1. The Scarlet Letter
Chapters 7 to 10

2. 1. “The Governor's Hall”…
Basic: Describe Governor Bellingham’s estate.
Higher Level: Explore the irony of the description of Bellingham’s estate.
Highest Level: Explain how the irony of Bellingham’s estate reinforces Hawthorne’s assertion regarding Puritan morality.

3. 2. “The Elf-Child and the Minister”
Basic: What is Hester’s argument for maintaining custody of Pearl?
Higher Level: How does her argument further develop Hawthorne’s use of juxtaposition?
Highest Level: What is ironic about Hester’s argument and its outcome? What purpose does that irony serve?

4. 2. “The Elf-Child and the Minister”
Basic: What is Pearl’s response when the Governor asks her, “who made thee”?
Higher Level: What is it about Pearl’s answer that distresses the Governor?
Highest Level: What motif does Pearl’s answer evoke, and how does it illustrate a larger meaning?

5. “the Leech”
Explore the significance of the following quote in the novel’s context and in our daily lives.
“When an uninstructed multitude attempts to see with its eyes, it is exceedingly apt to be deceived” (Hawthorne 125).
What might “see” and “eyes” mean beyond their literal meaning?
Who is being deceived (in the novel and the world)?
Why are they being deceived?

6. Characterization
Handout