Assignment Sheet #3

Assignments 8

Ms. Canaday

5/2/11 – 5/13/11

5/2 – 5/6

1)  Read Chapters 23, 24, 25. 

            Blog topic suggestions:

2)  Read Materials about the Scottsboro case (handed out in class).  In your notes write the similarities and differences between this real event and the Tom Robinson case.

3)  Read Chaps. 26, 27.

            Blog topics:  your choice

4)  Finish TKAM.

            Blog topics:  your choice

5/9 – 5/13

1)  Study for TKAM test on Thursday 5/12.

2)  Begin TKAM essay due Monday 5/16.  Topic announced in class.

Sympathy and Understanding

In chapter 19, Dill started to cry when Mr. Gilmer was harshly and rudely accusing Tom Robinson because Dill felt what he was going through. Mr. Gilmer was questioning Tom Robinson with cruelty. He was throwing harsh and unfair questions at him. I believe Dill started to cry because he understood what Tom Robinson was feeling. Dill has been neglected and treated like he was lower than the rest of his family. So when Dill heard how offensively Tom was being treated, he couldn’t help but let his emotions burst out of him.
"That old Mr. Gilmer doin' him thataway, talking so hateful to him...It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick" This quote shows Dill's strong understanding of how Mr. Gilmer was talking to Tom as if he was lower than him. It shows Dill's strong sympathy toward Tom and how much Dill can't stand to see it.
When Scout took Dill outside, they talking with Mr. Dolphus Raymond. Mr. Raymond was white and married a black woman. He had a different way of living and so that people could understand his unique style, he let the people believe that the coke a cola he was drinking was alcohol. He let them believe that he couldn’t help the way he lived because he was always half drunk. I think Dill can also connect to this character. Mr. Raymond never really fit in with anybody, just like Dill who was tossed around from relative to relative. Dill never assimilated with or felt at home with anybody. While they were talking, I, as a reader, could sense that they both understood each other and had a strong connection.
Overall, I think Dill began to cry because he understood what Tom Robinson was going through. Dill also understood Mr. Raymond and his different ways of life.

What is the significance of this line?

In chapter 21, Scout imagined Atticus to "walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.” This quote shows that Scout really knows her father and understands everything that Atticus has told them throughout the whole book. Atticus knows full well that this case could not be won because of the prejudices against Tom Robinson in the jury. He has explained this to Scout and Jem. He is "walking into the street" which is like walking into the public courthouse. The trial and his defense is Atticus raising the rifle and pulling the trigger. Atticus knowing that Tom Robinson would now win would be like him "watching all the time knowing the gun was empty." The meaning behind this quote is very literal. Atticus knows that he is fighting a losing battle like Ms. Dubose. However this does not stop him from "walking into the street and pulling the trigger of an empty gun."

Racial Favorites

The different stories were obvious between Mayella Ewell and Bob. The different takes on the incident leaves suspicion about whether the facts are true or not. Mayella narrates that her father ran in, without knowledge of the raper. Bob says that he runs in to find Mr. Robinson on top of Mayella. Although the suspects seem guilty, because of the racial profiles, Mr. Robinson is still being accused. Mr. Robinson is left handed, making the bruise on Mayella's eye hard for him to injure. Mayella exclaims “That nigger yonder took advantage of me an’ if you fine fancy gentlemen don’t wanta do nothin’ about it then you’re all yellow stinkin’ cowards.” Mayella is a sister of 7, and her mother is dead, Mayella is probably looking for attention and because whites have more power, she probably feels that accusing a black, it would be easier to get away with.

Eliza

Testimony Contradictions

The testimonies of Bob and Mayella Ewell contradict each other by having different takes on the incident. Originally, when Bob Ewell was being cross-examined by Mr. Finch, he stated that he ran to the house and saw in the window, Tom Robinson on his daughter. “‘...I run up to th’ window and seen-’ Mr. Ewell’s face grew scarlet. He stood up and pointed his finger at Tom Robinson. ‘-I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!’” This quote clearly states that in Bob Ewell’s testimony, he claims to have seen Tom Robinson attacking his daughter. Mayella’s version of the story to the court contradicts her father’s. She goes on to recount the experience like this: “I don’t remember to good, but the next thing I knew Papa was in the room a’staning over me hollerin’ who done it, who done it?” Here, Mayella says the opposite of what her father said. She tells the court that he did not know who attacked her. Given the quotes listed above, an in-depth reader could identify the changes in Bob and Mayella’s stories of what happened that night.

Zach

Aunt Alexandra

Aunt Alexandra has come to stay with the Finch’s, imposing many of her views on the family. After returning from Calpurnia’s church the children find Atticus’ sister Alexandra waiting for them on the porch. The first thing that Aunt Alexandra says is, “Put my bag in the front bedroom, Calpurnia.” This represents the life style Aunt Alexandra is accustomed to, obviously a very cushed one at that. The arrival of Aunt Alexandra has a large impact on the family. First Aunt Alexandra tries to impose her views of what it means to be a lady to Scout. Scout has and will always be a tom-boy and despises the criticism given to her by Alexandra, but keeps her mouth shut for Atticus. We as the readers can very plainly see that these two lady characters have very contrasting views of what it means to be a woman. Alexandra see it fit to be a lady and have things done for her, while Scout sees is fit to be a lady and do things herself. From the beginning of the chapter Aunt Alexandra has also rubbed Calpurnia the wrong way. Towards the end of the chapter we see clashes between Cal and Alexandra. “Don’t try to get around it. You’ve got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We don’t need her (Cal) now.” Before the arrival of Aunt Alexandra, Cal had been the mother figure in the children’s life, but now Aunt Alexandra is trying to succeed this position. Aunt Alexandra has taken it upon herself to organize the Finch’s while imposing her views as well.

"It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (Last line of Ch. 13)

"I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (p.170) Atticus tries to fulfill the role of both a father and mother, however Scout understands that only a woman can fulfill the role of a motherly figure. In Chapter 13 of To Kill a Mockingbird, Aunt Alexandra comes to stay with Scout and Jem's family.  Readers have already met Aunt Alexandra and know of her strong disapproval of how Atticus's kids were raised. Throughout the chapter it shows how Jem and Scout's lifestyle suddenly changes with Aunt Alexandra's firm upper hand and strict rules.
Scout and Jem still are unable to accept her and are detached from her strong traditional southern views. As a result Atticus receives many criticism the way he brought up his children and is forced to act. 'Our Father was actually fidgeting. "No, I just want to explain to you that--your Aunt Alexandra asked me...son you know you're a Finch, don't you?" (p.177) However Jem and Scout notices this and become resentful towards the changed Atticus. Atticus also finds this uncomfortable and later tells his children, "I don't want you to remember it. Forget it."

Scout realizes her father's struggle dealing with carrying on the Finch's name, being a parent that lives to the expectations of his family, and still believing in his own separate views. "I know what he was trying to do, but Atticus was only a man. It takes a woman to do that kind of work." (p.170) However she also knows that instilling manners and acting as the motherly figure was the role of a woman, during that time period.

Mr. Dolphus Raymond

Mr. Dolphus Raymond is a very important part of chapter sixteen because he and his family represent all of the mixed race Americans at the time. Maycomb seems to be a perfect southern town with its very distinct line between the treatment of whites and the treatments of blacks. Mr. Raymond's family is a crucial piece in the make up of Maycomb. They make this book believable because of their historical accuracy. If Harper Lee had not written about the Raymond family, the book would have seemed almost to pure and perfect to be true. There are plenty of mixed raced children everywhere and now it is quite common, but in the early 1930s these kids were often discriminated against. As Scout, Jem, and Dill pass by Mr. Raymond, Jem says, "They (half black and half white children) don't belong anywhere. Colored folks won't have 'em 'cause they're half white; white folks won't have 'em 'cause they're colored, so they're just in-betweens, don't belong anywhere."

This quote shows how many folks in the south felt about children of two different ethnicities. Scout is too young to know how the world around her works, and doesn't understand why it would matter that a child is of mixed race but does not look it. Jem already knows that it is no matter that he doesn't look mixed race, it only matters that he has "a drop of Negro blood" which makes him all black in the eyes of Maycomb.

Jillian

What is True Courage?

At the end of chapter eleven (p149 in student books), Atticus explains to Jem that courage is not just the stereotypical "man with a gun in his hand", but it's about someone seeing through a bad situation, continuing on, and holding their head up high. The initial reason for Atticus having to share his thoughts with his son is because of a recent death in the neighborhood. Mrs. Dubose just passed away from an illness. She was addicted to the pain killer, morphine. Mrs. Dubose made a promise to herself that "she was going to leave this world beholden to nothing and nobody", and "she wanted to break herself of it before she died". So the only way for her to accomplish her goal was to slowly wean herself off of the medication. Because Jem ruined Mrs. Dubose's yard, he was ordered to read to her two hours a week, for a month. Little did he know he was helping distract the old woman from rousing with another dose of morphine. Once Mrs. Dubose was free, and Jem was no longer required to provide her company, she met her end.

Before she died, she asked Jessie, her house assistant, to fix Jem a box to show thanks. Inside the box were Snow-on-the-Mountain flowers, which were the flowers Jem killed in Mrs. Dubose's yard. Jem was infuriated with the gift and thought it was an insult. It was then that Atticus went to Mrs. Dubose's defense. Atticus explained that she was a great lady. Jem immediately disagreed with his father's statement because she had enormously offended the Finch Family. But Atticus continued on to say that Mrs. Dubose was courageous. He wanted to open up Jem's mind and make him see that not just men can have courage, but women too. Their neighbor had won a battle against herself, and not against someone else. Atticus also added, "She was the bravest person I ever knew".

Even though immediately after Atticus explained true courage to his son, Jem went right on as if he wasn't listening to a word he just said, and threw the present in the fire. Meanwhile, “Atticus was reading the paper”. This whole passage explains a few traits about Atticus. It shows that he is wise because he oversees the entire situation. It also shows that he is not a pushy father, that he gives his children freedom to create their own path, and that he doesn’t follow the norm. It shows that Atticus lives by his own self, and that he will only share and preach what is necessary.

Cal and Her Community

At the end of chapter twelve, we learn a lot about Calpurnia and the black community she lives in. Cal decides to take Scout and Jem to her church in Maycomb after Atticus leaves and she does not know what to do with them on a Sunday. As soon as Cal presents the idea to the two, they lighten up with happiness, and to our surprise, Cal does as well. This is the first time in the novel that we see Cal brighten up to feel happy and excited about her presence with members of the Finch family. She readily dresses Scout and Jem, being careful to correct their color combination and level of sophistication in their clothing. From this, we can infer that Cal’s community takes much pride in what they have, which we later find out is very little. I believe that dressing with a level of sophistication to formal and informal events is a way that this community shows that they really are proud of what they have both physically and conceptually. As soon as Reverend Sykes began his sermon, he announced to the entire congregation the welcoming of Scout and Jem, and that they were the children of Atticus Finch. The reverend also mentioned to Scout that, “This church has no better friend than your daddy.” He says this because Atticus is defending Tom Robinson in a rape crime, of which Scout and Jem are unsure of which side they feel compelled to be on. Later in his sermon, Reverend Sykes requests a “morning offering”, of which all members of the church are asked to donate pennies, nickels and dimes that will go to Helen Robinson, Tom Robinson’s wife, because she cannot work while her husband is in jail. After collecting less than ten dollars, Reverend Sykes orders the congregation to step up once again to raise ten dollars. “The church was becoming stuffy, and it occurred to me that Revered Sykes intended to sweat the amount due out of his flock.” From this, we can tell that Scout stressed the fact that the congregation was reluctant to donate more. I think this is because they simply did not have any extra money to give besides the money they would keep as a necessity for themselves and their families. Finally, after the congregation adjourns, Scout notices Cal talking to her community in an unusual way. She asks Cal why she is speaking “n----r talk” even though she knows better, and Cal replies by saying that it is not necessary to tell everything you know. Furthermore, she states that when people don’t want to learn how to speak properly, it is not possible to change their mindset, so the best thing to do is to keep your mouth quiet. We know as a reader that Cal is very smart for a black woman in her time period, but her sense of the ability to change a person’s mindset informs us of the extent of her knowledge; to tell what is the right thing to do in any situation. The ethics of Cal’s community rarely affect her when she is working for the Finchs’, but also control the instances in her personal life at the same time.

Tynan

Items in the Tree

Boo Radley has been leaving a message for Scout and Jem. He is trying to tell them something by leaving items in the knothole of a tree. The first items that Scout found were two pieces of gum, but their wrappers had been removed and placed in the hole with them. Scout anxiously shoves the gum into her mouth and enjoys this delicious treat. When Jem comes home to find her eating gum that was on the Radley's property, he is both scared and furious. "Spit that out right now!" He yelled to Scout. "Don't you know you're not even supposed to touch the trees over there?" Jem is terrified of anything that has to do with the Radleys. He listens to all the rumors about them, and thinks that Scout should too, but as the gifts keep appearing, he begins to think differently. The Finch children start to connect with Boo instead of shutting him out. They no longer think of him as a heartless monster. He is leaving them presents; all Boo wants to do is help them.

It seems that Boo is trying to grab their attention by placing the shiny wrappers in the tree, for later he places them over a box with another gift inside of it. He gave them two polished indian head pennies. So far the objects placed in the tree always appear in pairs; one for Scout and one for Jem. Boo has been watching them for sometime, and wants to engage with them by giving them presents: gum as a nice treat to have any day, and old indian head pennies to make sure that they have good luck for life. Later, he hides a ball of grey twine in the tree for them to find. This time, instead of one item for each of them, he only gives them one ball of twine. This means that they must share it, instead of the other items which they had to themselves. We have not yet gotten far enough in the book to put the puzzle pieces together yet, but it seems that Boo is making them work together. The twine itself could symbolize many different things such as a tight bond between things, but we do not yet know enough to be sure about anything. Next, Boo leaves two soap figures, one for each of the Finch kids. This is to show us that he has been observing them enough to know exactly what they look like. Afterwards, Boo leaves an old spelling bee medal which is perhaps his from a long time ago. Atticus tells them that it is from before they were born. This medal could represent a win, or a goal accomplished, perhaps accomplished by the soap figures. The last thing that Scout and Jem find in the knothole is a broken pocket watch on a chain with an aluminum knife, which is said to be worth ten dollars. The watch is missing many parts and will most likely never operate. The knife however is fully functional. Since it is aluminum, it is not very strong, but it is very sharp. These two items on the same chain are a little puzzling as of right now, but one thing is clear: Boo is trying to tell them something. So far in the book, none of these items have an obvious purpose, but I believe that very soon, they will help the Finches in ways that only Boo could foresee.

Jillian

Folded Pants

Jem is startled to find that his pants are folded on top of the Radley’s fence, and is worried that something or someone is out to get him. On Dill’s last night in Maycomb the two boys (Dill & Jem) decided to sneak onto the Radley’s property. When they reached the back porch of the Radley’s, a dark ominous figure scares them away. Upon leaving the Radley property they hear a loud gunshot, causing them to hasten their escape. Unfortunately Jem has snagged his pants on a nearby fence. Scared out of his wits he slips out of his pants and leaves. Early the next morning Jem hopes to retrieve his missing trousers. Unfortunately this is where he makes the scary revelation that someone has been watching him. This is indicated by the quote “Someone knew you were coming back for ‘em,” Jem shuddered, “like someone was reading my mind.” This specifically relates to the fact that Jem had found his pants as if someone meant for him to. When we begin reading chapter 7 we find Jem, who is normally self confident and self asserting to be quiet and unspoken. “There was something I didn’t tell you. This was Jem’s first words in several days.” As you can see our usual Jem now has shrunken into himself with fear. This is a part of this book that allows us to discover what lies within our characters, rather than just what we can infer from their exterior appearances.

Chapter 7: The Truth Behind Jem's Retrieval of his Pants

After Jem retrieved his pants from the fence, he slowly comes to a realization that perhaps his initial perception and judgment of Boo Radley had been wrong and that Boo Radley might be the one who keeps leaving the gifts in the tree. In chapter 7, Jem finally reveals to Scout about what had occurred that night when he went to retrieve his pants. "When I went back for my breeches--they were all in a tangle when I was gettin' out of 'em, I couldn't get 'em loose. When I went back--" Jem took a deep breath. "When I went back, they were folded across the fence...like they were expectin' me." (p.78) Jem believes that someone knew he was going to come back to the fence in order to get his pants back, which also meant that whoever had folded his pants also knew of what he, Scout, and Dill had done at the Radley's house. Jem also reveals that, "They'd been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed 'em, like somethin' I'd tried to do." (p.78)  It can be inferred that this was an act of a man. And throughout this chapter Jem is coming to a conclusion that it might be Boo Radley.
This brings us to the Radley's tree, a tree on the property of the Radley's, a place where people are afraid of going near. So far in this book we have seen that Jem and Scout have been receiving gifts such as Indian coins, gum, and gray twine,  from an unknown person in the hole of the tree. They also receive a gift of whittled soap, meant to represent themselves and a watch, still not knowing who is leaving these gifts for them. "He had been on the verge of telling me something all evening; his face would brighten and he would lean toward me, then would change his mind..."Here let's write a letter," I pushed a tablet under his nose. "Okay. Dear Mister..." (p.82) Something has clearly been on Jem's mind throughout this chapter, most likely about who keeps leaving him the gifts and who had folded and 'mended' his pants. When writing a letter to the stranger that had been giving Scout and Jem gifts, his thoughts accidentally slip out by revealing that he believes it's a man. Perhaps he doesn't want to share his thoughts that this stranger could be Boo Radley with Scout, because he didn't want to frighten her knowing how much Scout didn't was afraid of him. But it slowly reveals Jem's new found respect of Boo Radley.
On the following page on their way to school Jem discovers something, "Someone had filled our knot-hole with cement. "Don't cry now Scout...don't cry now, don't you worry--" he muttered at me all the way to school." (p.83) Although it isn't clear whether Scout was actually upset about the hole being filled with cement; it is obvious that Jem is. And coming to a conclusion that it is Boo Radley who keeps leaving the gifts, Jem is beginning to think that those rumors of him were false.  With the tree still in mind he goes and asks Nathan Radley why he had filled the hole of his tree with cement, which Nathan replies, "Tree's dying. You plug 'em up with cement when they're sick." (p.83) Still not convinced, Jem asks Atticus's opinion about the tree, and it is revealed that the true looks healthy. This is implied that Nathan lied about the reason to Scout and Jem, and the real reason is most likely because he doesn't want Boo Radley to continue giving gifts to the children. (Throughout the book it is implied that the Radley family lives in an abusive household.)
Jem cries at the end of this chapter at this realization.

Calpurnia vs. Scout

Calpurnia, the cook of the Finch family, doesn’t just have a job of filling the kid’s tummies. Calpurnia fulfils the disciplinary aspect of their lives, specifically Scout, who continuously is agitated from the constant structure and tries to persuade the reader to feel sympathy for her also. However, Scout is only six years old and as a reader, I cannot trust her perspective on this matter because she still has the mind-set of a child. Scout complains, “ She was always ordering me out of the kitchen… and calling me home when I wasn’t ready to come home”. She also says, “Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side”. This quote explains how Atticus allows Cal to have responsibility towards the Jem and Scout and to act as the mother Scout never had. Scout’s relationship with Calpurnia is exceptional. Cal is always looking for the best of Scout and expects her to be polite. Rather than being strict, Cal is always there for her and she even taught Scout how to write. The best way to describe their bond is that they have a mother-daughter relationship. As time goes on, Scout will realize that Cal is not trying to be a foe, she is just making sure Scout grows up becoming well mannered.

A Confirmation of Dill's Courage

In chapter six, Dill saves Jem and Scout from further interrogation by covering up the absence of themselves in the community gathering as well as the odd absence of Jem’s pants. After an intimidating walk to the Radley lot, Dill decides to peek in the side window to see if he can catch a glimpse of Boo Radley. After an unsuccessful attempt, Jem suggests that the group go to the back side of the house. Against all of Scout’s suggestions, Jem proceeded to creep up the back steps when Scout and Dill noticed a shadow that soon crept over Jem’s body. After the shadow came a loud gunshot, causing the group to run through the fences of both the Radley lot and the school yard, where Jem fell down because his pants were caught on the wire. He writhed out of his pants and proceeded with the group to the Finch’s house. As they walked towards the small gathering of Maycomb County townspeople concerned by the sound of the gun shot, Atticus promptly questioned Jem about his pants. Jem was unnerved for an instant, but then Dill stepped in. “Ah- I won ‘em from him,” exclaimed Dill. As Dill began to explain to Atticus the fake strip poker game in which Dill won Jem’s pants, Atticus started to believe this and therefore did not put Jem or Scout at fault. This point in the novel was the first time so far that we have seen a defensive and caring side of Dill; the action of standing up for his friend in need shows us the strong bond he has made or is trying to make with Jem and Scout.

“I admired my brother. Matches were dangerous, but cards were lethal.”

Tynan

To Kill a Mockingbird- Last Paragraph

At the end of the fourth chapter, Scout heard a laughter from the Radley house that made her second guess all of the myths she had been told. She said she quit playing with Dill and Jem for two reasons. The first was because Atticus had come, and Scout knew if Atticus was aware that they were acting as the Radley's, they would get in trouble. Second, Scout heard a low, deep laughter coming from inside the Radley House. This shocked Scout. I imagine that Scout was very surprised to have heard a sign of "happiness" coming from this house. She must have thought that the Radley's were nasty, glum people based on all of the stories she had heard about them. I think that this sound made her reexamine the way she viewed the Radley's; maybe think of them more as "real" people, not the family that all of the myths had created.

"As Mr. Radley passed by, Boo drove the scissors into his parent's leg, pulled them out, wiped them on his pants, and resumed his activities." This quote shows one of the many ridiculous myths that Scout believes. It makes out the Radley family to be heartless and gruesome. So when Scout heard the laughter coming from that house, I believe Scout must have second guessed the myths.

Natasha

What do you make of the last line of Chapter 4?

"Someone inside the house was laughing." This is the last line of Chapter 4, after Atticus asks Dill, Scout and Jem what they were playing. It was a midday in the summer and Dill, Scout and Jem were rehearsing a play that they made up about the Radleys. Atticus guesses that the trio are acting out a play about the Radleys and says that they shouldn't act it. Scout was scared when she hears the laughter from inside "the house". The house could be either the Finch house or the Radley house, but to keep the plot moving, I think Harper Lee was talking about the Radley house. This laughter means that the house isn't lifeless like what is said in many of the Maycomb myths. This also means that someone in the house was watching everything that the trio were acting out and probably was amused.  Hearing the laughter was probably very scary for Scout because they were already scared of the Radleys but to also hear laughter from a "live" Radley, she probably couldn't have been more scared.

Felix

Welcome

We will use this blog to explore ideas in To Kill a Mockingbird.  By posting and commenting on the posts, you will practice writing and lay the important groundwork for our class discussions.