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Scarlet Letter Study Guide Answers

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Scarlet Letter Study Guide Answers
Chapters 1 and 2
1. The necessities that must be provided immediately by the founders of a new colony are a cemetery and a prison.
2. The rose bush outside the prison sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson.
3. The town people have gathered to witness the punishment of Hester Prynne.
4. The scarlet letter on her bodice is meant as punishment for her sin. The letter A stands for adultery.
5. Every new colony is quick in building a cemetery and prison because they know that misbehavior and death are inevitable.
6. Many of the town people regard Hester’s punishment as too lenient. They say that she can easily cover up her bodice with a brooch.
7. When denying someone the ability to hide their face it forces them to face there sin right in the eye it heightens the amount of shame felt.
8. The coat of arms signifies that her family is very old and was, at some point wealthy.
9. Yes, scornful mockery would be much more crueler.
Chapter 3
1. The stranger who appears at the outskirts of the crowd has a shoulder that is higher than the other.
2. The stranger says that he has been a wanderer against his will and he has had to deal with mishaps on land and sea. He says he is a captive and the India companion is there to redeem him of his captivity.
3. The severest possible punishment for Hester’s crime is death. Instead she has to stand on the scaffold for three hours and must wear the scarlet letter for the rest of her life.
4. The stranger becomes concerned with the identity of Hester’s partner in crime.
5. The first clue provided by Hawthorne of the stranger’s identity is Hester’s recognition of him, second his face twisted with emotion when he saw Hester carrying out her punishment, and third Hester held her infant closer to her body when she saw and recognized him.
6. I believe the strangers vow to reveal the identity of Hester’s lover will become very important throughout the novel. I expect him to become overcome with the obsession of revealing

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