V. Hester at Her Needle Quiz — The Scarlet Letter

Why does Hester Prynne remain in Boston after her release from prison?

• The terms of her sentence forbid her from leaving the colony
• She believes enduring punishment at the scene of her guilt will purge her soul
• She has no money to travel to another settlement
• The magistrates explicitly order her to stay

Where does Hester establish her home after prison?

• In a room above the town marketplace
• In a cottage in the center of the settlement near the church
• In an abandoned cottage on the outskirts of town, between the settlement and the forest
• In a dwelling provided by the Governor as part of her sentence

Hester's needlework is used for bridal veils.

What does the word "ignominy" mean as used in this chapter?

• Physical imprisonment or confinement
• A legal sentence imposed by a court
• Public disgrace or extreme shame
• A religious ceremony of repentance

Which groups of people wear Hester's embroidery?

• Only the poor, who cannot afford better seamstresses
• Only women, as men refuse to wear her work
• Governors, military men, ministers, and babies at ceremonial occasions
• Only church officials for religious services

Children in the town pursue Hester with shrill cries.

What supernatural quality does the scarlet letter seem to give Hester?

• The ability to predict future events in the colony
• A sympathetic knowledge of hidden sin in other people's hearts
• Protection from physical illness and harm
• The power to communicate with spirits in the forest

How does Hester dress herself compared to her daughter Pearl?

• Both wear elaborate, richly embroidered clothing
• Hester wears the coarsest, plainest clothing while Pearl is dressed in fanciful attire
• Both wear the plainest possible garments as part of their punishment
• Hester wears fine clothing but dresses Pearl in simple homespun

What does the word "sumptuary" mean in the phrase "sumptuary laws"?

• Relating to criminal punishment and sentencing
• Pertaining to religious worship practices
• Regulating expenditure, especially on luxury goods
• Governing the conduct of public officials

The poor people Hester helps are grateful for her charity.

What metaphor does Hawthorne use to describe Hester's existence in society?

• A caged bird singing behind bars
• A ghost revisiting a familiar fireside, unable to participate in human life
• A ship anchored far from shore in a storm
• A flower growing through cracks in stone

What image does Hawthorne use when Hester's secret love for Dimmesdale surfaces in her mind?

• A flame flickering in the wind
• A bird escaping from a cage
• A serpent emerging from its hole
• A wave crashing against rocks

Hawthorne suggests that Hester's self-denial through needlework represents genuine penitence.

What does the word "ascetic" mean as Hawthorne applies it to Hester's lifestyle?

• Beautiful and highly decorated
• Characterized by severe self-discipline and avoidance of material comforts
• Related to artistic creativity and expression
• Typical of common or everyday life

What rumor circulates among the common people about the scarlet letter?

• That it was sewn by the devil himself
• That it changes color depending on Hester's mood
• That it glows red-hot with infernal fire when Hester walks at night
• That it will eventually burn through her skin and disappear