THE SCARLET LETTERTHE SCARLET LETTERBYBY

NATHANAL HAWTHORNE NATHANAL HAWTHORNE KARA LEWIS

AdulteryAdultery

wich is having sex with another person when married

BowersBowers

a shady leafy shelter or recess, as in a wood or garden; arbour or a rustic cottage; a country retreat

Customs HouseCustoms House

A place were duties are paid or collected and vesselvessels are entered and cleared

Arthur Arthur DimmesdaleDimmesdale

Is the man who committed adultery with

Hester Prynne

eiderdown eiderdown pillowpillow

E is for eiderdown pillow - Eiderdown" as the name for a down filled quilt. Hundreds of years ago, many quilts were filled with the down that came from a beautiful northern bird called the Eider Duck.

fellow-sinnerfellow-sinner

F is for fellow-sinner - A friend who is frequently in the company of another. "Comrades in arms"

Governor Governor BellinghamBellinghamG is for Governor Bellingham - Governor Bellingham is a wealthy, elderly gentleman who spends much of his time consulting with the other town fathers. Despite his role as governor of a fledgling American society, he very much resembles a traditional English aristocrat. Bellingham tends to strictly adhere to the rules, but he is easily swayed by Dimmesdale’s eloquence. He remains blind to the misbehaviors taking place in his own house: his sister, Mistress Hibbins, is a witch.

Hester PrynneHester PrynneHester Prynne -  Hester is the book’s protagonist and the wearer of the scarlet letter that gives the book its title. The letter, a patch of fabric in the shape of an “A,” signifies that Hester is an “adulterer.” As a young woman, Hester married an elderly scholar, Chillingworth, who sent her ahead to America to live but never followed her. While waiting for him, she had an affair with a Puritan minister named Dimmesdale, after which she gave birth to Pearl. Hester is passionate but also strong—she endures years of shame and scorn. She equals both her husband and her lover in her intelligence and thoughtfulness. Her alienation puts her in the position to make acute observations about her community, particularly about its treatment of women.

JUNIOR CLERKJUNIOR CLERK

J is for junior clerk - a minor official or functionary at the customs house

King DerbyKing Derby

"King" Derby (Elias Hasket Derby, 1739-1799) was a successful Salem merchant who built a large wharf and traded with China, India, and Russia. The street between the Custom House and the wharves is named Derby Street after him.

Locofoco Locofoco

L is for Locofoco - A nickname formerly given to a member of the Democratic party.

Massachusetts Massachusetts magistracymagistracyM is for Massachusetts magistracy - magistrates - act as judges working around the clock, issuing warrants of arrest, presiding over trials of small claims,

New England New England Puritans Puritans (Pilgrims)(Pilgrims)

N is for New England Puritans - Calvinist in theology, they stressed predestination and believed that the Scriptures did not sanction the setting up of bishops and churches by the state. early Puritans wanted to purify the church.

Old ManseOld Manse

O is for Old Manse - Old Manse is an old name for the residence of a minister of a church

PEARLPEARLP is for Pearl - PearlHester’s daughter, Pearl, functions primarily as a symbol. She is quite young during most of the events of this novel—when Dimmesdale dies she is only seven years old—and her real importance lies in her ability to provoke the adult characters in the book.

Q is for

Roger Roger ChillingworthChillingworth

He is Hester Prynnes husband, but not Pearls father.

Scarlet LetterScarlet Letter

S is for Scarlet Letter - The scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame, Originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer

tunictunic

A long, plain, close-fitting jacket, usually having a stiff high collar and worn as part of a uniform.

VixenlyVixenly

V is for vixenly - female fox. A woman regarded as quarrelsome, shrewish, or malicious

WHARFWHARFW is for wharf - A landing place or pier where ships may tie up and load or unload.

YANKEEYANKEE

Y is for Yankee - New Englander: an American who lives in New England