The Scarlet Letter: QR Overview
Movie Trailer: Watch the movie trailer for The
Scarlet Letter released in 2015. Please note that this is
the most recent of three film adaptations.
1. What are your initial opinions of the story based on
this trailer?
Quick Facts: Answer the questions below on your
work page.
1. Where was the book written and when was it
published?
2. Describe the narrator.
3. How is the narrator omniscient? Subjective?
Things to Know: Answer the questions below on
your work page.
1. How did Hawthorne get the “W” in his name?
2. Explain the symbolism behind the characters’
names.
3. Define ignominy.
4. How much did Hawthorne make from the book in
his lifetime?
Romanticism: Answer the following questions after
watching the video.
1. What did Romantics value?
2. What did Romantics have a deep respect for?
3. Romanticism celebrated _______ and ______.
Custom House: Answer the following questions about
The Custom House.
1. What four goals does this introduction accomplish?
2. What does the narrator find in the Salem Custom
House?
3. The author is said to use ____ and _____ as
romance techniques to develop themes.
Symbols: Fill out the section over symbols on your
response sheet based on this infographic from Shmoop.
Character Profiles: Fill out the character profiles on
your response sheet based on this information from
Sparknotes.
Just for funsies.
Name: ____________________________
The Scarlet Letter: QR Response
Movie Trailer:
1. What are your initial opinions of the story based on this trailer?
Quick Facts:
1. Where was the book written and when was it published?
2. Describe the narrator.
3. How is the narrator omniscient? Subjective?
Things to Know:
1. How did Hawthorne get the “W” in his name?
2. Explain the symbolism behind the characters’ names.
3. Define ignominy.
4. How much did Hawthorne make from the book in his lifetime?
Romanticism:
1. What did Romantics value?
2. What did Romantics have a deep respect for?
3. Romanticism celebrated ___________ and ____________.
Custom House:
1. What four goals does this introduction accomplish?
2. What does the narrator find in the Salem Custom House?
3. The author is said to use ________ and _________ as romance
techniques to develop themes.
Symbols:
1. The Scarlet Letter: What does it stand for?
2. The Meteor: What does it stand for?
3. The Forest and Wilderness; What does it stand for?
4. The Prison Door: What does it stand for?
5. The Black Man: What does it stand for?
Character Profiles
Character Role Quick Facts Personality Traits
Hester
Prynne
Pearl
Arthur
Dimmesdale
Roger
Chillingworth
Governor
Bellingham
Mistress
Hibbins
The Narrator
Name: ____________________________ KEY: Please note wording
comes directly from QR
sources
The Scarlet Letter: QR Response
Movie Trailer:
1. What are your initial opinions of the story based on this trailer?
Varies
Quick Facts:
1. Where was the book written and when was it published?
Salem, Massachusetts; published 1850
2. Describe the narrator.
“Unnamed customhouse surveyor” who relates the events 200 years later;
similarities with Hawthorne
3. How is the narrator omniscient? Subjective?
Omniscient: analyzes characters inner thoughts; Subjective: gives own
interpretations of events
Things to Know:
1. How did Hawthorne get the “W” in his name?
Changed his name so as not to associate with Puritan magistrate, and relative,
John Hathorne, who was infamous during the Salem Witch Trials
2. Explain the symbolism behind the characters’ names.
Pearl=unwanted child; Chillingworth=twisted and cold man;
Dimmesdale=education does not reveal truth
3. Define ignominy.
Dishonor, infamy, disgrace, or shame
4. How much did Hawthorne make from the book in his lifetime?
$1500
Romanticism:
1. What did Romantics value?
Emotions and imagination instead of facts and logic
2. What did Romantics have a deep respect for?
Nature and Solitude
3. Romanticism celebrated ___________ and ____________.
Individuality and the outcasts
Custom House:
1. What four goals does this introduction accomplish?
Outline biographical information about Hawthorne; describes conflict between
the artistic impulse and the commercial environment, defines the romance
novel, authenticates the basis of the novel
2. What does the narrator find in the Salem Custom House?
The faded scarlet A and the historical manuscript of the novel we are about
to read
3. The author is said to use ________ and _________ as romance
techniques to develop themes.
Light (chiaroscuro) and setting
Symbols:
1. The Scarlet Letter: What does it stand for?
Adultery, sin, hard work, skill, charity, righteousness, sacredness, grace
2. The Meteor: What does it stand for?
A message from God
3. The Forest and Wilderness; What does it stand for?
Freedom and emotional escape
4. The Prison Door: What does it stand for?
A place of darkness and sin juxtaposed to God’s grace
5. The Black Man: What does it stand for?
All evil
Character Profiles
Character Role Quick Facts Personality Traits
Hester Protagonist; Has an affair with Passionate,
Prynne wears Scarlet minister because believes headstrong, caring
Letter husband to be dead etc.
Pearl Illegitimate Often described as Mischievous,
daughter nonhuman by moody, perceptive,
townspeople wise
Arthur Minister; father Well-loved by public Intelligent and
Dimmesdale of Pearl emotional;
guilt-ridden
Roger Hester’s husband Described as deformed Single-minded,
Chillingworth in disguise; town and ugly revengeful
doctor
Governor Governor of the Strictly adheres to rules Stern, aristocratic,
Bellingham townspeople but blind to his own easily swayed
misgivings
Mistress Widow and Known to be a witch who Appearance is a
Hibbins Governor consorts with the Black reminder of
Bellingham’s sister Man hypocrisy
The Narrator Customhouse Based on Hawthorne High-strung,
surveyor himself interested in
history
