| Contents |

Notes to the Teacher.............................   4 1 6 Synonyms and Antonyms, Ch. 8.  29

Facts About the Author........................   5 1 7 Comprehension Check, Ch. 8. ..  30
Facts About the Times..........................   6 1 8 Words and Meanings, Ch. 9......  31
Facts About the Characters..................   6 1 9 Sequence of Events, Ch. 9........  32
Chapter Summaries..............................   7 2 0 Words and Meanings, Ch. 10....  33
Answer Key........................................   10 2 1 Inference, Ch. 10. ...................  34
Literary Glossary...............................   12 2 2 Words and Meanings, Ch. 11....  35
2 3 Point of View, Ch. 11...............  36
CHAPTER EXERCISES 24 Cause and Effect, Ch. 11..........  37
1 Words and Meanings, Ch. 1......   14
2 Comprehension Check, Ch. 1....   15 END-OF-BOOK EXERCISES
3 Words and Meanings, Ch. 2......   16 25 Book Sequence..........................   38
4 Character Study, Ch. 2...............   17 26 Final Exam, Part 1.....................   39
5 Words and Meanings, Ch. 3......   18
26 Final Exam, Part 2.....................   40
6 Sequence of Events, Ch. 3.........   19
7 Words and Meanings, Ch. 4......   20 UNIVERSAL EXERCISES
8 Cause and Effect, Ch. 4.............   21 27 Beyond the Text.........................   41
9 Words and Meanings, Ch. 5......   22 28 Plot Study..................................   42
10 Comprehension Check, Ch. 5....   23 29 Theme Analysis.........................   43
11 Words and Meanings, Ch. 6......   24 30 Character Study.........................   44
12 Inference, Ch. 6.........................   25 31 Vocabulary Study.......................   45
13 Words and Meanings, Ch. 7......   26 32 Glossary Study..........................   46
14 Character Study, Ch. 7...............   27 33 Book Review, Part 1..................   47
15 Words and Meanings, Ch. 8......  28 33 Book Review, Part 2.................   48
TIMELESS Classics
NOTES TO THE TEACHER
THE NOVELS
Timeless Classics were expressly designed to Research shows that the most effective way
help struggling readers gain access to some of to improve comprehension is to teach students
the world’s greatest literature. While retaining strategies. The foundation of any comprehension
the essence and stylistic “flavor” of the original, strategy requires knowledge of the skills found
each novel has been expertly adapted to a in these activities including: main idea, noting
reading level that never exceeds grade 4.0. details, drawing conclusions, finding the
An ideal introduction to later investigations sequence, cause and effect, making inferences,
of the original works, Timeless Classics and more. A two-page final exam is also included
utilize a number of strategies to ensure the in every Timeless Classics Study Guide.
involvement of struggling readers: airy,
USING THE STUDY GUIDES
uncomplicated page design; shortened
sentences; easy-reading type style; elimination efore assigning any of the reproducible
B
of archaic words and spellings; shortened total exercises, be sure your students each have a
book length; and handsome illustrations. personal copy of the Glossary and the Facts
About the Author and About the Times. By
o further engage struggling readers, some
T
organizing the reading process in this way, you
of our Timeless Classics titles are available in a
will be able to set a purpose for reading and
new and exciting graphic format, which can
activate prior knowledge. The Facts About the
bridge literacies and build complex reading
Author and About the Times lend themselves
skills—a perfect opportunity for differentiation. to any number of writing or research projects
THE STUDY GUIDES you may wish to assign. To further preview the
novel, you may wish to review the Facts About
he Timeless Classics Study Guides provide
T the Characters. Students will also need to be
a wealth of reproducible support materials to help familiar with many of the literary terms in order
students extend the learning experience. Features to complete the worksheets.
include critical background notes on both the
author and the times, character descriptions, The title-specific exercises may be used
chapter summaries, and eight “universal” as a springboard for class discussions and
exercises that may be used for any Timeless role-playing. Alternatively, you may wish to
Classic or Saddleback Illustrated Classic. assign some exercises as homework and others
during the closing minutes of a class period.
In addition to the universal exercises, 26
title-specific activities are included to review, ll exercises in this Guide are designed to
A
test, or enrich the student’s grasp of important accommodate independent study as well as
vocabulary and concepts. These reproducible group work. The occasional assignment of study
worksheets are designed to be used chapter-by- partners or competitive teams often enhances
chapter as the student’s reading of the novel interest and promotes creativity. Oral language
proceeds. At least two exercises are provided activities, such as paraphrasing or summarizing
for each book chapter. One of the two always a part of the story, provide an intervention
focuses on key vocabulary. The other may be opportunity to strengthen oral language skills
a simple comprehension check or present an and, in turn, strengthen reading skills.
important literary concept.

4
the scarlet letter
FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
(1804–1864)

EARLY LIFE
Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American author of Moby Dick. This contact
novelist and short-story writer, was established an important, lifelong
born in Salem, Massachusetts in friendship between the two men.
1804. The son of a sea captain, young
Living in Salem with his wife,
Hawthorne was educated at Bowdoin
Hawthorne wrote his masterpiece, The
College, where he was a classmate
Scarlet Letter. When it was published
o f t h e p o et He n ry Wad swo r t h
in 1850, this novel brought him
Longfellow and of Franklin Pierce, a
fame and some measure of financial
future president of the United States.
independence.
Born into an old New England family,
When his old college friend Franklin
Hawthorne was very much aware of
Pierce ran for president, Hawthorne
his ancestors who had participated
wrote his campaign biography. After
in the Salem witch trials and in the
Pierce was elected, he appointed
persecution of Quakers. Reflecting on
Hawthorne consul at Liverpool and
his family’s past, he always felt a sense
Manchester, England, where he served
of guilt and explored the nature of sin
from 1853 to 1857.
as a major theme in his work.

LATER LIFE
PROFESSIONAL CAREER
After traveling through Europe for
Hawthorne’s first important work three years, Hawthorne returned to
was a collection of short stories Massachusetts and wrote little for the
and sketches called Twice-Told Tales. last decade of his life. When he died at
His second collection of stories, Mosses the age of 60, four unfinished novels
from an Old Manse, was brilliantly were found among his notes.
reviewed by Herman Melville, the

5
The Scarlet Letter
FACTS ABOUT THE TIMES
In 1804, when Nathaniel Hawthorne was Laureate in England; California became a
born . . . state; and the New York Times published its
Thomas Jefferson was president of the first newspaper.
United States, Alexander Hamilton was In 1864, when Nathaniel Hawthorne
killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, Napoleon died . . .
was proclaimed emperor.
Ulysses S. Grant was named Commander-
in-Chief of the Union armies, Leo Tolstoy
In 1850, when The Scarlet Letter was
published War and Peace, “In God We
published . . .
Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins, and
The U. S. population reached 23 million; rollerskating was fast becoming a popular
Alfred, Lord Tennyson was named Poet recreational activity in America.

FACTS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS

HESTER PRYNNE GOVERNOR BELLINGHAM

A young English woman living in the A government official who witnesses
Puritan community of Boston who is found Hester’s punishment as she stands on the
guilty of bearing a child by an unknown scaffold
father. As punishment for her sin, she is
forced to wear a scarlet letter A on the bodice MISTRESS HIBBINS
of her dress. Sister of Governor Bellingham, later
convicted as a witch, who seems to have
REVEREND ARTHUR DIMMESDALE mysterious insight into the sins of Hester
The young, unmarried pastor of Hester’s and Dimmesdale
church and the father of Hester’s daughter
JOHN WILSON
PEARL The oldest minister in Boston, who pleads
The illegitimate young daughter of Hester with Hester to name Pearl’s father, and then
and Dimmesdale; the living symbol of gives a long sermon on the terrible sin of
Hester’s sin adultery

ROGER CHILLINGWORTH
Hester’s unacknowledged but lawful
husband whose desire for revenge changes
him over time from a caring, concerned
person into an evil fiend
6
The Scarlet Letter
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4
In 1642, in the small town of Boston, a After Hester is freed from prison, she and
community of Puritans is scandalized by Pearl move to a small cottage on the edge
the “sin” of Hester Prynne; unmarried, she of town. For the next three years they live
has had a baby and won’t reveal the name isolated, friendless lives. Pearl grows into a
of the father. As punishment, she wears a bright and beautiful little girl who decides
scarlet A on the bodice of her gown. Hester, that the Puritan children are her enemies
holding her baby, is forced to endure public since they won’t play with her. Hester earns
humiliation by standing on a scaffold in the her living by doing needlework for people
town marketplace. in Boston.

CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 5
A stranger in the crowd in front of the Hearing that some officials are planning
scaffold questions a townsman about Hester. to take Pearl from her, Hester visits the
Hester recognizes the stranger but he signals home of Governor Bellingham. Reverend
her to say nothing. After Reverend John Wilson, Dr. Chillingworth, and Reverend
Wilson and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale Dimmesdale are there when she arrives. They
unsuccessfully plead with her to name the accuse her of not raising Pearl as “a good
father of her child, Hester is led back to Christian child,” but in the end, Dimmesdale
prison. Dimmesdale says to himself that successfully pleads with the other men to
Hester is a wonderful, strong woman with a “leave matters as they stand.” As Hester and
generous heart. Pearl leave the house, Mistress Hibbins, the
governor’s sister who is also a witch, invites
Hester to join her company in the forest that
CHAPTER 3
night.
The stranger, a Dr. Chillingworth, brings
medicine to the prison for Hester and her
baby. Chillingworth asks two things of CHAPTER 6
Hester: to tell no one that he is her husband Because Reverend Dimmesdale is in ill
and to reveal the name of the baby’s father. health, the members of his church are grateful
Hester agrees to keep Chillingworth’s secret when Chillingworth begins to care for him.
but refuses to tell the father’s name. Suspicious that Dimmesdale is Pearl’s

7
Timeless Classics
LITERARY GLOSSARY

action  what happens in a story; the effect  in literature, an impression

acts or events that take place created by the writer
The war story was full of battle action. Murder mysteries often create a
suspenseful, chilling effect.
author  the writer of a book, story, article, etc.
Ernest Hemingway was an American author.
event  a specific occurrence; something
that happens
author’s purpose  the author’s specific A plane crash is the first event
goal or reason for writing a certain book in that adventure novel.
In that novel, the author’s purpose
was to make readers laugh.
fiction  a literary work in which the
plot and characters are the products
character  a fictional person who plays of the author’s imagination
a part in a story or novel Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a
Long John Silver is an important popular work of fiction.
character in Treasure Island.
figurative language colorful wording
classic  excellent artwork, novel, not meant to be taken literally, but to
painting, symphony, etc. that remains form a colorful, sharp picture in the
popular over many years mind
Norman Mailer’s The Naked and the Dead A “screaming” headline may be set in
has become an American classic large type, but it makes no sound at all.

climax  the outcome of the novel’s imagery  figures of speech that help
main conflict the reader to visualize the characters
or setting; pictures in words
The capture of the criminal was the
climax of the detective story. In Stephen Crane’s imagery, the
color of blood suggests courage.
conclusion the resolution of all plot
conflicts, bringing the story to a close introduction  a short reading that
presents and explains a novel;
That play’s conclusion was very sometimes the first part of a novel
satisfying. Every conflict was resolved. that sets the scene
conflict  The struggle between characters The introduction to Frankenstein is
or forces at the center of the story in the form of a letter.

The conflict was resolved when the mood  the overall feeling or atmosphere
suspect confessed. the author creates in a story or novel
description  the parts of a story or novel The author’s skillful use of language
that tell about the appearance created a dismal, hopeless mood.
of the setting or characters
moral  the instructive point of a story
His description of the Alps was breathtaking. or novel; the lesson to be drawn by
the reader
dialogue  words spoken by the characters
in a novel, story, or play The moral of the story is to choose
your friends carefully.
The dialogue in that comedy is very
witty and amusing.

12
The Scarlet Letter  •  Chapter 1 1
WORDS AND MEANINGS

name ____________________________________ date _______________________

A. Circle the hidden words.

S P I K E S D L O F F A C S
They may go up, down, across,
backward, or diagonally. Check off S P O L C M B R A K T O W C
each word as you find it. D E C I B O B E G U K I C P
R E M V E Y E R S R T S E R
___ NEEDLEWORK ___ CODE
O D H A Y W H E O N I E W L

___ SCAFFOLD ___ SPIKES F A S S Y H O W U I N V G A

F W H E U N E V E R D A Y C
___ BLUSHED ___ HUSSY
I T H S I L N G W S A E A I

___ EMBROIDERY ___ SCARLET C N S I D C B R A N D T R P

I Y Q E U O I C K R D E F Y
___ EAVES ___ BRAND
A J E U M D P S C A R L E T

___ tYPICAL ___ OFFICIAL L N D O V E R T E H L A Y Z

B. Use a word from the puzzle to complete each sentence.

1. One woman said the judges should have used a hot iron to
____________________ Hester’s forehead.

2. Hester herself had done the ____________________ on her dress.

3. The ____________________ stood beneath the ____________________

of Boston’s oldest church.

4. In Hester’s memory, her mother’s face wore her ____________________ look

of love and concern.

5. The oak door of the prison was studded with iron ____________________ .

6. The Puritans followed a strict religious ____________________ .

7. An ____________________ of the court led Hester out of prison.

8. Thinking that Hester was laughing in their faces, a woman in the

crowd called Hester a ____________________ .

14 Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2011 • www.sdlback.com

The Scarlet Letter  •  Chapter 1 2
comprehension check

name ____________________________________ date _______________________

Read the statements about the people and events you read about in Chapter 1.
Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False.

1. ____ The story is set in a time period about 250 years ago.

2. ____ Boston is still a very small town in Massachusetts.

3. ____ Everyone stared when Hester stepped out of the prison door.

4. ____ Most people in the crowd wore fancy, bright colored clothes.

5. ____ The Puritans were members of a very strict religious group.

6. ____ The beautiful embroidery on Hester’s gown was admired

by everyone.

7. ____ Many women in the crowd seemed to feel pity for Hester.

8. ____ After Hester stepped onto the scaffold, no one could see her.

9. ____ Hester used her imagination to make the crowd seem to “disappear.”

10. ____ Hester had warm memories of her parents in Old England.

11. ____ For a moment, Hester wondered if her baby was real.

12. ____ A man with uneven shoulders shouted in Hester’s face.

Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2011 • www.sdlback.com 15

The Scarlet Letter  •  Chapter 2 3
Words and Meanings

name ____________________________________ date _______________________

A. Circle the hidden words. They may

go up, down, across, backward, or N W O S D R A N S O M T
diagonally. Check off each word as H S M T E N A T E M A O
you find it. H S H I O M W I R H A L
N E T E S T O G M E T U
_____ captive _____ pastor
E F U N P F I T O N H O
_____ townsman _____ citizen Z N W C A M O P N T O S
I O N E V I L R W L A D
_____ misfortune _____ suffering
T C I S I P A S T O R N
_____ soul _____ sermon
I G G N I R E F F U S T
_____ ransom _____ confess C A P T I V E H A S N O
D O S I N N E R D A H E
_____ evil _____ sinner

B. Write a word from the puzzle under each definition.

1. Something bad, wicked, harmful 7. Unlucky event causing trouble
___________________________ ___________________________
2. Minister in charge of a church 8. A speech at a worship service
___________________________ ___________________________
3. One’s spirit; separate from 9. Person who breaks religious law
the body
___________________________ ___________________________
4. To admit a fault or crime 10. Person caught and imprisoned
___________________________ ___________________________
5. Person living in a particular 11. Adult male from the town
city or town
___________________________ ___________________________
6. Price paid to free someone 12. Feeling great pain or sorrow
___________________________ ___________________________

16 Saddleback Educational Publishing © 2011 • www.sdlback.com