Chapter 28-31: Why do you think Harper Lee ended the book this way? ~Christina~

I think Harper Lee ended the book the way she did so the readers can get a final portrayal of the characters. For example, Atticus. When Atticus suspected that Jem might have killed Mr.Ewell, he told Mr.Tate “ Thank you from the bottom of my heart, but I don’t want my boy starting out with something like this over his head.... I don’t want anybody saying, ‘Jem Finch his daddy paid a mint to get him out of that.“(Lee 366). This proves that Atticus has a good moral compass. Another example is Boo Radley. Boo’s portrayal throughout the book has changed from being a mysterious psychopath in Maycomb, to giving Scout a blanket so she doesn’t freeze and saving the kids from Mr. Ewell. Boo’s final portrayal was heroic and kind. Finally Bob Ewell. Not only does the town think of him as dirty and poor, not many people believe him and Mayella. The fact that he attacked the kids purely because Atticus was defending Tom Robinson shows how much of a bad guy he is.

Chapters 28-31: What does Heck Tate mean when he says, “Let the dead bury the dead this time” (369)? Explain what is going on here and what he means. -Alex-

In the final chapter, Atticus and Heck Tate are talking about Bob Ewell's death. Atticus believed that Jem had stabbed Bob Ewell, but Heck Tate is trying to tell him that he "fell upon his own knife". When Heck Tate says, "There's a black boy dead for no reason, and the man responsible for it's dead. Let the dead bury the dead (Lee, 369)." Heck Tate is trying to say that because of Tom Robinson's death (an innocent man), Tom should be able to also bury Bob Ewell (the person who convicted him of the crime) which is only right. When Heck Tate says that Bob Ewell "fell upon his own knife", it means that Bob had it coming for him, the fact that he killed an innocent man, of course he is going to have karma for it.

Do you agree with what I think Heck Tate meant? Do you not agree with what I think Heck Tate meant?

Chapters 26 & 27: Explorer Scout's confusion in class. What is the root of Scout's confusion about Miss Gates? How is Miss Gates being a hypocrite? Why does Harper Lee include this? What is the purpose? (Will Friedman)

In chapter 26, Scout gets confused about Miss Gates because she was being a hypocrite.  In school, Scout's class does an activity where each student researches a different current event then they present it to the class.  A boy named Cecil Jacobs comes to the front of class and introduces the topic of Adolf Hitler.  "... well anyway, old Adolf Hitler has been after the Jews and he's puttin' 'em in prisons and he's taking away all their property..." (Lee 327) Miss Gates seems to be really troubled by the topic and claims that Hitler is wrong and Jews are great people.  She goes on to tell the class how all people should be treated the same because America is a "democracy."  This last part is what causes Scout's confusion.  Later she tells Jem that Miss Gates was going down the steps the night of the courthouse in front of them.  "I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above of themselves..." (Lee 331) In this statement, Miss Gates is clearly referring to the Negro community and how they are becoming more equal.  This completely goes against what she said in class, therefore making her a hypocrite.  Harper Lee includes this to show that in the lovely county of Maycomb people still aren't as they seem, except for a few people like Atticus.  This also shows even though some people are becoming more towards equality for Negros, there still are many people in town who think the opposite.

Chapters 26 & 27: Explore Scout's confusion in class. What is the root of Scout's confusion about Miss Gates? How is Miss Gates being a hypocrite? Why does Harper Lee include this? What is the purpose?(Colin McNamara-Bordewick)

Miss Gates confused Scout because she says that it is evil to discriminate against Jews even though she discriminates against African-Americans and Harper Lee includes this to remind the reader that Scout still notices the racism and hypocrisy of adults around her. One of Scout’s classmates talks about Hitler for his current events topic. Their teacher, Miss Gates, begins to talk about why Hitler is evil. She talks about how unjust and evil he is. This confuses Scout because she also recalls Miss Gates saying, “It’s time somebody taught ‘em a lesson, they were gettin’ way above themselves,”(Lee, 331) about African Americans. Scout knows that what her teacher said is racist and she realizes that Miss Gates doesn’t even notice her own hypocrisy. Scout begins to realize how democracy in Maycomb is not “equal rights for all, special privileges for none,”(Lee, 328). Harper Lee includes this scene for the same reason that she included the scene where Dill started crying. Lee wants to show that Scout and Dill haven’t been corrupted by the racism of their county. Scout still has an innocent view of the world. In that world, if someone is not permitted to do something then everyone else shouldn’t be allowed to either. Miss Gates’s racist hypocrisy confuses Scout because she has not yet been desensitized to Maycomb’s racism.

Chapters 28-31: Explore Scout's confusion in class. What is the root of Scout's confusion about Miss Gates? How is Miss Gates being a hypocrite? Why does Harper Lee include this? What is the purpose? (Cece)

Scout is confused because Miss Gates said that she was against persecution and what Hitler was doing to the Jews was terrible, yet she was in favor of Tom Robinson being persecuted. Miss Gates is saying that something is not right in the world, but she herself is doing exactly what she is saying needs to be changed. Scout didn't want to bother Atticus so she talked to Jem about what she was thinking: "Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home" (Lee 331). Scout is describing hypocrisy when she asks this because it shows that people can be two-faced. Harper Lee includes this because even Miss Gates doesn't believe that prejudice exists among society but when the trial took place it was common knowledge that Tom Robinson would inevitably go to jail. Harper Lee is trying to show us that there is always prejudice and unfair persecution in the world and it was an important connection where black people in this community were treated lesser and Jews were being killed in Germany because they were thought to be far worse than the Germans. Miss Gates explains that the United States is a Democracy, "Over here we don't  believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced" (Lee 329). This is another example of something that people might believe in but is an untruth. Miss Gates supports the Jews and believes that what is happening to them is unfair and horrible and she believes that what happened to Tom Robinson was alright because all the blacks should be taught a lesson. The Jews are white and that feeds her thinking that the situation is different from what happens to the black people, for example Tom Robinson. 

Chapters 28-31: What really happens under the tree? Be specific in your explanation, and be sure to explain where the knives come from. (Mia Biotti)

Warning: Spoiler alert for the end of the book. 

In the chapters 28 through 31, Jem walks with Scout to her Halloween pageant in town, and on the way back home, the kids are attacked by Bob Ewell. When the pageant is over, Jem and Scout proceed to return home without Atticus, even though it is very dark outside and the kids can not see anything. While returning home, Jem stops Scout, saying, “Thought I heard something...I hear it when we’re walkin’ along, but when we stop I don’t hear it”(Lee 348-349). Jem hears footsteps behind them, and the two kids suspect that Cecil Jacobs may be trying to scare them again, but after a while, when they realize that Cecil wouldn’t have followed this long without scaring them, and that the footsteps belong to someone else. Jem and Scout continue walking at the same pace until they hear the person behind them running. When they get under the tree, Scout and Jem are attacked by Bob Ewell, and Scout tries to run after her costume from the pageant is crushed and torn, but she stumbles. Scout could not see because of her costume, but she hears scuffling and fighting and then hears Jem’s arm break, though she doesn’t know what happened at the time. Scout is grabbed by the Bob Ewell, and she can not escape until Mr. Ewell is flung off of her, an act which she thinks is done by Jem. While still in her costume, Scout narrates, “It was slowly coming to me that there were now four people under the tree”(Lee 352). When Scout talks about four people being under the tree, she realizes that there is another person helping her and Jem, which she later realizes is Boo Radley. After the incident, Jem is carried into the house by Boo Radley, and when Mr. Heck Tate arrives, he confirms that Bob Ewell died after falling on his own knife. When Atticus asks where Bob Ewell would have gotten the knife, Mr. Tate says, “Ewell probably found that kitchen knife in the dump somewhere. Honed it down and bided his time… just bided his time”(Lee 368). Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout with a knife as the kids make their way home in the dark one night, and Boo Radley comes out of his house to rescue the kids from an unfortunate fate.

How did Scout's views on Boo Radley change after this incident? How does the first chapter connect with the ending?

Chapters 26 & 27: "The Radley Place had ceased to terrify me, but it was no less gloomy, no less chilly under its great oaks, and no less uninviting." Explore this with reference to Scout's development. (Hagar Hirsch)

When Scout changes her view of the Radley place it shows how her world view has changed. At the beginning of the book, Scout sees Mr. Radley as “...a malevolent phantom. People said he existed, but Jem and I had never seen him” (Lee 9). Scout has never met Boo Radley and her only source of information are the farfetched folktales that the town believes in. When Scout is young she buys into the stories and believes that the Radley house is full of evil. Later she starts to see the Radley house through her own eyes. By seeing flickers of light inside the house and communicating with Boo through a knothole in a tree she gets to know Boo Radley. This shows her maturing because, as she grows up, she sheds the beliefs that her community has taught her and sees the world in her own way. She can now form her own opinions and understands Maycomb differently. However, when Scout says   "The Radley Place had ceased to terrify me, but it was no less gloomy, no less chilly under its great oaks, and no less uninviting." (Lee 340) she acknowledges that the Radley place is still inhospitable to her. Scout has changed how she sees the Radley house by finding out who Boo Radley us for herself, however, she still carries part of her childhood fear of the house.

Chapters 26 & 27: "The Radley Place had ceased to terrify me, but it was no less gloomy, no less chilly under its great oaks, and no less uninviting." Explore this with reference to Scout's development. (Veronica Choulga)

By including Scout’s thoughts about the Radley place, Harper Lee illustrates that Scout has grown older and developed more understanding and empathy towards Boo Radley. At the beginning of the book, when Scout first comes home from school, Atticus tells her “You never really understand a person… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 39). This has been an ongoing theme all throughout the book. At the beginning of the novel Boo Radley is introduced to the reader as almost a ‘horror story’. The children are afraid of the house, as well as anyone who might inhabit it. Jem says that “he (Boo Radley) dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch… what teeth he had were yellow and rotten.” (Lee 16). Boo Radley is described as a monster. However, as the book slowly progresses, Scout and the reader become more and more acquainted with Arthur as he makes himself known to the children. As both Scout and Jem grow older, the begin to understand things from Boo’s point of view. They ‘climb into his skin’. Their opinions on Arthur are ultimately changed when Boo Radley turned out to be kinder than most people in the town when he gave them a blanket the night Ms. Maudie’s house burnt down. As the ‘current’ summer finished, and the school year started, although nothing has physically changed on the Radley property, Scout’s opinion of the house and those inside it changed dramatically as she grew older and more mature.

Chapter 24-25: What is the significance of the "roly-poly"? What does this incident tell you about Scout and Jem? (Jonathan Kim)

The significance of the “roly-poly” incident is that Jem is starting to grow up emotionally and physically while Scout still needs a lot to learn. When Jem sees that Scout is about to crush the roly-poly, he tells her to stop which annoys Scout. Jem realizes that there is no point in killing the insect, and sees that it is just plain cruel. When Scout asks why she could not kill the roly-poly, Jem says, “Because they don’t bother you” (Lee 320). He believes it is not fair to hurt something as little as an insect if it did not do anything wrong, which shows that Jem is growing up as a more caring and understanding person. Scout does not like the fact that Jem is growing up and wants him to get through the process of puberty of what every teenage boy goes through as quickly as possible. After Scout sets the insect on the back steps, she thinks to herself, “It was probably a part of the stage he was going through, and I wished he would hurry up and get through it”(Lee 320). Scout does not understand what Jem is going through, which clearly shows that she still has to grow up as well. Jem also tells Scout not to kill the insect because of what happened in the Tom Robinson case. After the case, Jem was overwhelmed emotionally when the jury said Tom Robinson was guilty because of how unfair the case was. Jem does not want other people getting hurt, even the insect Scout was about to kill. Although Jem is maturing to adulthood, Scout still needs a lot to learn and still needs to grow up. Scout is still a child where she does not understand the cruelty of killing things for fun. Scout thinks Jem is crazy and thinks that Jem is acting like a girl when Jem is only showing kindness to other living creatures and people.

Chapter 24/25: What is the content of the editorial published in the paper? Why is this confusing to Scout? What is the significance of this? (Philip Tabor)

In Mr. Underwood's editorial published in the Maycomb Tribune, he condemns the gruesome murder of Tom Robinson, an innocent man, and associates him with the terrible sin of killing a mockingbird, an innocent singing bird. Mr. Underwood is the writer of the Maycomb Tribune, the only newspaper in Maycomb, which allows him to write about whatever he feels necessary, and there would be no consequences. He sees Tom Robinson being murdered after trying to escape prison as senseless killing, and wrote about this to expose the injustice and viciousness of his murder “Mr. Underwood simply figure it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children” (323). Underwood compares the murder of Tom Robinson as the killing of a mockingbird. To Kill a Mockingbird, which is the title of this novel, is described as sin by many, as a mockingbird is a just an innocent bird singing for the pleasure of itself and others, yet so many seem to murder them for their own amusement. Tom Robinson was only an innocent man, carrying the burden of a rapist and a criminal, yet prison guards proceeded to murder him as if he were a savage. Scout couldn't understand this at first, but then she recognized the meaning of Mr. Underwood’s words: "Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson... Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed" (323). Scout understood that even though Tom Robinson was proved guilty by a court of law, he was still innocent. At first, Mr. Underwood confused her by stating that Robinson was senselessly killed, although he was convicted as guilty and tried to escape. She later realized that even the best lawyer thoroughly proving his defendant innocent with every piece evidence pointing towards his favor, if a white girl accuses him of being guilty, that man is guilty as long as he is African-American. The trial forced Scout to mature, and to see the pure innocence in Tom Robinson and to face the harsh reality of the wrong and racism in her society.

Chapters 22-23: Explain Jem’s discussion of “Background” and different kinds of folks. How does that help you understand Jem’s feelings expressed at the end of chapter 23 (302). Why did Harper Lee put this here? (Ella Wolff)

Harper Lee included Jem’s realization of different folks to show how Jem is maturing and developing. In the passage Jem is telling Scout what the different types of folks are and how they act. Jem has now realized that Boo Radley stays inside his house because he wants to stay there. It is clear that no one is holding Boo back from leaving, but he is scared of the outside world and himself. When Boo was younger he joins a “gang” with troubled children and was almost jailed for it, but his father kept that from happening. If Boo were to ever leave he wouldn’t have anyone and anywhere to go, keeping him from leaving. Jem fulfilling this realization is a sign of his maturity and knowing the depth of his surroundings. Although, Jem has matured in general he was matured over Scout as well. In the passage while Jem is explaining his findings he mentions “‘That’s what I thought, too,’ he said at last, ‘when I was you age…”’(304). This quote shows that Jem feels more powerful over Scout and thinks of her even more as an immature little girl. When Jem turned twelve he became harder to live with for Scout and more opinionated he stated “‘It’s time you start bein’ a girl and acting right!’’(Lee 153). Earlier on in the book Jem was more acceptant of Scouts “tom-boy” ways, but after he turned twelve he began to see her as different and he didn’t accept that about her. Over the course of the book Jem is growing and realizing the depth of his little town and maturing, but hopefully he won’t let his “power” go to his head.

Chapters 22-23 How is Jem maturing physically and emotionally in these chapters? (Emma Worthington)

Jem matures both physically and emotionally through the chapters, he emotionally matures in the chapter because he is growing up and unlike scout he learned that even though people are alike the groups are not the same, and physically he is growing hair as he gets older. He is maturing emotionally when he talks to scout about the different kinds of people in Maycomb. Scout who is young and still is innocent says that she thinks there is only one kind of folk, Jem replies saying, “That’s what I thought, too… when I was your age. If there’s just one kind of folks, why can’t they get along with each other?”(Lee 304). This show how Jem matures emotionally because he is recognizing this idea that people can’t all live in harmony. He recognize how this is true in his life, and how different groups of people in Maycomb don’t get along with each other. He is maturing because in the beginning of chapter 22 he is crying because of how it isn't fair that Tom Robinson was found guilty because he is an African American and at the end of chapter 23 he accepts that the groups are different. He is physically maturing because he is growing hair as he grows up and becomes an adult. Jem matures through the chapters, physically and emotionally throughout the chapters.

Why does Harper Lee emphasize Jem maturing so much throughout the book? Does he mature differently than Scout?

How is Jem maturing physically and emotionally in these chapters? (Dana Yesson)

Jem demonstrates physical maturity when he brags about growing body hair and getting taller, and is emotionally maturing when talking with Scout and Atticus more seriously and knowledgeably. When talking to Atticus and Scout about the Tom Robinson case and the court in general, Jem speaks up very often asking questions, and being a lot less childish than we’ve seen him before. “You actually put on the jury a man who wanted to kill you the night before?”... “you take such a risk, Atticus, how could you?” (Lee, 254). Here Jem sounds a lot more grown up than anything at the start of the book, and he isn’t arguing with Atticus, he’s listening and learning from him. Jem matures physically after Scout cries because Aunt Alexandra and Atticus don’t want Walter Cunningham over at the house. He brags that he’s got armpit and chest hair and that he’s “got it all figured out” when it comes to the type of people in Maycomb County. Scout even notices the change, “eyebrow becoming heavier... slimness about his body… He was growing taller.” (Lee, 257). Jem’s overall changes to thoughts, ideas, and figure make him very different from what he used to be like, and maturity has sure stuck him.

What are Aunt Alexandra’s and Atticus’ definitions of “trash.” How do they differ? (Dylan Wang)

Aunt Alexandra thinks that someone is “trash” if they are poor and don’t have much social status, while Atticus believes that someone is “trash” if their personality is wrong or if they have bad morals. When talking about the trial, Atticus tells Jem that one of the Cunninghams was in the jury and almost acquitted Tom Robinson. After hearing this, Scout wants to bring Walter to dinner. Not happy about Scout’s idea, Aunt Alexandra says, “We’ll see about that… They’re not our kind of folks” (Lee 298). Scout interrupts, “But I want to play with Walter, Aunty, why can’t I?” (Lee 301). Aunt Alexandra says blatantly, “Because-he-is-trash, that’s why you can’t play with him” (Lee 301). This shows that Aunt Alexandra doesn’t view someone by their personality or kindness, she cares about whether or not they have money and have high social status. In other words, she thinks about how others would make her look in Maycomb. Aunt Alexandra wants to be “above” other people in Maycomb, therefore she can’t be associated with people like the Cunninghams. When Aunt Alexandra first arrives at the Finch’s she asks Atticus to tell the children, “You must try to behave like the little lady and gentleman that you are” (Lee 177). This demonstrates how Aunt Alexandra is “proud” of the family name and wants to pass it down with dignity, rather than with disgust and distaste. On the other hand, Atticus’ definition of “trash” does not depend on their social status or wealth, but how they treat others and behave themselves. Although the Cunninghams don’t have much, Atticus admires their loyalty and their willingness to fight tooth and nail for someone they have respect for. Aunt Alexandra and Atticus both consider the Ewell’s trash, but for different reasons. Aunt Alexandra considers the Ewells trash because they are dirty, have no money, and are viewed as garbage. However, Atticus considers the Ewells trash because they took advantage of an African-American. Although Atticus doesn’t specifically say that he thinks Mr. Ewell is trash, Atticus does say, “there's nothing more sickening to me than a low-grade white man who'll take advantage of a negro's ignorance” (Lee 296). Aunt Alexandra and Atticus have different definitions of trash because Aunt Alexandra view people by their wealth and social status, while Atticus view people by their morals and behavior.

What do you think are Jem and Scout definitions of “trash”? Who would you consider trash if you were to use Atticus’ definition? Do you think Aunt Alexandra’s definition of trash is justifiable?

Examine the final line of Chapter 21. What is the significance? -Alex-

In the last line of chapter 21, we learn that there is a significance behind just standing up. When Judge Taylor is done polling the jury, and the trial was over, Reverend Sykes "punches" Scout in the arm because she didn't stand up. Reverend Sykes says, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin'" (Lee 283). The significance behind this last line is that while Scout's eyes were glued on her father, she didn't realize all of the other African-Americans that were standing up, and the reason they were standing up is out of respect for Atticus that he defended Tom Robinson. When Scout didn't stand as she was supposed to, Reverend Sykes thought that it was impolite to still be seated so he warned her to stand up. Also, not only did they stand up out of but they also did because it shows how they see Atticus as a symbolic authority of the law. They believe that he is a symbolic authority of the law because he proved to Judge Taylor that it couldn't have been Tom Robinson who abused Mayella due to his crippled arm. The African-American community stood up for Atticus because they now see that he is high in authority and because he is their hero.

What do Scout and Dill learn about Dolphus Raymond? What does this tell you about his character? ~Christina~

Scout and Dill learn that Dolphus Raymond is a good guy who gives the town a reason for why he does what he does so they can blame it on something. It reveals that he is very different from how he is viewed. The text says “As Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man, I accepted his invitation reluctantly…” (Lee 267). He’s viewed in Maycomb as being a drunk, who has many kids with black women. But really he pretends to be drunk, “-you mean why do I pretend? Well, it's very simple,’ he said. ‘Some folks don’t-like the way I live... I try to give them a reason. It helps folks if they can latch onto a reason.”(Lee 268). The people in Maycomb, can’t believe that someone in their right mind, can’t accept that black people have lesser value than whites and that a white man would purposely have children with a black women. Mr. Raymond makes their live easier by giving them an idea about him, and secluding himself from the town. Letting people believe he’s a drunk, supports their idea that the only reason he believes what he does is because he’s under the influence of alcohol. This shows that Mr. Raymond has a good character and doesn’t really care about how he is viewed by the town.

Chapters 20 and 21: What do Scout and Dill learn about Dolphus Raymond? What does this tell you about his character? (Mia Biotti)

In chapters 20 and 21, Scout and Dill learn that a lot of what they know about Dolphus Raymond’s is different from his actual personality. When Dill starts crying during the case and Scout goes outside with him so he can calm down, Dolphus Raymond offers Dill some of his mystery drink to help him settle down. Scout does not trust him, and she thinks to herself, “As Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man I accepted his invitation reluctantly, but I followed Dill”(Lee 267). When Dill drinks some of Mr. Raymond’s drink, he tells Scout that it is only Coca-Cola, and Scout questions why Mr. Raymond always acts drunk if he doesn’t drink alcohol as much everyone in Maycomb thinks. Mr. Raymond explains to Scout and Dill that many people do not like the way he lives, and if he pretends that he is drunk so that people think that that is why he won’t change his ways. When Scout questions his actions, Mr. Raymond says, “It ain’t honest but it’s mighty helpful to folks...I live the way I live because that’s the way I want to live”(Lee 268). Though this quote shows that even though Mr. Raymond is not being honest to others, he does not care what others think of him, and he will keep living however he wants. When Scout asks him why he was telling her and Dill his biggest secret, he replies that they are children and that they can understand it. Scout finds him fascinating, even though she feels that she shouldn’t be talking to him. Mr. Raymond is seen as an outsider in Maycomb due to how he lives and presents himself and also because of his biracial children, but Scout and Dill find out that the way he presents himself is far from his personality.

Chapters 18 and 19: "What do you make of Mayella Ewell's testimony? Pay close attention to her physical appearance, speech and attitude." (Will Friedman)

In Chapter 18, when Mayella Ewell is called up to the witness stand, she is very hesitant and chooses not to answer some questions when she testifies for Atticus.  Mayella is asked by Mr. Gilmer what happened on the night of November 21st the year before.  Mayella claims that she was on the porch and Tom Robinson came, and she asked him to bust up a chiffarobe.  She said she was going to go into the house to get a nickel for Tom, "So he come in the yard an' I went in the house to get him the nickel and I turned around an 'fore I knew it he was on me" (Lee 241).  She claims that after that he hit and took advantage of her.  She tried to fight back, but it was no use.  The next thing she knew, her father was in the room, and he was yelling about who had done it. Later on in the testimony, Atticus asks Mayella if her father had ever beaten her. She says, "my paw's never touched a hair o'my head in my life" (Lee 246). Atticus asks Mayella if she had ever asked Tom Robinson to come inside the fence before. She answers no. Later on when Tom Robinson is testifying, he claims he had been inside the fence doing many other tasks for her before. This proves that there is something suspicious going on. Atticus restates what Mayella had said before and stresses the fact that she did not say anything about being hit in the eye. Mayella hesitates, then she stutters saying she did not get hit in the eye, but quickly changes her statement and says she did get hit in the eye. This is further proof that she very well could be lying. Throughout the whole scene, Mayella constantly glances towards her father almost like to make sure she is saying what her father wants her to say. The way Mayella stutters and glances makes it clear to the reader that Atticus is getting the truth out of her that she is lying.

Chapters 18 & 19: Why does Dill cry? Explain the situation in detail. How does this relate back to Atticus’s comment about having a police force of children? (210) (Colin)

Dill starts to cry because he is too young to have learned to be racist. When Mr. Gilmore is cross-examining Tom Robinson, he acts very disrespectful and “calls him boy all the time an’ sneered at him,” (Lee, 266). This really upsets Dill and he has to leave the courthouse. When he goes outside, Dill explains to Scout why he began t0 cry. Dill is so young that Mr. Gilmmore’s disrespect for Tom seems unusual and wrong to him. Everyone in the courtroom notices that Mayella thinks Atticus is being rude to her when he calls her “Miss,” but when Mr. Gilmer says to Tom Robinson, “You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her?”(Lee 264) no one minds. This correlates with when Atticus says “Maybe we need a police force of children,”(Lee 210). Young children, like Dill,  haven’t yet been influenced by the ideology of the South back then. They are uncorrupted and do not filter their emotions as much as adults do. I think that Dill is a good example of how society teaches people to be racist.

Do you think that Scout and Jem are also like Dill? Do you think that any adults could have reacted the way that Dill did?

What is ironic about Tom saying that Mayella was “mistaken in her mind”? Why does Harper Lee include this? How does this contribute to our understanding of what or who is really on trial here? (Cece)

All of the evidence and eyewitnesses stories added up to what Mayella said, and that is why it is ironic that Tom said Mayella was "mistaken in her mind". Both stories made sense, but Mayella showed a lot more confusion over the events and admitted that her father drank, which had come up in both recounts of what had happened. Harper Lee includes this because it not only shows how Tom wasn't permitted to say that a white person was lying, but it also shows how much more power a white person held over what an African American was allowed to say or do. Also it shows that Mayells's story did have inconsistencies. When Atticus was questioning Mayella in the courtroom, the flaws were apparent; "’Yes, he hit-I just don’t remember, I just don’t remember’… ‘I ducked and it-it glanced, that’s what it did. I ducked and it glanced off.’…’You’re becoming suddenly clear on this point. A while ago you couldn’t remember to well, could you?’” (Lee 250). She continues to change everything that she says and it goes to show that she was the one on trial. Toms story was consistent and made sense, but hers was the deciding factor on what happened and she couldn’t seem to remember what happened.

Chapters 18 &19: Why does Dill cry? Explain the situation in detail. How does this relate back to Atticus’s comment about having a police force of children? (Veronica Choulga)

Dill has not yet been brought up into racism, therefore the way which Mr. Gilmer treats Tom Robinson during the questioning is absolutely sickening for him. During the trial, Jem notices that “Dill had started crying and couldn’t stop”(Lee 265). When Scout takes him outside, Dill explains why he was so upset. “That old Mr. Gilmer doin’ him (Tom Robinson) thataway, talking so hateful to him” (Lee 265). And when Scout mentions that Tom is a ‘negro’, Dill replies with “I don’t care one speck” (Lee 266). This just shows how naive Dill is. He does not judge people by their skin colour. Dill’s innocence can be both a disadvantage as well as an asset. This is one of the things which Atticus was referring to when he said that “maybe we need a police for full of children” (Lee 210).  Although Dill has had less experience with the world and human behavior, he has also had less experience with unfair bias and the stereotypes which influence most adults, making his decisions less biased and more true to events.

Chapters 16 & 17:Explain Atticus’ explanation about the mob dispersing. What is a mob made of? How was it broken up? How does his explanation relate to one of themes of the book?(Jonathan Kim)

Atticus’ explanation of the mob dispersing is that Scout was the person who stopped them from hurting anyone else. Scout rushed into the mob and saw that Mr. Cunningham was part of the mob. Although Mr. Cunningham made a decision to tell the others to leave, Scout has become confused about why he was there. As Atticus was explained about what happened the night before, he said, “Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man”(Lee 210). Atticus shows Scout that people may make mistakes and be part of something bad, but can still be a good person in general. Also, Atticus explains what a mob is made of and he says, “Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know…”(Lee 210). Every mob have people in it, all human and they have their own individual choices to make like Mr. Cunningham did when he decided to leave so nobody can get hurt. Walter Cunningham acted kind although he was also bad at the same time. Scout was able to use her innocent actions to bring some of Mr. Cunningham’s true colors, and Walter was able to see what it was like stepping into Atticus’ shoes. Atticus’ explanation shows courageousness and a little curiosity Scout shows throughout the book. Scout stepped into the fight and stopped it before anyone could get hurt. Scout shows bravery to stand up for her family and also shows a little bit of stupidity as well. When she steps into the fight, she gets a little panic and finds out what she is up against. Scout gets a little curious because not only did she want to help her family, but she also wanted to see what was going on and was getting excited. Scout likes to be nosy and ask a lot of questions because there is a big world out there, and Scout wants information on the things she hears. The incident also shows that awful humans and groups can be stopped by anyone just from an act of kindness and innocence just like Scout did.

What do you think would have happened if Mr. Cunningham did not stop the mob from leaving? Do you think Scout rushed to help Atticus as an act of stupidity or courageous?

Chapters 16 & 17: What is revealed that is confusing about Mr. Underwood in chapter 16? How does this relate to one of the themes of the novel? (Philip Tabor)

In chapter 16 of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, it is revealed by Atticus that Braxton Underwood dislikes African-Americans, yet he didn't cease to protect Tom Robinson and Atticus by the jail from the mob, which reveals courage in his acts. In chapter 15, a mob lead by Walter Cunningham with the intentions of doing harm to Tom Robinson confronted Atticus, who was blocking the entrance to the jail. Scout, who was hiding, ran to help her father, and eventually scared the mob away. It was revealed at the end of that chapter that Mr. Underwood was prepared for the worst at a window with his shotgun. At the beginning of chapter 16, as the Finches are having breakfast, Atticus brings up Mr. Underwood: "He despises Negroes, won't have one near him" (Lee 209). Even though Braxton Underwood has shown that aversion towards African-Americans, he stood up and protected one of his friends, Atticus, and Tom Robinson, an African-American accused of rape. This shows tremendous courage, one of the main themes shown from characters throughout the novel, from him, for going past his beliefs to help a friend, knowing he will be condemned for his actions if one finds out. Mr. Underwood did not only mature and use an incredible amount of bravery, but he was there for Atticus if anything went wrong while he was protecting Tom Robinson from the angry mob out to hurt him.

Do you think Braxton Underwood did this to help out Atticus or for another reason? 

Chapters 16&17: Explain Atticus’ explanation about the mob dispersing. What is a mob made of? How was it broken up? How does his explanation relate to one of themes of the book? (Hagar Hirsch)

The mob represents the ongoing theme in the book that morals are not black and white. Scout, Jem, Atticus, and Dill intercept a mob of Cunninghams on their way to hurt Tom Robinson. Scout is able to disperse the mob by talking to Walter Cunningham and reminding him of his humanity. Scout later asks Atticus why talking to Walter worked, he answers “‘Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man. Every mob… is made up of people...’”  (Lee 200). This idea that people can do good things without being good is also seen in Ms. Dubose’s story. She was racist and rude but Atticus still dubbed her as one of the most courageous people he’d ever met. This theme ties in with maturity as well because it is childlike to believe that the world is separated into good and bad. However, the mob stepping down didn't mean that they wouldn't've still killed Tom Morrison. People and characters aren't two-dimensional, there's no such thing as being perfect the same way there's no such thing as being completely evil.

Chapters 14 & 15: What happens in this chapter that causes a fight between Jem and Scout? What does this reveal about their relationship? How is this furthered later in the chapter when Dill arrives? (Dylan Wang)

In chapter 14 Jem and Scout fight because they are at different mental ages, this reveals that although close and loving, Scout and Jem’s relationship isn’t always picture perfect. This is shown even more when Dill runs away from his house and shows up at the Finch’s because Jem believes that telling Atticus is the right thing to do, while Scout thinks that keeping it a secret is the right thing to do. After secretly hearing Atticus and Aunt Alexandra argue about whether or not they should keep Calpurnia,  Jem and Scout hurry back to their room before they get caught. Jem using a “superior” tone tells Scout, “It’s this Tom Robinson case that’s worryin’ him to death.” (Lee 184) Fed up by Jem’s manner, Scout says, “Jee crawling hova, Jem! Who do you think you are?... Ain’t so high and mighty now, are you!” (Lee 184) Jem and Scout get into this fight because Scout is upset about how Jem is acting towards her. When Jem starts to become a teenager, his mind starts to change more rapidly than ever. This puts Scout in an uncomfortable position because she isn’t used to the “new” Jem. For example, Jem has the maturity to understand what his father is going through regarding the Tom Robinson case, Scout doesn’t because all she sees is the outside. Jem believes that whatever he thinks is correct, and whatever Scout thinks is wrong. Because of this, Jem feels the need to push his sister around telling her what to do.  On the other hand, Scout thinks it’s just like old times and expects to be treated equally. This fight reveals that they do disagree about certain topics, but they still have a really close sister-brotherhood. For example, when Scout gets scared because she steps on something warm, Jem being the older brother helps her out, “Jem made a tentative swipe under the bed… Jem raised the broom and missed Dill’s head by an inch...” (Lee 186) However, when Dill emerges from under Scout’s bed, Jem and Scout disagree about whether or not they should tell Atticus about Dill. In this case, Jem is trying to do the responsible thing by telling his parent, while Scout is still a little kid trying to be secretive. Jem and Scout fight because they have different mental ages, this shows their loving but not perfect relationship, this is further shown later in the chapter when Jem and Scout argue about whether or not they should tell Atticus about Dill.

Do you think Jem and Scout are going to grow further apart? Do you think Dill will affect Jem and Scouts’ relationship? If so, how?

Chapters #14-15 What happens in this chapter that causes a fight between Jem and Scout? What does this reveal about their relationship? How is this furthered in the chapter when Dill arrives? (Dana Yesson)

After talking with Aunt Alexandra and Atticus, Jem brings Scout into his room and he starts bickering to her about Atticus and what he does and the commotion with the Tom Robinson case. A fistfight breaks out between them because of what Jem said. Jem talks about Atticus as if he sounds frail and incapable, and Scout is very angered and mad about him mocking Atticus. Scout's views show the difference between her and Jem. She values Atticus and most likely believes he is strong and can make a difference, especially when Atticus is taking a case like the Tom Robinson one. Jem wants to tell Scout concretely and boldly what Atticus is like and that Scout should only trust the opinion he has. This is not information Scout want's to hear, and is annoyed "Ain't so high and mighty now, are you... He was tryin' to tell me what to do. I don't have to mind him now,  do I?" (Lee, 156 & 157). Throughout the book Scout has never wanted to seem lower than anybody, when Dill and Jem mock her by saying she's just a "girl" she is deeply offended. This is another case where Scout doesn't want to be thrown under the bus. When Dill arrived, all hungry and dirty they learn he ran away from home. This makes Scout really think about her family and the problems and differences she has, but also that Dill is in a worse position. Scout thought about running away because of all the events that have happened so far, but Dill actually had to- and it makes her bad experiences seem okay.

Chapters #14-15 In chapter 15, Atticus is visited by two groups of men. Explain the situation and intentions of both groups. (Emma Worthington)

The two groups had different intentions but they were related to each other, they both were there because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson but one was for the good of Atticus and the other one was about Mr. Robinson. The two groups of men both talk to Atticus because of the Tom Robinson case, one comprised of town folk the other is a group of farmers. The first group comes by to discourage Atticus from defending Tom Robinson, one of the men in the group says to Atticus “You’ve got everything to lose from this, Atticus I mean everything,”(Lee 195). The group of his neighbors do not want him to continue with the case because they want to protect him from other people in the town. They are talking to Atticus about the people they are trying to protect him from and they say, “...know how they do when they get shinnied up,”(Lee 194). They are referring to the second group of people that Atticus is visited by, they are warning him that, when they are drunk they can be irrational. When they meet Atticus at the jail Scout says there is a smell of Whisky. The group is drunk like their neighbors warned and they plan on attacking Tom Robinson, but when Scout comes and recognize Walter Cunningham's dad it changes the whole situation. Scout starts talking to Mr. Cunningham and he becomes ashamed of what they planned on doing and calls it off. Scout doesn't even realize what is going on because she is so young and innocent. There are two groups that visit Atticus, the first one is to warn him, the second one is the group they warned him about.

Chapters 14-15" Explain what Dill means in the last line of chapter 14. Is this surprising to you? (Ella Wolff)

Dill says that Boo Radley has nowhere to run off to because all he has ever known is in Maycomb County. Dill, who just recently ran away from his father has been to and seen so much that running away is an option for him, but for Boo Radley he has spent decades inside his house, only leaving when no one can see him. Also, even if Boo Radley had somewhere to run off to, he couldn’t for two reasons. One being no one knows what he looks like, giving him no real identity. The only known time when he has appeared is when the Finch children are in need. After Scout and Jem stood out in the cold watching men attempt to put out the fire on Ms. Maudie’s house Scout realizes a blanket was wrapped around her should by Boo Radley “‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you”’(Lee 96). This quote shows that Boo Radley can exit his house, but he always returns. The second reason being all the tales told about him give him a scary reputation, so much so that no one would be willing to take him in. In Jem’s description of Boo he states “he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained…”(Lee 16) By his characterization it is unlikely that Boo could be welcomed by anyone, most feared him. Also, he cannot defend himself on these allegations because he does not go out into the public and even if he did he was never seen. This was not an extremely surprising statement made by Dill because Dill, who runs away consistently understands that running away is impossible unless you have somewhere to go.

What do you learn about Aunt Alexandria in chapter 13 in general, and what do you learn about her influence over Atticus and his family? (Alex)

In chapter 13, Aunt Alexandria says that she wants to stay with Scout and Jem for a little while so that they could have a "feminine influence". "We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. It won't be many years, Jean Louise, before you become interested in clothes and boys--". Aunt Alexandria wants to be with the kids while they grow up so that she could see Jem and Scout get older. She says that it's not long until Scout likes boys because she wants to be Scout's role model when she gets older. She also could be there because their mother died so she is coming to replace her so that the kids could sort of feel like they have a motherly figure with them. When Aunt Alexandria came she also very proud of the Finches, but she gets disappointed because she realizes that Jem and Scout don't uphold their family name and makes Atticus lecture both Jem and Scout. After the lecture Scout feels sad because she's worried about following what the Finches are supposed to do.

Why do you think Scout feels worried about doing what Finches are "supposed to do"? Do you think Aunt Alexandria is there to be a motherly figure or for another reason?

What do you learn about Calpurnia in chapter 12? What does Scout realize about her? ~Christina~

In chapter 12, the reader learns that Calpurnia cares how she is viewed by the people in her church. Scout realizes that she had “another life” outside of working for the Finch family. From when it was decided that Jem and Scout would attend church with her she began preparing them so she wouldn’t be viewed badly. “It’s like we were going to Mardi Gras’ said Jem. ’What’s all this for, Cal?’ ‘I don’t want anybody sayin’ I don’t look after my children she muttered.”(Lee 157). Throughout this chapter the reader sees how dolled up she make the kids and how she changes the way she talks to become like the other church goers. Scout never thought much of how Calpurnia’s life was outside of the Finch household. It wasn’t until they went to church, that Scout realized Calpurnia had a family and friends in the church. Scout being curious by this asks Cal to visit her house sometime. Calpurnia changes herself from how she acts at the Finch household to how she acts among the other colored people in Maycomb.

Chapter 12/13: Explain what Scout means when she says, “There was indeed a caste system in Maycomb” (Lee 175). What is a Caste system, and how does it work in Maycomb, according to Scout? (Mia Biotti)

When Scout talks about a caste system in Maycomb, she is referring to the fact that Maycomb has a system where people are born into their social status based on the history of their family. A caste system is a system that assigns people and families into social statuses, and in this case, the people in Maycomb are born into their statuses based on their family and past ancestors. In a caste system, people are assigned to their status from birth, and no matter how much better they were compared to their ancestors, they can not change their social class and move either up or down. When Scout talks about the caste system in Maycomb, she was talking a lot about money and land. Families that have more money and more land for longer amounts of time, are usually well off and higher up in status, and families like the Cunninghams and Ewells, who both extremely poor, are lower in statuses. When Aunt Alexandra arrives in Maycomb in order to help take care of Jem and Scout and provide “feminine influence”, Scout gains more knowledge about the caste system, and she narrates, “the older citizens, the present generation of people who had lived side by side for years and years, were utterly predictable to one another”(Lee 175). Scout recognizes that older generations act the same as the younger generations of the same family, and after a while, these actions are predictable and define each family permanently. Scout realizes that the further back a family can be traced, and the longer they have had the same land, they tend to have a higher social status, and that this caste system has a huge presence in Maycomb County.

Do you think any caste systems exist in society today? What impact would a caste system have on our community?

Chapters 10 & 11, "Why do you think Atticus never revealed he was an expert marksman?" - Will Friedman

In chapter ten, Jem and Scout spot a dog that is crazy.  Calpurnia says that the dog is "a mad dog" and warns the whole neighborhood.  Atticus and the town sheriff come to the scene and decide that the only way to bring it down, is to shoot it, but they will only have one chance.  Mr. Tate, the town sheriff, says to Atticus, "I can't shoot a gun that well and you know it!" (Lee 127)  Then after taking the gun, Atticus brings the gun up to his shoulder and shoots the dog within an instant.  Atticus clearly once was, and still is even after thirty years and expert marksman.  Earlier in the chapter, Jem and Scout had went around telling neighbors of how useless Atticus was.  They said he was old, and could no longer do anything.  Atticus, being his moral self, had never told the kids he was an expert at anything let alone shooting.  He didn't tell them, because it is not something he is proud of.  He wants to be seen as a great person, and by saying he has a skill for killing things isn't helping that image.  Also, he doesn't want them to want to be an expert marksman either.  If they see Atticus shooting things, then they will want to shoot too.  Atticus knows that they will regret this decision when they get older, just as he does.  Later Scout asks Miss Maudie about Atticus.  "... he decided he wouldn't shoot till he had to, and he had to today."  This shows how much Atticus regrets his skill.  He will still help the community if in need, but will not shoot for any other reason.  Being an expert marksman is not something Atticus is proud of, and therefore doesn't tell Jem and Scout.

Why do you think Atticus doesn't tell the kids?  Was there possibly an event in the past that occurred to prevent Atticus from wanting to shoot again?  If so, what do you think that was?

Chapters 10&11: Why do you think Atticus never revealed he was an expert marksman? - Hagar

Atticus never revealed he was an expert marksman because he takes no pride in the ability to kill. In chapter 10, after he has to kill a rabid dog, it is revealed that Scout’s father is an excellent shot. Scout is shocked by this information, especially after spending the first half of the chapter lamenting over Atticus’s lack of skills. She wonders why Atticus never bragged about his skills to which Miss Maudie replies “‘...he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today’” (Lee 101). Atticus isn’t a violent person. This is evident both in his parenting, teaching Jem and Scout how to handle situations calmly instead of fighting, and in how he shoots, only when necessary. His ideology contrasts with the general outlook on shooting and hunting as commonplace and accepted. This theme of Atticus’s opinions on things such as language, morals, racism, and Arthur Boo Radley, clashing with the general public’s views, is a common theme throughout the book. Atticus doesn’t shoot because he prefers to use knowledge, rather than guns, as his weapon.

How do you think this topic is relevant today, with all the talk about gun violence?

Chapters 10 & 11: Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? Cece

The mad dog had to be killed because it could harm people, but a mockingbird does nothing but provide music. When Atticus shoots the dog, he was not proud of it, he only did it because it was necessary for the safety of the community. Atticus was not eager to be the one to partake in the shooting, and after it occurred Miss Maudie says: “I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today.” (Lee 130). Nobody had ever mentioned that Atticus was ‘One-Shot Finch’ to Jem and Scout because Atticus never took pride in the fact that he could shoot a gun. He wanted his children to realize that there was more than just shooting a gun to be courageous. Later, Jem had to read to Mrs. Dubose who was a former Morphine addict, and Atticus wanted Jem to realize that she could have died being addicted, but instead she chose to break herself of the habit and go courageously. A mad dog puts the community in danger, making it an appropriate time to raise a gun, but a mockingbird is a peaceful creature and makes music for everyone, and that is why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.