The Scarlet Letter Chapters VII - VIII Reading Tags
DUE BY 8am ON TUESDAY, 11/14!Analyze the tags for Chapters VII - VIII in this blog. Use the following format in your analysis of each tag:
1. Tag and page number where the tag can be found
A. Author/Facts (does not have to be in complete sentences)
oFacts from the novel according to the tag
oWho?, What?, When?, Where?
oDefine new words
oParaphrase/Summary
B. Reader/Response (SHOULD BE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES)
oHow? Why?
oApplication
oWhat do you think about the situation surrounding the tag?
oRespond to the quote.
oPredictions/Questions
DON'T FORGET TO BRING A HARD COPY TO CLASS ON THE DAY THE TAGS ARE DUE IN ORDER TO GET YOUR POINTS!
1. Tag and page number where the tag can be found
A. Author/Facts (does not have to be in complete sentences)
oFacts from the novel according to the tag
oWho?, What?, When?, Where?
oDefine new words
oParaphrase/Summary
B. Reader/Response (SHOULD BE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES)
oHow? Why?
oApplication
oWhat do you think about the situation surrounding the tag?
oRespond to the quote.
oPredictions/Questions
DON'T FORGET TO BRING A HARD COPY TO CLASS ON THE DAY THE TAGS ARE DUE IN ORDER TO GET YOUR POINTS!
posted by Jenni Vega | 7:02 PM
4 Comments:
amen
7. Pearl’s Dress (82)
a. Author/Facts
• I really think that Pearl is a possessed demon child. The way that she ran screaming at the articulate children that were going to throw mud at her and her mother was quite disturbing.
• Pearl’s dress almost haunts Hester because it is a walking, talking seed of the letter that she is wearing. Pearl’s dress is scarlet like the letter, also embroidered in gold. Pearl’s whole existence as a reflection of her sin is magnified by her fancy dress as if she were for show.
• Pearl and Hester are traveling to the Governor’s house to deliver him a pair of gloves that he ordered, but also because there was talk that Pearl would be taken from Hester. If not for the fact that they thought she was a demon child, that they didn’t think Hester was worthy of a child to look after. Hester is going to plead to keep her child, because the Governor is a very influential man in their area.
b. Reader Response
• The way they describe Pearl’s beauty is ironic because she looks so much like her mother. And, like her mother, she is dressed in scarlet with gold stitching. These are the colors of the symbol for her mother’s sin, which Pearl is the offspring of. Pearl also has her mother’s fiery spirit, which is shown when she runs yelling and screaming at a group of children claiming that they would fling mud at the party.
8. “she seemed absolutely hidden behind it…” (85)
a. Author/Facts
• When Hester and Pearl are going to the governor’s mansion, they come upon a suit of armor that Pearl is entranced with. When Hester looks at her reflection that Pearl is laughing at in the armor, she notices that the A, due to the distortion of the armor, takes over and becomes a predominant role of what she looks like.
• It is symbolic that Hester is looking into a suit of armor, because it is like using the strong, formidable Puritan views to look at herself. Looking at herself in this light will make it seem that she is solely wearing her sin and it will always grow on her like a leech.
• Also, the fact that Pearl is the one that points it out is symbolic. Pearl is her walking testimony to her sin. What convicted her, and what is still convicting her as she points it out almost. Pearl also laughs, throwing everything back into Hester’s face to further the fact that she would have to live with her sin forever.
b. Reader Response
I am curios now who the men are that quiet Pearl with their presence. It is ironic how Pearl asks for roses, the same flowers that were growing outside the prison door. Pearl starts to scream for one as the men walk in, but is silenced by their authority. I really hope that Pearl isn’t taken away from Hester. That would be sad. They would really find out if they did that she really was a demon child that just looks pretty but really is possessed. She would not be understood.
9. Change in Chillingworth (90)
a. Author/Facts
• The group that meets Hester and Pearl include Governor Bellingham, Pastor John Wilson, Reverend Arthur Dimmsdale, and Roger Chillingworth. St first, they only see Pearl, and talk to her asking her who she is and who she belongs to. When the presence and identity of her mother is revealed, they begin to openly discuss the matters of who will have custody of Pearl.
• It is at this point that Hester realizes how much Chillingworth has changed. She is startled by how much uglier he had become, how his dark complexion had become ‘duskier,’ and how almost worn down she describes him.
• I don’t see the symbolism of Chillingworth just growing so old yet, except for the fact that it may be because he has been in constant search to find out who Pearl’s father is. The change we see in him is that his features have just dimmed and worn down, making him uglier and paler according to Hester.
b. Reader Response
All of the ministers are getting on my nerves. They speak as if they have so much authority over everything holy and over things they probably have no idea about. Their society relies solely on the religious figures to provide all of their answers for them. It is so hypocritical. They are just obnoxious. I don’t like them. It is kind of funny, though, that one answer from a three year old decides if she are demon possessed or not. It’s a three year old…of course they are going to give you some answer that you don’t want to hear. They also expect her to know theological doctrine. Crazy, crazy, crazy…
10. “Speak thou for me!” (90-91)
a. Author/Facts
• Hester has now become very excited over the fact that Pearl may be taken from her, and starts yelling at the party before her. She begs for Reverend Dimmsdale to speak for her, because he was her pastor and knew her ways. She asked him to plead on her behalf because she knew that she would get nowhere if she did that herself.
• She also speaks about how Pearl was her gift and her torture from God, claiming that she would teach her to do the right things because of her past and her sin. Hester also talks about the strong bond that there is between a mother and a child. She begs Dimmsdale to plead for her because he should understand all this, knowing her better than all the others.
• Dimmsdale does plead on her behalf, claiming that this child would keep her from sinning and act as a constant reminder that she had sinned against God. He also said that they were a mother’s rights and that a mother is given the gift of knowing what her child needs and all her ways.
b. Reader Response
What is it with Chillingworth trying to find out so diligently who Pearl’s father is? It is kind of stalkerish. Also, what Reverend Dimmsdale said about Pearl being able to save her mother for her is just crazy. If they read and understood the Bible at all they would know that there is forgiveness for all sin and that you cannot go to God on behalf of another for their salvation. They are such hypocrites for saying that. If they are Christians, however, and do believe that there is forgiveness for sins, then why aren’t they forgiving her?
V vicariously vexes Mrs. Vega by viciously vetoing the volition to scriven his or her apellation. Verily, this violation is a villainous yet valorous attempt to vainly although virtuously vie for his or her vendetta.
7. Pearl's Dress (82)
A. Author/Facts
-Hester and Pearl went to the governor to deliver some embroidered gloves.
-Hester is hoping that she can convince the governor to allow her to keep custody of Pearl.
-On the way there, some kids start throwing mud at Hester and Pearl, and Pearl chases them away.
-Pearl looks good in her dress like she always does
B. Reader/Response
-I didn't think that it was that significant in the course of the book. I realize what Hawthorne was trying to show but it doesn't seem very important in the context of the story to me.
-The point of the paragraphs was to show that Hester sought to create a noticeable difference between her and her daughter. This was unsuccessful, however, because it made her look ornate like the A on Hester's clothes which showed Pearl to be a living scarlet letter.
-It is interesting that the villagers waited this long after Pearl's birth to make a decision like this. It isn't surprising, however, that they decided to focus on the behavior of Pearl rather than the behavior of her bullies. She's only three and they're calling her a devil child because she reacts when she is picked on. That doesn't seem right.
8. "...She seemed absolutely hidden behind it"
A. Author/Facts
-Hester and Pearl are let into the governor's mansion although they are told that they would have to wait for him.
-The person that leads them in is a white slave that owes seven years of service.
-While waiting in the first area of the mansion, Pearl notices her mother's reflection in armor that is stood up in the hall.
-The scarlet letter is in such a position in the reflection that nothing else other than the A on her is visible.
B. Reader/Response
-I think that it is significant that the governor of this Puritan area owns a slave. Hawthorne puts emphasis on the fact that the man can be used like a piece of property during these seven years of servitude. I believe that this is significant because it shows how choosy the Puritans can be when it comes to their morals.
-The tag refers to A covering her up in the curved reflection of the armor. This is significant because it pretty much tells the tale of her life since she was convicted of adultery. Nobody sees who she is and nobody listens to her to find out what she is like. All that other people see is the giant A on her chest and it covers her up.
9. Change in Chillingworth (90)
A. Author/Facts
-Hester and Pearl meet with the three men and the governor
-The governor talks to Pearl first and Mr. Wilson even kind of compliments her about the way she looks.
-Roger Chillingworth looks much different to Hester than the last time they met. He looks older and uglier basically.
-Hester argues why she should be allowed to keep Pearl and Mr. Wilson is noted as being very ready to defend her.
B. Reader/Response
-The change in Roger Chillingsworth isn't that significant. He is three years older and when you are an old man like him, you start looking worse a lot faster.
-I think it is interesting, however, that Chillingsworth decides to stay in the same town as Hester. Is this maybe so that he can keep a close eye on her?
-It is interesting that Mr. Dimmesdale was so ready to defend her since he is a Puritan minister. It is easy to look over as a reader because everyone is rooting for Hester and any supporting of her is easily accepted. However, it should not be looked over because he is the only one in the town so far to support her in any way and he is the Puritan minister.
10. "Speak thou for me!"(90)
A. Author/Facts
-Hester begs Mr. Dimmesdale to defend her position.
-Mr. Dimmesdale is noted by Mr. Chillingsworth as being sympathetic to her position and very eager to defend.
-Hester is saved from witchcraft because they did not take Pearl from her
B. Reader/Response
-It is almost as interesting as Mr. Wilson's reaction that Hester asked him directly to support her position. He was just as eager to argue for her.
-The fact that she almost fell to sin except for that she still had Pearl is significant. This shows how Pearl really is making Hester a better person just by being with her.
Ryan Jones
_
And go Jesus!
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