The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter, Ch. 11

by Emily Houdersheldt

Multiple Choice

Who is described as having a "quiet depth of malice"?

• Chillingworth

• Dimmesdale

• Hester

• Bellingham

​Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

​Terms to know:

​

​Scourge

​

​What might it be used for?

Open Ended

Read the paragraph on page 129 (third paragraph in chapter 11) that begins with, "All this was accomplished with a subtlety...". Summarize what you read.

​Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

​What is meant by this quote?

​"It is inconceivable, the agony with which this public veneration tortured him!"

​Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

​What does the previous quote mean?

• ​Dimmesdale feels tortured by the public respect that he receives; he feels that he doesn't deserve their respect because he's lied to them.

​

​

​Dimmesdale has tried to what?

​Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

​Dimmesdale has tried to confess multiple times in front of his congregation. Is he successful?

​

​No - he is not successful because people hear him admit to being a vile sinner and a guilty person and believe that he is simply trying to make them better people.

​If HE is that terrible, then they must be even worse and should work harder to get to heaven.

​Dimmesdale calls himself a hypocrite - is it accurate?

Poll

Is Dimmesdale a hypocrite?

• Yes

• No

• I have a different answer I want to share out loud.

Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart​

What "practices more in accordance with the old, corrupted faith of Rome​" does Dimmesdale keep?

​Chapter 11: The Interior of a Heart

He keeps a whip in his closet that he uses to beat his back (to punish himself)

​He fasts (to purify the body)

​He keeps vigils (stays awake to pray and meditate)