Discussion Questions for The Scarlet Letter

Due Monday, 10/03/25

Tasks:
1. Answer the following questions as a comment to this post in preparation for Monday's discussion. Be sure to cite evidence from the text (use the link in the title) whenever possible. Remember to go beyond the simple answer-your replies should be arguable points, offering significant insight. Do not simply regurgitate what you have read from other sources.
2. Reply to at least one other comment to this post, either supporting or refuting it's assertions by providing evidence (quotes) from the text. Your responses should reflect critical thinking.

*Discussion Questions:
1.Refute or defend the following: This is a tale of frail humans dealing with the consequences of an act defined as sin by their society but not necessarily by themselves, a tale of isolation and community and the tragic inadequacy of human relationships.
2.How are Dimmesdale, Chillingworth, and Hester all described at the beginning? What is their relationship and who is to blame? Why doesn't Hester confess the name of the father? Why does she not leave the village after she leaves prison? What sort of place does she make for herself in this society that has condemned her?
3.How does the letter A gradually take on symbolic meaning? How is it connected to Pearl? What sort of person does she become?
4.Agree or disagree with this statement: For Hawthorne, perhaps the ultimate, and possibly unforgiveable, sin is the violation of the human soul or heart.
5.Why does Hester and Dimmesdale's flight from New England ultimately fail? (Look at this from both a plot and thematic perspective)
6.How does this story of a relationship with tragic conseqauences played out within a community fit with other "American" stories that you have read in the literature book? of one's place in a community? of one's place in nature? of the darker nature of human beings?

*Discussion questions are adapted from:

TSL Study Questions
URL: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/eng571/q-scarletletter.htm
Annotation: Provides a link to a class page for the Virginia Commonwealth University. The questions listed on this page are fairly good questions. If you are only going to use the questions from one site, this is a good choice. (You will not be able to view the research assignment on this page.)

The New Land

Read the section in the literature book titled "The New Land." Choose three of the selections to write about, focusing on what they reveal of the mindset of the culture of the time.

1. (a) Select one journal entry from the summer work from one of your peers, post it on my blog as a comment to this post, and comment on it(focus on what the writer of this journal does well).

2. Post your own essay from the summer reading to your own blog. Await further instructions.