Chapter 15 Based on the start of the chapter, what was Hester’s purpose for Chillingworth? Was it a fair request of her? What is Pearl’s temperament while in nature? When Hester and Pearl are talking, how does Hawthorne show that Pearl is more a symbolic tool than a normal child? What traits has Hester identified that hopefully signify that Pearl could grow into a “noble woman”? How does Hester explain Pearl’s constant questioning and curiosity about the scarlet letter? How does Hester’s choice to lie about the reason she wears the letter reflect her inability to be a true transcendental symbol?

Chapter 16 Significance of: “[P]artly that both the minister and she would need the whole wide world to breathe in, while they talked together,- for all these reasons, Hester never thought of meeting him in any narrower privacy than beneath the open sky.” Pearl says that Hester is the reason the sun is running away from them. What could this mean? What does Hester think Pearl is lacking? Why would she want Pearl to have this trait? Why is Hester able to be honest with Pearl about the letter now? Where are they? How does Pearl seem connected to nature?

Chapter 17 Significance of: “It was no wonder that they they thus questioned...inhabitants of the same sphere” (8th paragraph) How does Dimmesdale view the work he has done over the last seven years? Find a quote that expresses this idea. Why does Dimmesdale wish to have an “eye that recognizes me for what I am” in his life? What is ironic about his wish? How does Hester feel about Dimmesdale? What do Hester and Dimmesdale feel about Chillingworth’s sin? Dimmesdale asks Hester to solve his problems. Just putting that out there. What is Hester’s first suggestion as a solution? Her second? How does Dimmesdale respond to the second solution? What makes him change his opinion?

Chapter 18 2nd paragraph of the chapter is important. Tell me why. How does Hawthorne explain/justify Dimmesdale’s sin? What does Hawthorne say about man’s ability to overcome guilt? Find this quote. How do Hester and Dimmesdale change once they decide to leave this society? How does Nature respond to their decision? Find a quote for this. What has Pearl been up to? How is she different in Nature? What has made Pearl hesitant about the minister?