Reflex

The
Scarlet Letter

Stage 4

activities answers

Before Reading

TO 5 WHILE
6CHAPTERS
How . . .?3Philip
didntREADING
win either race. He came in
1 F
People
gave
Hester
a lot
of work
because her
second on Daylight, and
third
on Chainmail.
needlework
was sothat
good.
7 What
. . .? He learnt
George had stopped at
2 Lance
F People
wantedhouse
to take
away
Hester
Kinships
forPearl
a drink
onfrom
his way
home.
because
they
thought
it
would
be
better
for
the
8 Why . . .? Because Yaxley was home from Hong
child
to
grow
up
in
a
more
godly
home
than
Kong just three weeks after Georges death.
Hesters.
9 What
. . .? It helped the wives and children of dead
3 T
and injured jockeys.
4 T
reAdIng ChApTer 10
5Before
F Arthur
Dimmesdale never talked about the
Encourage
students
to speculate
to make often
sickness of his soul,
although and
Chillingworth
guesses,
but
do
not
tell
them
the
answer.
They will
tried to make him.
find
out
as
they
read
that
the
answer
is
number
6 F When Arthur told people that he was a hateful2.
sinner, 10
they
believe
him and said he was a
ChApTers
Todid
13 not
whIlE
READING
strong
andtogodly
man.
1 Lord
White,
Philip,
about the photographs that
7 F
WhenDana
Arthur
saw
Hester
and Pearl,
he asked
showed
and
Ivor
den Relgan
as lovers.
them
to
come
up
and
stand
with
him
2 Harold, to Philip, about Ivor den Relganon
nothe
longer
scaffold.
being in the Jockey Club.
83 T
Elgin Yaxley, to Philip, about Philip asking him for
more money for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
BEFORE READING CHAPTER 6
4Encourage
Mrs Jackson
(Philips
neighbour),
to course
Philip, about
students
to discuss
which
of
the
man
from
the
water
company
who
camewhy
to
action Hester should follow and to explain
check
Philips
pipes.
they think this, but do not give the answers. In fact,
5she
Ivor
den Relgan, to Philip, about burning George
does
Millaces
numbers
3 house.
and 5, and plans to do number 4.
6 Clare, to Philip, about his injuries, which she
CHAPTERS
6 TO
8 WHILE
READING
realized had
been
caused
by a beating, not a fall
1+12
had the respect of many people now
fromHester
a horse.
she worked
hard
and the
livedlist
a godly
life.
7 Danabecause
den Relgan,
to Philip,
about
she had
2+15
Roger
had
changed
from
a
kind
person
into
an
written on a packet of cigarettes for George Millace.
evil one
after he had
spentabout
seven the
years
getting a
8 The police
inspector,
to Philip,
hydrogen
cruelgas
revenge.
sulphide
in Philips water filter that nearly killed
3+9
Hester wanted Roger to forgive her and Arthur
Jeremy.
and become a wise, kind man again but Roger
Before reAdIng ChApTer 14
thought it was too late for that now.
Encourage
students
tolife
speculate
andfor
toHester
make
4+11
Arthur
thought
was easier
guesses,
but
do
not
tell
them
the
answers.
because everyone knew about her sin.They will
find
out
as they
read Arthur
that thetoanswers
are 1c
5+16 Hester
advised
leave Boston
soand
that
2b. he could begin a happy life somewhere else.
6+13
Arthur
was16
worried
about getting to know Pearl
ChApTers
14 To
whIlE READING
because
children
did
usually
like him.
On the diazo film and papernot
Philip
discovered
a list
7+10
Pearl
did
not
want
to
go
to
her
mother
until
of names, dates, and drugs, and a letter written
by she
put the
scarletKinship.
letter back
on herofbosom.
Georgehad
Millace
to Lance
Because
this
8+14
Hester
return
England
letter, he
knewand
thatArthur
Lance decided
Kinshipto
had
killedtoGeorge.
since
there
they
could
live
a
quiet
life
more
Philips mother had died from drugs, so Philip planned
to makeeasily.
Lance Kinship give him the names of people
who sold drugs. He would then give these names to
the drugs police.
Victor Briggs told Philip he would stop asking him
to lose races. However, Philip decided to become a
photographer, leave Lambourn, and marry Clare.

Before READING
reading ACTIVITIES
activities (PAGE
(page 76)
92)
BEFORE
BEFOREREADING
READING
ACTIVITY 1 BEFORE

1 F 2 T 3 sensitive
T 4 F 5discussion
T 6 F 7of
F the issues
Encourage
involved. The Puritans would probably agree with
ACTIVITY 2 BEFORE READING
numbers 1, 5, 7, and possibly 4.
Encourage students to speculate and to make
guesses, but
do notREADING
tell them the answers. They will
ACTIVITY
2 BEFORE
find out as students
they readtothat
the answers
1a, 1c
Encourage
speculate
and toare
make
(but for the
Jockeys
not himself),
guesses,
but Injured
do not tell
themFund,
the answers.
They 2a,
will
2b, 2d.
find
out as they read that the answers are:
Hester: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7
Hesters child: 7
Hesters lover: 2, 5, 8
Hesters
husband: 1
ChApTers 1 To 5 whIlE READING

While Reading

1 Because he didnt like cheating, and he knew that he

had a very good chance of winning that day.
2 He drove off the road and into a tree, probably
because he1 went
toWHILE
sleep READING
while he was driving.
CHAPTERS
AND 2
Because
interested
to find out
whyshape
George
13 What
. . he
.? Awas
piece
of red material
in the
of
hadletter
kept aA,box
of patterns
his worstofmistakes.
the
with
gold thread.
By giving
a lot
of money.
24 What
. . .?him
They
thought
that the magistrates should
5 burn
Because
showed
thather
they
had metwith
eachhot
other
theitletter
A into
forehead
metal,
before
shot die.
Yaxleys horses.
or
thatOTree
she should
He was
not
a serious
responsible
36 Who
. . .?
They
couldor
send
criminalsperson.
there to die,
7 or
Because
knew
that
he had
them. in shame
peoplenobody
who had
done
wrong
to stand
8 before
Dana knew
himofbecause
she got drugs from him,
the eyes
the world.
and Ivor
him
because
he on
wanted
him to stay
away
4 What
. . .?hitShe
had
to stand
the scaffold
for three
from Dana.
hours,
and wear the scarlet A for adultery for the
9 rest
Because
he life.
thought they could put Philips life in
of her
danger.
5 Who
. . .? Hesters husband.
6 What . . .? The name of the father of her child.
Before reAdIng ChApTer 6
7 Who . . .? The man called Roger Chillingworth, who
Encourage students to speculate and to make
Hester had seen in the crowd earlier.
guesses but do not tell them the answers. They will
8 What . . .? She was afraid he would kill them both
find out as they read that the answers are 1c and
with poison.
2b.
9 Who . . .? The man who had wronged both him and
Hester the
father
of Hesters
ChApTers
6 To
9 whIlE
READING child.
101 What
Nothinghe didnt
he justwant
wanted
to watch him
Why . .. ..?.?Because
to destroy
tremble.
Daylights enthusiasm for racing.
112 What
.? His
He asked
notleft
to him
tell anyone
that he
How .. .. .?
motherher
had
to stay with
was
her husband.
Samantha
several times when he was a child.
3 Why . . .? Because George Millace was going to
BEFORE READING CHAPTER 3
take photos of him, but he died, and the news
Encourage students to speculate and to make
photographers were all busy.
guesses, but do not tell them the answers. They will
4 How . . .? He was pleased because she liked his
find out as they read that the only yes answer is
photos, but was also alarmed at the idea of his
number 2.
hobby becoming h is work.
5 What . . .? Her husbands friendship with Dana den
Relgan.

Oxford University Press

While Reading

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62
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the scarlet reflex

letter

Encourage speculation and discussion, but do not

tell students the answers. They will find out as they
read that on Election Day nobody leaves Boston;
Arthur tells everyone he is Pearls father; nobody
kills Roger; Hester, Arthur, and Pearl stand on the
scaffold together; and Arthur dies.

After Reading
ACTIVITY 1 AFTER READING

Students may complete this conversation how they

like. Possible responses for Hester might be:
PeaRL: Mother, why didnt your husband come with
you to Boston?
HesteR: He had some business to finish in Amsterdam
before he could leave, so he sent me ahead of him.
PeaRL: And how did you get to know my father?
HesteR: He was my priest at church, so I saw him
nearly every day.
PeaRL: But how could you fall in love with him? You
already had a husband, so it was a sin breaking
Gods law.
HesteR: Love doesnt follow any laws, Im afraid,
Pearl. He was gentle and kind, and I was lonely.
I had never felt any love for my husband, and I
hadnt seen him for two years. I thought he was
dead, drowned at sea.
PeaRL: Two years! Thats a long time. And when he
suddenly appeared again, how did you feel?
HesteR: I was very afraid. I had wronged him greatly,
and I didnt know what he would do to me, or you,
or your father.
PeaRL: But why didnt he accuse my father in public?
HesteR: Because he wanted a slow, secret revenge. He
wanted to stay close to him, and watch the guilt
slowly destroy your fathers soul.
PeaRL: How horrible! Why didnt you tell me all this
before, when my father was alive?

ACTIVITY 4 AFTER READING

Students might want to put some words under more

than one heading (some suggestions given below).
Encourage students to discuss their choices.
Feelings: joy, misery, passion, respect, shame
The law: guilty, innocent, magistrate, mercy, prison,
punishment (possibly: revenge)
Religion: godly, heaven, priest, Puritan, sermon, sin,
soul (possibly: joy, passion, innocent)
Sewing: cloth, material, needle, pattern, thread
The odd man out might be: revenge

ACTIVITY 2 AFTER READING

Open answers. Encourage discussion.

ACTIVITY 3 AFTER READING

Encourage students to suggest interpretations and

discuss them. Here are some possible ideas:
1 This is the first sign we see of Arthurs weakness
compared to Hesters strength. Arthurs words
suggest that he longs to make his guilt public, but he
is too afraid to do so, and hopes that Hester will do
this for him. Arthur sees Hesters public shame as a
good thing, which allows her to face what she has
done wrong in a way that is impossible for him. His
last few words might also be be a secretly apologetic
message to Hester herself.
2 This shows how strong Hester is, and also how

oxford bookworms library stage 4

activities answers

proud. She will not ask for or accept anyones help,

and feels that her guilt is a matter between her and
God, and no one else.. When the time is right, she
will be free of the scarlet letter, but that is not for
anybody else to judge.
3 Rogers words suggest that he feels that they are
all trapped in their fate, and that nothing they do
will change it. They also suggest that he is now
convinced that the whole situation is Hesters fault.
This is in contrast with his earlier words, when he
said to Hester, How could I have imagined that you
would ever love me? Then he seemed to think he
might be in some way partly responsible for what
has happened, but he no longer thinks this.
4 Arthur shows himself here to be a more forgiving
person than Roger. He has forgiven Hester for
anything she has done wrong, but Roger has made
Hesters sin the reason for a cruel revenge which has
had an evil effect on all their lives. Arthur knows
that there must be love in the world as well as justice
and punishment for wrongdoing.
5 Pearl shows here the strong intuitive understanding
of a child, who can recognize feelings but not
necessarily explain them. She knows that Arthur
has taken pleasure in the company of Pearl and
her mother in secret, but that he is too afraid to
stand up with them in public. Her words hint at
disapproval of the double standards that she can feel
at work here, but there is also a trace of pity as she
seems to sense the pain and confusion that Arthur
suffers from.

BEFORE READING CHAPTERS 9 AND 10

4 +9+12 14+2+5 1+10 13+7+16 6+3 8+15+11

Yes, I was there, quite close to Mr Dimmesdale when
he stopped next to the scaffold and called out to
Mistress Prynne and her little girl. The old doctor
hurried up to him and caught his arm, but he pushed
the doctor away and climbed up onto the scaffold with
Mistress Prynne and the child. He stood there in front
of the crowd and cried out that he was as great a
sinner as Hester Prynne. Finally, he pulled open his
shirt for us to see the great, scarlet letter A on his

65

the scarlet letter

Oxford University Press

ACTIVITY 5 AFTER READING

activities answers

chest, which means, of course, that he is the father of

Hester Prynnes child! However, the poor child did not
have a father for very long, because almost at once the
priest fell to the ground. After little Pearl had kissed
him, he thanked God for his mercy, and then he died
in Mistress Prynnes arms.
ACTIVITY 6 AFTER READING

Students can write these new endings in any way

they wish. The following passages are possible
examples:
Arthur confessed on the scaffold in front of the people
of Boston. The Governor decided that he would show
mercy to Arthur, who was obviously very ill, and he
allowed Arthur to leave for England on the ship with
Hester and Pearl. Back in England, Arthur slowly got
better, and he, Hester and Pearl lived happily together
for many years. Roger left Boston, a broken man, and
was never seen again.
Arthur did not confess. When Roger stood up to tell
people that he was Hesters husband, nobody believed
him, and when he said that Arthur was the father of
Hesters child, they thought that he must be crazy. The
Governor suggested to Arthur that it would be a good
idea if he left Boston for a while, so Arthur, Hester
and Pearl quietly left for Virginia, where they spent the
rest of their lives together happily. Roger was never the
same afterwards, and died after a short illness.
Arthur did not confess, but Roger told Arthurs secret
to the Governor. Because of his health, and because he
was a priest, Arthur was sent to prison, where he spent
many years helping others and doing good works.
Hester and Pearl went on living in Boston and visited
Arthur often in prison.
Arthur confessed to his crime and was sent to prison.
At the same time Hester was sent back to live with
her husband Roger. They were not happy together,
and after a short time Hester died mysteriously. Some
said that it was Rogers medicines that killed her.
Pearl became a rich woman with Rogers money, and
married well.
ACTIVITY 7 AFTER READING

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Open answers. Encourage discussion.

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the scarlet letter