The Scarlet Letter

Chapters 9-12

Chapter 9

1. Chillingworth: Public vs. private persona

2. How do some from town feel about having Chillingworth around Dimmesdale? (112)

3. How has Chillingworth’s appearance changed over time?

4. At the end of the chapter, it is revealed that there is another view of Chillingworth in the town. What is it?

Chapter 10O Dimmesdale: Public vs. private personaO What is Dimmesdale’s secret?O Significance of this quote: “…like a creature

that had nothing in common with a bygone and buried generation, nor owned herself akin to it. It was as if she had been made afresh, out of new elements, and must perforce be permitted to live her own life, and be a law unto herself, without her eccentricities being reckoned to her for a crime” (125).

O How does Dimmesdale feel about those who keep secrets versus those who reveal them?

O What happens at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 11O What plan does Chillingworth reveal

at the beginning of the chapter?O How does the town view

Dimmesdale?O What is his health like at this time?

O Why does Dimmesdale hate himself?O How does Dimmesdale punish

himself?

Chapter 12O Where does Dimmesdale go at the

beginning of this chapter?O How does he react to Rev. Mr. Wilson

walking past?O What does he have Hester and Pearl

do? O Who is watching them together?O What does Hester fail to reveal to

Dimmesdale?O What does Dimmesdale see in the sky?

O His interpretation? The town’s?