an A in his skin because the guilt eats him alive |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1st Appearence- Made to be shammed. With an A on her breast and Pearl on her hip. Everyone watches her and she is alone with her baby. During the day.
2nd- Dimmesdale can not deal with the guilt and gets on top of the Scaffold. Hester and Pearl join him. It is the dead of night and everyone is asleep. A red A flys above their heads.
3rd- It is day time, and everyone is at the market. Dimmesdale, knows he is going to die and breaks down to tell the truth (all three of them are on the scaffold. Dimmesdale tears off his shirt) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Penance- Self punishment
ex.) Dimmesdale is guilty that he has never told anyone of his sin, so he self harms.
Penitence- Regret for what was actually done
ex.) Dimmesdale does not regret what he and Hester did |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
~associated with wildflowers(rosebush, pretty as a wildflower, throws flowers at the scarlet letter)
~ Pearl is friends with all the animals and streams in the forest because she was never a part of society (she was natural) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primary of the individual
~believed that man was good, and that society is what made them bad. Revolution> tradition. Individuality rocked.
~Characteristics
1. Supernatural
2. Emphasis on the past
3. Imagination and emotion= most important
4. Love of nature
5. Loved Rebels , and rebellion
~Put emotion over logic
~1840- 1865 (1850-1855 was the hayday)
~HAWTHORNE |
|
|
