Posting #5

TKAM

Chapters 13-15

Quote #4- End of Chapter 15

Atticus and Jem were well ahead of us, and I assumed that Atticus was giving him hell for not going home, but I was wrong. As they passed under a streetlight, Atticus reached out and massaged Jem's hair, his one gesture of affection.

(This was when Jem, Dill, Scout and Atticus were walking back from the incident at the jail cell with the mob that included Mr. Cunningham. Scout and Dill were walking together behind Atticus and Jem, who were walking together)

Response

I thought that this was very kind of Atticus. Even though Jem and Scout should have done what they did and ran after their dad, they did anyway in fear that he might be in trouble. Atticus understood why they did what they did and knows that they only did it because they cared for Atticus. Jem was the most worried and that’s why he started the whole “rescue group”. Atticus only wanted to show Jem that he was glad they did what they did.

Significance

This part of the book has a lot to do with might happen later in the book. It mainly shows that Atticus is learning to understand that children and understand their ways. He understood that Jem and Scout were only worried; they weren’t looking to get in any trouble. So Atticus massaged Jem’s hair in a matter of affection to show he was glad that Jem had done what he had done, and Jem wouldn’t get in trouble. This is also the author’s way to show that everything and everyone is starting to change in the town and in Scout’s family because of the case.

Questions

How do you think the trial, once it starts, will affect the relationship between Scout, Jem and Dill?

Do you think that Atticus will when the trial? Why or why not?

Post #4

Post 4

Chapters 10-12

TKAM

Quote

Chapter 11

Pg 112

“She was. She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe… son, I told you that if you hadn’t lost your head I’d have made you go read to her. I wanted you to see something about her—I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.”

(This was when Atticus was explaining to Jem why Mrs. Dubose was acting the way she did and even though she said nasty things about him, he still thought she was a lady.)

Response

I believe that Atticus is completely right. If at least if you try to win, even if you do win, you still won because you have completed a life lesson. This book in general had lots of very useful and helpful advise, that many people in this country need to abide by. Mrs. Dubose might have said mean things about Atticus but its what someone does when you are about to die and you know it, that determines how much of a decent person they are.

Significance

Atticus is like the voice of reason in the entire book. He might not raise his kids like normal parents would, but he also makes sure that they do the most important thing in life, respect one another’s souls and personality. The point that he said he would have made Jem read to her even if Jem didn’t go crazy, shows that he really cares about people even if the person cares little for him.

Questions

1. So I think that Atticus is the voice of reason in the book and the most important character, who do you think is the most important character and why?
2. Do you think that Jem was really mad at Mrs. Dubose when she gave him the box with the flower in it? If yes why would he be so mad? If not what emotions do you think he was feeling to make him through the box in the fire?

TKAM posting 3

Posting #3

TKAM

Quote #2- Beginning of Chapter 9

"For a number of reasons," said Atticus. "The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again."

This was when Atticus was explaining to Scout why he was going to serve the case of Tom Robinson. Scout was confused why people were calling Atticus a “Nigger Lover”.

Atticus is a wise, old man and has a strong pride. He believes that if he didn't take this case that he would be letting the state, the town, and his kids down. I think that this is very noble of him. A normal lawyer might deny the case just because Tom Robinson is a black man. He thinks it is irrelevant and wants to show everyone else that it is irrelevant.

This is significant because it helps show the reader Atticus' chain of thought. That he wants to challenge himself even if he knows he will lose. Its more for his own self pride that he at least tried to lead the case. Him explaining it to Scout helps Scout understand her father better and it helped explain why people are saying nasty things about him.

Questions:

1 If you were in Scout's place, when cecil talked Atticus a "Nigger Lover" what would you do?

2 How did the knot in the tree affect the story, since it got filled up, does it still have to do with the story?

Posting #2

TKAM

Quote

Quote #2- Middle of Chapter 7
"When I went back-" Jem took a deep breath. "Whe I went back, they were folded across the fence.... like they were expectin' me."

This part of the book was when Jem went back to get his pants which he had to take off to get under the fence. He had left them there because he was too scared to grab them. When he went back they were folded up nice and had been stitched up. When he found them they were folded up and hanging on the fence that he had left them under. He was scared to death I could imagine.

When I read this quote I started to feel a tingle going through my back. If this was any other person rather than Boo Radley, it would have just been a friendly gesture. But since the person who stays in his house all the time and who has scary stories being told about him left and right, its like a ghost touching you and you never saw the ghost.

This quote is significant because this is the first sign of Boo Radley helping the kids and trying to be friendly with them. I think this will lead to at least Boo Radley coming out of his house and 1 or 2 people seeing him. Maybe he will even become a respected citizen of the neighborhood and maybe perhaps marry one of the young women in the neighborhood. This is taking to the extreme but in books almost anything can happen. If anything he will help the kids out some more and they will become distant and close friends at the same time

Questions

1: If you were Jem or Scout what would you want to find in the knot in the tree?

2: Perhaps you had a weird neighbor like Boo Radley and perhaps you sneaked into his backyard and then ran away and perhaps you left your pants under his fence, would you go back for them of would you just forget about them, why?

TKAMB post 1

Quote #3: Middle of Chapter 2

The Cunninghams never took anything they can't pay back-no church baskets, and no scrip stamps. They never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it.

This quote from the book describes some of the type of people that lived during The Great Depression. The Cunninghams know that they aren’t very rich and that in fact they are one of the poorest families in Maycomb, but they still want to keep their pride. So they won’t take any offers or donations from anyone. I think this is because they hold their pride so close, and they think if they accept anything that they know they can’t give back in full, that they will lose all that pride. And that they have let themselves down that they weren’t prepared for such a disaster to their family.

Questions
1. So far iun the book we have been introduced to a lot of characters from diverse backgrounds, so far which character do you like the most?

2. Based on Scout's behavior so far in the book, how do you think she will develop throughout the book?