1. Chapters 23-24 By Brianna Igo and Jordyn Bamford

2. Summary Dimmesdale finishes his sermon and all the people gathered talk about how good it was. The crowd is moving towards the town hall, when Dimmesdale sees Hester and Pearl his revelation makes him join the two on the scaffold. In doing this he finally earns Pearl’s trust and affection as she kisses him and begins crying. He then says farewell to Hester who asks about meeting after their death but he says its vain to hope for a reunion. He then takes his final breath and dies. It takes several days for the people to comprehend what happened on the scaffold but when they do several stories as to what happened come up. Most say they saw the red A matching Hester’s on his chest with several theories as to how he received the mark. Others deny that there even was a mark and his words did not even connect to Hester Prynne’s guilt. Dimmesdale’s story continues to be told after his death. Chillingworth now has no reason to live so he shrivels away and dies. He leaves a substantial property to Pearl in the town and in England. Pearl and Hester soon disappear and there story becomes legend. Hester returns and lives in the town until her death. She is buried next to a grave which you assume is Dimmesdale’s because they share a tombstone with only an A engraved upon it.

3. Theme Honesty is the theme of these chapters, the truth is revealed to everyone. The narrative voice in chapter 24 ties into the theme. He says the story he's told has one moral: “Be true! Be true! Be true! Show freely to the world, if not your worst, yet some trait whereby the worst may be inferred!” The narrator is telling us to be honest and to not hide your flaws to protect your reputation, doing so will eventually destroy you.

4. Romantic Era Romanticism is categorized as “a preference for simplicity and naturalness, a love of plain feelings and truth to common place reality, especially as found in natural scenes”. However Nathaniel Hawthorne, although using naturalness and love he writes in the form of Dark Romanticism because he believed in the evil side of man, which is why the book is focused around sin. Several things throughout the book are examples of Romanticism, such as the rose bush in the beginning, Hester submitting to the human urges and being with Dimmesdale, and Pearl being a supernatural “devil child”. Also, Dimmesdale who is suppose to be pure but commits sin shows that there is evil in everyone giving an example of Dark Romanticism.

5. Puritan Society The Puritan society never forgives for sin and believe in being punished. In the final chapters the biggest example of Puritan beliefs is that the graves are buried with space between them so that the lovers could never be together even after death. Puritan believed that if two people committed adultery that there relationship was tainted with sin and should never end up together.

6. Character Analysis Hester: Hester turns into a recluse and lives her life out alone in the town after Dimmesdale's death. Pearl: Finally excepts Dimmesdale and her attitude changes and she goes on to live a happy life away from the town and her past. Dimmesdale: Finally relieves his guilt of his sin and after admitting to it he dies with his lover by his side. Chillingworth: He never comes to any revelation and dies with vengeance in his heart.

7. Literary Devices Irony: Hester moves back to the town where she was tormented. Dimmesdale dies after confessing and doesn’t get to run away and live with Hester even though he did the right thing by telling the truth. Symbolism: The red A that is on Dimmesdale’s cheat is a symbol of adultery, penance, and penitence. Also the symbolism of daytime which is exposure and is when Dimmesdale confesses. Opposite this is darkness symbolizing the death of Hester and Dimmesdale as their grave is in the darkness.

8. Activity In the story people gossip about what really happened on the scaffold. The townspeople have many different versions of Dimmesdale’s actions form your own version of what you think you would have seen. Would you have tried to protect Dimmesdale's reputation by denying what happened or come up with an even more outrageous story of his sin.

9. Quiz 1. Where does Dimmesdale join Hester and Pearl? A.Russia B. the Winter Olympics C. Scaffold 2.Dimmesdale confesses his sin in the end A.True B. False 3.What does Pearl do when Dimmesdale joins them on the scaffold? A.Kisses him B. runs away C. goes skydiving 4.What was on Dimmesdale’s chest? A.a gang tattoo B. Red A matching Hester’s C. hair 5. What is on Hester and Dimmesdale’s gravestone? A.The letter A B. the letter B C. Hester Prynne, mother, daughter, unfaithful wife