Carter Liou: Chapter 30, Has justice been served in this novel? (Think about this) Why or why not? To answer this, you must define what ‘justice” is and then provide specific examples to support your stand on this.

   Justice is act of being fair and giving fair treatment to all.  I believe that justice has been served because Bob Ewell beat his own daughter, is responsible for the murder of an innocent man, and tried to kill Scout and Jem.  In my opinion those are the worst kinds of crimes they are just completely unmoral.  On page 369 Sheriff Tate says, “There’s a black boy dead for no reason, and this man is responsible for it’s dead.  Let the dead bury the dead the dead this time. Let the dead bury the dead” (Lee 369).  Here I think Sheriff Tate is trying to tell Atticus that Bob Ewell got what he deserved and that he should just stop worrying about it because justice has been served.  Also on page 366 Sheriff Tate says, "Bob Ewell fell on his own knife.  He killed himself " (Lee 366).  Here Sheriff Tate is trying to show that the kids had nothing to do with Ewell's death and that it was completely his fault that he died the way he did, and that again justice had been served.

Marcus Patalano: Chapter 28- end Look closely at the description of Boo. Why has Harper Lee included these details and why here?

Why do you think Harper Lee included the in depth details about Boo Radley? Look closely at the description of Boo. Why has Harper Lee included these details and why here? 

    Scout thinks that the man on the corner leaning against the wall is just an ordinary Maycomb townsperson. Once scout gets closer he describes the man as having "sickly white hands that had never seen the sun"(Lee 362). She also says "his cheeks where thin to hollowness, and his gray eyes were so colorless I thought he was blind"(Lee 362. the reason Harper Lee included these details to help foreshadow as to who the character might be. Harper Lee didn't want the reader to know that the man was Arthur Radley, she wanted the reader to infer upon whom the character may be. She gives the reader clues by describing the character as a thin, emaciated character who looks as if he had never seen the light of day. Throughout all of scouts life she had always wanted to know what he truly looked like, and throughout the whole book she wanted the reader to share scouts curiosity. By foreshadowing on details about Boo's appearance she helps build up to a climax in which Atticus will reveal that the man is Boo. 

28-end 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.

In this quote Heck Tate is arguing with Atticus about how Mr. Ewell. what he means is since it was Mr. Ewell who caused the death of Tom Robinson that it made it even that Mr. Ewell was now dead. He felt that people would pay less attention to his death because of Toms. One reason I believe he thinks that is because from page 364 to 369 Heck and Atticus are arguing about how Atticus doesn't want to "cover up" the death of Bob Ewell. Heck's response to this is "let the dead bury the dead"(lee, 369). Heck essentially thinks he deserves it. A quote that makes me think this is when he first delivers the news of Bob's death he says "He's good and dead. He won't hurt these children again" (Lee, 358). Heck says nothing about how he was a good man but just that quote.

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. Tristan Young

            Tate is saying that the "black boy,” is dead and the man who killed him is dead, so there's no point in pursuing the matter. Let the dead bury the dead in a simplified manner is just let it go. Mr. Tate explains his reasoning on page 369, “I’m going on forty-three years old, know every that’s happened here since before I was born” (Lee 369). Mr. Tate has seen many useless cases of white versus black since he was young, being the sheriff of Maycomb. He calls the shots. Mr. Tate’s wisdom is far superior of Atticus’s in the moment because Atticus is flustered at the thought of his boy killing Bob Ewell. The sheriff realizes this and points it out to Atticus, “Mr. Finch, I hate to fight you when you’re like this, You’ve been under strain tonight no man should have to go through” (Lee 368). This time Mr. Tate has decided to take this into his own hands and let it go. There is no point of causing any more trouble in a case that has already solved itself. Bob Ewell was finally brought to justice. Mr. Tate may have been unfair to African American’s in the past, and he acknowledges his wrongs, “ I’m not a very good man, sir, but I am the sheriff of Maycomb County” (Lee 369). It is Mr. Heck Tate’s way of paying his dues and making the right decision for the town of Maycomb. Let the dead bury the dead.

Natalie Madden Chapter 28- end Look closely at the description of Boo. Why has Harper Lee included these details and why here?

Look closely at the description of Boo. Why has Harper Lee included these details and why here? 

Scout thinks that the man in the corner of Jem’s bedroom is just an ordinary townsperson that lives in Maycomb. Scout describes the man as having, “Sickly white hands that had never seen the sun, so white that they stood out garishly against the dull cream wall in the dim light of Jem’s room. His face was as white as his hands. His grey eyes were so colorless I thought he was blind.” (Lee 362) The reason Harper Lee included this description is because she didn’t want to tell the reader that it was Arthur Radley. She wanted the reader to wonder who was the strange man leaning against Jem’s wall? She gives the reader clues about the strange man by saying, “Sickly white hands that had never seen the sun.”(Lee 362) The only person in Maycomb who hasn’t been outside most of his life is Boo, but Harper Lee didn’t want to just reveal that it was Boo in the corner, she wanted to describe what this man really looked like to other people who never met him before. Scout has wondered her whole life what Boo Radley looks like. She was constantly wanting to sneak a glance of him. She finally meets him, but doesn’t realize she has, until Atticus introduces her to him.  All Scout’s life she was curious about what Boo Radley might look like. That night in Jem’s room, she thought she was just looking at an everyday person who lives in Maycomb, but he wasn’t, he is Boo Radley. 

Alex Daly chaps 24-25 Free Response, What is the connection between killing a cripple and killing a mockingbird?

         In the editorial on pages 320-323 there is a connection between killing cripples and songbirds. Mr. B.B. Underwood writes this editorial for the Macomb Tribune and puts much heart and thought into it. In the editorial he expressed lots of strong opinions about this subject. “ He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children.”[lee 323] This shows how strongly he feels about Tom’s death because it was a sin to kill a mockingbird (songbird).  It is a sin to kill a mockingbird because they do nothing for us but make beautiful music for our enjoyment. He is saying that cripples are like a songbird, calming and peaceful, as opposed to bluejays, that are known to be violent and bothersome. Also, he is comparing the children and hunters to the jurors and the guards that shot Tom. The jurors are the children that do not change their views in the case and had determined the verdict from the start of the trial. The hunters are the guards that shot Tom. They probably could have run and grabbed Tom from the fence because he was so slow getting up, but instead they decided to shoot him over, and over, and over, again. 

         Aticus once said in the past “shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit’ em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” [lee 119] This connects with the songbird aspect of the article. Mr. Underwood is saying that it is a sin to kill a cripple because they cannot fight back. Cripples are not able to kill you so why would you kill them. Cripples are not a danger to anyone, they are like mockingbirds, they can’t do many things to bother anyone. 

Lauryn Jacobs- Chapter 26&27- Explain the idea of hypocrisy. In thinking about the tea party and the incident with Miss Gates, how are Miss Gates and Mrs. Merriweather hypocrites? Why does Harper Lee do this?

                 Hypocrisy is when someone tells another person not to do something, yet they do it themselves. Miss Gates is a hypocrite because she says, on page 329, " Over here we don't believe in prosecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced." This shows that Miss Gates doesn't believe in hatred to a specific race or religion. Yet, on page 331, it says, " I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us." Miss Gates is a hypocrite because she doesn't have religious prejudice but she has racial prejudice. She thinks that it is wrong for the germans to treat the Jews harshly, but yet she thinks that it is ok for her to treat the black people harshly because of the color of there skin . Mrs. Merriweather is a hypocrite because on page 309, it says, " the ladies of the Maycomb Alabama Methodist Episcopal Church South are behind you one hundred percent." Then on page 310, it says, " Gertrude, I tell you there's nothing more distracting than a sulky darky. There mouths go down to here. Just ruins your day to have one of 'em in the kitchen." These two quotes shows how much of a hypocrite Mrs. Merriweather is. In the first quote, she's pretending that she would want to help the Mrunas tribe in Africa, yet in the second quote, she is complaining about how one of her black helpers are mad that Tom was convicted. 
                      Harper Lee added the scenes of Miss Gates and Mrs. Merriweather caught in the act of being hypocrites because she wanted to show the difference sides of people and how they act when there with certain people. When Miss Gates was teaching she was saying that being a hypocrite is wrong. Yet when she was talking to Miss Stephanie Crawford, she was being a hypocrite in relations to blacks. When Mrs. Merriweather was talking to J. Grimes Everett, she was saying how she would love to help the Mrunas tribe in Africa, but when she was at the tea party, she was saying how she thinks so little of the emotions that the black people have. 

Why do you think that people act different when they're with two different groups of people?

Brooke Graves - Chapters 26 & 27 - Explore Scout's confusion in class and then her altercation with Jem. 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?

       Scout was confused about Miss Gates because in class she taught the kids that everyone is equal in America, but Scout had heard her say, outside of the courthouse, that it was about time that blacks got taught a lesson. In class, Cecil talked about Hitler, and Ms. Gates taught the kids about how America is a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Scout explained to the class that a democracy is, "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none," (Lee 328). Later, when Scout talked to Atticus about Miss Gates's reaction to Hitler, she said, "Miss Gates said it was awful, Hitler doin' like he does, she got real red in the face about it," (Lee 330). When Scout went to Jem because she was confused, Scout told Jem, "Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was... talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us," (Lee 331). Scout was extremely confused by this because Miss Gates told the class that Jews were equal to all of us, and it wasn't right for Hitler to put them away in a pen. Scout knew that despite what she taught the kids in class, she didn't believe that all people were equal. In the statement she made to Stephanie, she separated blacks from everyone else. She believes that blacks can't come near white woman, and they certainly don't have the right to marry a white woman.
       Miss Gates was being a hypocrite because she was teaching the kids to believe that all people are equal, but she believes that black people aren't equal. Harper Lee included this in the book to display that most people in Maycomb don't think of blacks as people, they think of them as an object, trash. They think of blacks as trash because if in their minds black are trash they don't have to give them equal rights.

Do you think that people in Maycomb really see blacks as trash because of reasons other then their skin color, or do they use that as an excuse to not give them equal rights?

Chapter 24-27 : "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. (Chapter 26)

      Chapter 24-27 :  "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. (Chapter 26)

      Two years after Scout's adventures running around the Radley House, creating mischief and trying to get a good look at Boo Radley she has grown up and now realizes that while the Radley House has its secrets, she has nothing to be afraid of although the house is just as cut off as it always has been. As Scout starts third grade she has already grown from a child to a young lady. Wearing dresses more often, having tea with the ladies, watching a meaningful trial and talking to Calpurnia along with Aunt Alexandra instead of playing and running around with Dill and Jem as often. The Radley Place been there for the past years but only now is Scout realizing how much she has grown up since the last time she thought about it. "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 324). The Radley House is just as dark and holds the same secrets as it always has but when Jem feels that he figured out some of the Radley secret he tells Scout. "... I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley stayed shut up in the house all this time ... its because he wants to stay inside" (Lee 304).  Scout realizes that the Radley House is not dangerous and Boo may not be who everyone thinks he is but the house is still gloomy, chilly and uninviting because the lights still stay off, Boo still doesn't come out and no one but Nathan Radley ever goes in. Scout has grown and developed as a character and lady and will continue learning facts and clues about the Radley family as she matures throughout the book. 

ch.24-28 Explain the Mrs. Merriweather’s quote "I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town.” What is she talking about? (chapter 24)

Mrs. Merriweather while at Aunt Alexandra’s gathering says this quote. In this quote she is trying to say that Maycomb is filled with people that want to do good, but when they try their sense of good is different from people like Atticus's. This is mostly aimed at the racism in Maycomb. An example of this comes on page 282 when Judge Taylor asks for the jury’s verdict they answer with "Guilty ... guilty ... guilty ... guilty..."(Lee 282). This jury believes they did the right thing putting away Tom Robinson due to the fact that he was black. Because of the way they were brought up they thought that all "negroes" were far from law-abiding citizens. This isn't because the men who made up the jury were bad people but simply because they were brought up in a racist town. That is what Mrs. Merriweather meant when she said "I tell you there are some good but misguided people in this town.” 

Eton-(24-25) Free Response "What Do You THink About Scout Wearing A Dress?"

       Throughout the book, Scout has not wanted to do anything that would make her seem like a "lady.""I declare to the Lord you're gettin more like a girl every day!"(Lee 69) Jem used this to get Scout to come to the Radley house at night. Scout did not want to go until Jem called her a girl. This shows that to her being called a girl is not something that she wants to be called. In chapter 24 Scout is not only wearing a dress, but she is trying to act like a lady to impress her Aunt Alexandra. After Aunt Alexandra and Scout heard of Tom Robinson's death, they were hurt for a minute, but then Alexandra decided to go back in there and to not appear as if anything was wrong. Scout then thought "After all if aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I."(Lee 318) At this point Aunt Alexandra silently told Scout to pass the cookies around to Mrs. Merriweather. Just like Jem compares himself to Atticus and believes that he is as grown up as Atticus is. Scout is now comparing herself to Aunt Alexandra. Scout is definitely not done running through the dirt with a bunch of boys, but Atticus's plan for Aunt Alexandra to make Scout more of a lady is working.

"What do you think of Scout at this point?" "Do you think Scout is ready to become a lady?"

Ari Benkler Chapters 22-23 Free Response Post: Explain the difference in perspective between Scout and Jem that results in their differing opinions in their exchange towards the end of chapter 23.

   Scout's view about the nature of the world is fundamentally more naive than that of Jem's as demonstrated in their exchange at the end of chapter 23. Scout believes that all people are basically the same and a victim of their circumstances when she says "No, everybody's gotta learn,... I think there's just one kind of folks. Folks." (Lee, 259). The conversation takes place in Jem's room after Aunt Alexandra has told Scout that she may not invite Walter Cunningham over for dinner or to play with him. Aunt Alexandra clearly demonstrates that she still believes in different classes of people, as evidenced by her quote, "I'll tell you why... Because--he--is--trash..." (Lee, 256). Aunt Alexandra also says "Besides, there's a drinking streak in that family a mile wide. Finch women aren't interested in that sort of people." (Lee, 255). This makes Scout go and get upset, and Jem consoles her in his room. Scout's complaints about Aunt Alexandra's outdated class system give rise to a discussion in which Jem outlines his belief that Old Family is just how long a family has been reading and writing, because, according to him, there is no other way to differentiate between the Cunninghams and the Finches. Jem goes further and outlines his beliefs about Maycomb County at large, naming the four types of people he believes reside therein. The tow folks, the folks like the Cunninghams, or farmers, the white trash like the Ewells, and the black people. This idea of hyper-division among such a small number of people shows how disillusioned Jem is with the concept of co-operation. He's seen so many bad decisions made from lack of coherence, so many moral options thrown by the wayside in the trial, he's completely lost his faith in human goodness. Scout is much more naive and open to the possibility of good qualities in people because she doesn't understand as much about the things that happened at the trial. Jem's opinions show deep cynicism about co-operation and Scout's opinion that people are all fundamentally the same and fundamentally decent shows her faith and how little she has seen of the actual world, independent of which one of them is right.

Who's vision of the social breakdown of Maycomb County is more accurate, Jem's or Scout's? Are people basically good with flaws, or are they self-serving at baseline and only willing to co-operate when it will benefit them and not take too much effort?

Chapter 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 the chapter 23 (302). Why does Harper Lee put this here?

When Jem discusses background in chapter 23, he is starting to get a grasp of the ugly truth that is called earth. When Jem and Scout are upstairs in Jem's bedroom the two kids talk about different kinds of "folks" and where they place in society. In Jem's world there are four different kinds of people, "there's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors..." (Lee 302). This conversation was triggered because of the recent disappointment in the results of the trial. Jem was certain that Atticus was going to win the case but it wasn't likely due to the fact that the jury simply could not let a black man walk. For all of Jem's life he was accustom to a simple world, but now that he is older his view on the world will change. And Jem's discussion with Scout is the beggining of Jem's change in thoughts about the world that he lives in. The main reason that Harper Lee put this discussion in the book was to inform the reader that the Finch children, especially Jem, aren't who they used to be in the beggining of the book. Within recent chapters Scout has started to notice that Jem is changing and that he growing up. This means that Jem will start to get an understanding of the world which is another milestone in Jem's process of becoming a man.  But Jem isn't the only one who has changed during the book. Scout has started to show more indepdence because of experiences such as observing Atticus' case. Harper Lee also put this in the book to tell the reader that now that the kids are starting to mature more, the book is going to be taking its final turn towards the finish line. With the last chapters within sight, Harper Lee is trying to tell you that the ending will be an intriguing one. 

Is there any other meanings behind Harper Lee putting this discussion in the book?
Do you think Scout will experience the same feelings that Jem has?
How long will it take Scout to realize that the world is not all perfect?

Chapters 22- 23: Explain Maudie’s two important quotes about Atticus in Chapter 22. How is she showing her support? Oakes Austin

Chapters 22- 23: Explain Maudie’s two important quotes about Atticus in Chapter 22. How is she showing her support? Oakes Austin

Miss Maudie has a respect and understanding for Atticus and his actions that most of the citizens of Maycomb don’t have. As Jem, Dill and Scout are eating their cake in chapter 22, Miss Maudie decides to tell them about what a hardworking and good person Atticus is. Miss Maudie says “... there are some men in the world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them....We’re so rarely called upon to be Christians, but when we are we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us,” (Lee 288). Atticus has always been a tireless worker for his children and the town, but he is rarely recognized because he does “the dirty work” that no one else ever acknowledges. Jem and Scout don’t understand that Atticus has such a hard job because he is so humble and receives so little praise. Miss Maudie is also condemning racism and praising Atticus for opposing it, even in such a small way “We’re so rarely called upon to be Christians, but when we are we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us.” She is one of the few people in the community other than people of color who the kids have seen praising Atticus for his work and they realize what he is doing for them. Jem, Scout and Dill have a new respect for Atticus after their talk with Miss Maudie.

Why does Atticus’s work go unnoticed?

Chapter 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 the chapter 23 (302). Why does Harper Lee put this here?

In chapter 23, Jem talks about his fews of backgrounds and "folks" and it shows us his views on the outside world. In chapter 23, Jem is showing Scout what he thought at her age and how terrible the world really is, "You now something, Scout? I've got it all figured out, now... there's four kinds of folks in this world. There's the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there's the kkind like the Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like the Ewells down at the dump and the negroes" (Lee, 302). Jem goes on to say that Scout is innocent at her age but when she gets to be older like him, Scout will understand that the world is not giggles and cartwheels but that the world is seperated into groups and the world is tough. Scout then says that Jem is wrong and there is only one kind of folk, a folk. This helps us understand Jem's feelings because it shows that after the trial, he really did realize that the world is not fair. Earlier in the chapter, Jem is complaining to Attticus and Atticus is saying that life is not fair and that he wants the law to change, but its a white courtroom and the person on trial is black, there's absolutely no way Tom was going to win. After his conversation with Atticus, Jem realizes that even though the world is tough and it's not fair, he can still make a difference and he is grown up enough to understand that.

Do you think Jem is "grown up"?
Do you agree with Scout's opinion or Jem's?
What do you think changed Jem's opinion?

Josh Krentzman - 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)

At the end of Chapter 19, Dill starts crying because he is outraged at Mr.Gilmer and how he is blatantly disrespecting Tom and treating him like a black thug. Scout, Jem and Dill were watching Tom Robinson's trial when Dill begins Crying. Dill feels as though nobody should be treated the way Mr.Gilmer was to Tom, "The way that man called him 'boy' all the time an' sneered at him an' looked around the jury every time he answered--- (Harper Lee, 266)." This statement makes me think that Dill, in some ways, is like Atticus, when scout says "Well, Dill, after all he is just a Negro" Dill then says "I don't care one speck" this shows how Dill is in favor of treating blacks as equals and not as a group of outsiders. When Atticus mentions the police force of children I believe that he was talking about how the future generation would have to act on what is fair and not anger, to stand up for what they believe in. This instance Dill gets angered but doesn't act on it, he lets it flow out and say what was bothering him instead of going to Mr.Glimer's house with a mob of angry people. Atticus has been nurturing this generation to believe in a justice to make correct decisions and if not to protest the ruling within the law. When Dill shows his 'soft side' it shows that he would act on good and just intentions.
 

Brooke Graves - Chapters 18 and 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)

          At the end of chapter 19, Dill cries because he is discussed and enraged by the way Mr. Gilmer was treating Tom Robinson. Scout, Dill, and Jem were all in the courtroom watching the case, but when Mr. Gilmer went to cross-examine Tom Robinson it was to much for Dill to handle. He burst into tears and ran out of the courtroom. Dill told Scout, when they were sitting under an oak tree, "The way that man called him 'boy' all the time an' sneered at him, an' looked around at the jury every time he answered," (Lee 266). Mr. Gilmer believed that Tom must be lying, must be violent, and must take advantage of white women simply because he is black.
          This relates back to Atticus's comment about having a police force of children because when the mob was going to attack Atticus and Tom Robinson, the children brought Mr. Cunningham to his senses. Mr. Gilmer needs Dill to bring him to his senses. Atticus suggested that they have a police force of children because children can see past people's color and judge the situations based on what is happening. Adults can't always do this, and they are quick to make assumptions. Dill was able to look past the fact that Tom Robinson was black and he said, "It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do em' that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that - it makes me sick," (Lee 266).

What is it that makes adults racists and assume things about people, as apposed to when they were kids?

Tristan Young Chapters 20-21 Explore one crafty part of Atticus’ closing ceremony, preferably highlighting one rhetorical device he uses to prove his point. What makes his argument so effective? Why does Harper Lee do this? (Chapter 20)

            Atticus relates to all the negatives as his closing statement comes to an end, and uses Thomas Jefferson’s quote to perfection on page 274, “We know all men are not created equal in the sense some people would have us believe, some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity because they are born with it.” (Lee 274) Atticus knows, just as well as anyone in the courtroom knows, life is not equal. Atticus boldly states this and focuses on one topic of equality, “But there is one way in this country which all men are created equal, that institution, gentlemen, is a court.” (Lee 274). Atticus makes it clear that Tom Robison is not the violator and the white woman tempted him. What makes his argument so effective, however, is the fact that he acknowledges the evil assumption and that some Negro men are not trustworthy. What he makes concrete is the courthouse is a place of justice. Atticus’ confidence is so great yet he is sweating during his final statement for the jury, “In the name of God do your duty.”(Lee 275) Atticus is sweating because he is worried about the outcome that the jurors will decide. He is positive that he has won the case, as is everyone in the crowd, but he is disturbed at the fact that Tom Robinson will probably be declared guilty just because of the color of his skin. Harper Lee is showing the reader the true concept of courage in this chapter. “It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.”(Lee 149) Atticus knew he wasn’t going to win Tom Robinson’s case from the start. Atticus’ taking the trial represented courage. Atticus felt sadness because of the corrupt court system. He was licked before the trial even began.

            Do you believe Atticus felt this way? If not explain why? 

Chapters 20-21 Free Response: Why Does Dolphus Raymond Always Pretend to be Drunk?

     In the courthouse Dolphus Raymond reveals he is drinking from a brown paper bag with straws in it. He offers it to Dill saying that it will settle his stomach. As Dill prepares to take a sip Scout advises him to Drink slow and not Drink too much. When Dill is finished slurping up the liquid he remarks to Scout "Scout its nothing but Coca-Cola"(lee 267). Once Dill and Scout are finished talking he makes them promise not to tell anybody about his "secret'. When asked by scout why he pretends to be drunk all the time , he replies with "some folks don't like the way I live"(lee 268). Dolphus explains how he tries to give them a reason, Because of they can hold on to a reason they can understand why he lives the way he lives. Although he is a very wealthy man, Dolphus had an affair with a colored woman and had mixed children. Most people think that he is crazy for cheating on his wife with a colored woman, but for some reason if he offers them with the reason that he did it because he was a crazy alcoholic it seems to make him seem less crazy. I believe this is because there are many alcoholics, and in fact most of the adult characters in the book drink. However Dolphus is the only person mentioned in the book that has mixed children. This shows that it Dolphus feels he is more comfortable as an alcoholic, then he is as a crazy person who loves a black woman, because the group of alcoholics is larger.

Do you think this is the right thing to do, or do you think that Dolphus should take full responsibilities for his actions? Why or why not?

Chapters 18-21 Natalie Madden Just before the court hears the verdict, Scout imagines Atticus “walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.” What is the significance of this line?

Before the court hears the verdict Scout imagines Atticus that“walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.”(Lee 282) This line is describing the court situation. It is saying Atticus walked into the courtroom, "the street", accepted the trial, “Raise a rifle to his shoulder.” (Lee 282) He fought for Tom Robinson or “Pull the trigger.” At the beginning of the case Atticus knew that there was a slim chance of Tom Robinson being declared not guilty. He tried as hard as he could throughout the case, even though he knew that he was going to lose, “But watching all the time knowing the gun was empty.” In the south in the 1930’s there was racial tension. If a black man was accused of raping a white girl and the white girl says he did, then the white jury is going to lean towards the side of the white girl. Scout understands that Atticus already knew that he was going to lose the case. Atticus wanted to take the case because if he didn’t he “Couldn’t hold up his head in town, I couldn’t represent this country in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell Scout or Jem not to do something again.”(Lee 100) Even though Atticus knew that he wasn’t going to win the case he still took it anyway.

Would you take the case?

Chapter 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?

           Dill cries because he is not only confused, he was angry. On page 265, it says, " It was just him I couldn't stand" "Who, Tom" "That old Mr. Gilmer doin him thataway, talking so hateful to him" (Lee 265). This shows that Dill is angry because he was upset that Mr. Gilmer was talking to Tom so hatefully as if he was  not a person, but a slave. Calling Tom boy and talking to him as if he needed to show to him and everyone else, that he and Tom were not equal. Also when Mr. Gilmer started talking to Tom as if he consistently had lost his temper shows that he doesn't care for Tom's side of the story. Dill gets frustrated when he realizes this, therefore he cries.
           This relates back to Atticus's comment about having a police force of children, because if children can figure out that race shouldn't affect your life and what happens to you in life, then you would think that adults would have figured it out. Also if children can see when people are being judged based on race, then the future of people who are discriminated against will finally have justice. Do you think that most children have different views from there parents about how the south should be? Do you think that even though some children see the world differently than adults, will the future actually be better for minority races?

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) Chapters 18 and 19 (Carter Liou)


     At the courthouse Mr. Gilmore, Mrs. Ewell’s lawyer, interrogates Tom Robinson.  During the testimony Dill starts crying and Scout and Jem have to escort him out of the building.  On page 266 Dill says, “I don’t care one speck.  It ain’t right, somehow it ain’t right to do ‘em that way.   Hasn’t anyone got any business talking like that –it just makes me sick”(Lee 266). Dill is saying that the reason he started crying is that Mr. Gilmore was treating Tom Robinson poorly, and disrespectfully.     Dill then says, “Well Mr. Finch didn’t act that way to Mayella and old man Ewell when he cross-examined them.  The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time an’ sneered at him an’ looked around at the jury every time he answered-”(Lee 266). Here Dill is saying that the way that Mr. Gilmore was calling Tom Robinson ‘boy’ when he is really a man made him just sick.  Dill also couldn’t stand that Mr. Gilmore wasn’t even looking at Tom when he was responding to the questions; this shows that Dill is taking notice of Mr. Gilmore’s contempt toward Tom.  This scene relates to when Atticus says that Maycomb should have a police force of children.  Adults, since they have been alive longer, have had more time to accumulate bad habits or racist thoughts. And kids who haven’t been influenced as much, because they just haven’t been on this earth long enough, will see right and wrong more clearly.  That is why Dill is the only one who starts crying when Tom Robinson is mistreated.  Everyone else in the courtroom finds the racism between Mr. Gilmore and Tom Robinson normal because they are all are under the influence of whites being better than blacks. 

Do you agree with Atticus's comment on having a police force of children?  Why or why not?

Explain Atticus’ explanation about the mob dispersing. What is a mob made of? How was it broken up? chapters 16-17 (Alex Daly)

         “A mob is always made up of people no matter what.” [lee 210] This is a quote from Aticus describing what the mob was created of.  Aticus is saying that when people are in a mob they are a whole different person. The mob mentality completely changes how they are felling and how they carry out actions. Aticus is stating that it is not their fault that they are caught up in all the shenanigans that are going around town. The men that are caught up in this are generally good men, but they all get together and create something that is bad overall. “ So it took a eight-year old child to bring them to their senses, didn’t it. That proves something - that gang of wild men can be stopped, simply because they are human.” [lee 210] This statement is just reinforcing that Aticus truly thinks that it was the mob mentality and not the men that where after him that night. 

Chapter 16&17 :   How is the relationship between Aunty and Atticus changing? In what ways is this important to our understanding of the novel? 

      When Aunt Alexandra arrives to help teach Scout how to become a lady, Atticus listens to what she has to say and helps her earn the children's respect, but more recently the relationship between Aunty and Atticus has become tense. The morning after Scout, Dill and Jem snuck out to see what Atticus was up to, Aunt Alexandra was in a particularly bad mood. "Aunt Alexandra sipped coffee and radiated waves of disapproval" (Lee 208), as well as showing disappointment directly towards Atticus, "But she was frowning at Atticus" (Lee 209). By Aunt Alexandra and Atticus disagreeing and arguing all of the time it could create tension in the family and problems for Atticus in Maycomb. Atticus is a respected lawyer and thoughtful person in general but Aunt Alexandra is respected as well in different ways. Aunt Alexandra is very popular in the neighborhood and was welcomed by friends of hers such as Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie, Miss Rachel and even Mr. Nathan Radley came up to the fence to personally welcome her. Throughout the novel, Aunt Alexandra and Atticus haven't gotten along with each other or agreed with each others decisions but they at least respected each other, but if they loose that respect there will not be anything left of their relationship. Atticus and Aunt Alexandra's relationship may not be an easy one but farther on in the book it will prove useful later in the novel.  

chapter 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?

In chapter sixteen Atticus tries to explain to scout what a mob is, why they left , and how she broke it up. He tells Scout that she broke it up by making "Walter Cunningham stand in my shoes for a minute."(Lee ,210). Atticus tells Scout that coming out and speaking to Mr. Cunningham appeals to his human side and he becomes less like a bloodthirsty animal. He says " A mob is always made up of people, no matter what" (Lee,210). This means that although they are looking to lynch someone they still have feelings that can snap them out of mob mode. This is the key to how scout is able to stop the mob from hurting Atticus and Tom Robinson. When she begins to talk to Mr. Cunningham it makes them aware of what she wood have to go through if they hurt her dad. This brings them back because they are then aware that there would be consequences for there actions and that there is no reason to hurt Atticus.

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? -Bayard Eton

         In chapter 16, while discussing last night's events, Atticus says "You know it's a funny thing about Braxton, he despises Negros, won't have one near him" (Lee, 209). Braxton (Mr. Underwood) doesn't like black people like Tom Robinson, however Underwood defends Tom when the lynch mob is coming after him. Mr. Underwood did not suddenly have a change of heart for colored people, he respects Atticus and the law. He is not like Mr. Cunningham who disobeys the law by what he feels is right, Underwood not only obeys the law but he is also helping Atticus defend it. In this scene Underwood is shown as a kind person.
        From a different prospective, Underwood may have not been protecting Tom Robinson, but he may have just been protecting Atticus. He may not care less what happens to Tom, but he knows that Atticus is valuable to the community and probably to Underwood as well. Even though Atticus was defending someone that Mr. Underwood may not have, Underwood is still a kind enough person to protect Atticus over joining the mob.

Explain what Dill means in the last line of Chapter 14. Is this suprising to you? (Chapter 14 & 15) Abby Cozier

In the last line of Chapter 14, Dill means that Boo Radley doesn't have anyone else that cares for him or anyone else that he can go to that will make him feel safe. During that chapter, we find out that Dill's dad might hurt him or not treat him right and that Dill runs away a lot. When Scout asks him if Dill thinks that Boo Radley has ever run off, this is Dill's answer after a long sigh, "Maybe he doesn't have anywhere to run off to" (Lee,192)" Dill is a child, but already under a lot of stress. Scout wants to get out of Dill why he came back to Maycomb and what happened with his dad, but Dill is being very stubborn with his answer. There is definitely something that Dill is hiding from Scout about his father and he hinted at that his father could hurt him. After Scout has been pushing on Dill the whole conversation to say something, finally Dill spills a little bit of his worries at home, "they do get along better without me.... they buy me everything I want, but it's now you've-got-it-go-play-with-it" (Lee, 191)" Dill is saying that although his parents back home aren't mean, they are not like a safe family for him. In the quote that Dill says at the end of Chapter 14 could be him saying that he is Boo Radley in some way. For example, Dill felt lonely and scared at his house back home with his family so he came here and he doesn't want to run away from Miss Rachel because he doesn't have anywhere else that is safe for him to go too. Dill trusts that when things get bad and scary back at home, that he can always come back to Maycomb being invited into warming and caring homes.

Chapter 14-15 Charlie Ablon Free Responce Post: Should Atticus ask Aunt Alexandra to change her attitude?

    After a few more disputes between Scout and Aunt Alexandra, Atticus needs to put his foot down and tell Aunt Alexandra to change her attitude or she has to leave Maycomb. Ever since the arrival of Aunt Alexandra she has distrupted the everyday routine inside the Finch's household. The tension between Scout and Aunt Alexandra is growing. There recently was another debate between Scout and Aunt Alexandra when Scout yelled at at her aunt for butting in to Scout and Atticus's conversation which caused Scout to say, "I didn't ask you!"(Lee, 181). This resulted in Atticus to take sides with his sister and created upset feelings from Scout. Atticus is constantly told what to do by Aunt Alexandra to such an extent that Scout said, "My father never thought these thoughts. My father never spoke so. Aunt Alexandra had to put him up to this" (Lee, 178). Atticus's approach to Scout concerning Aunt Alexandra is, "You do as Calperina tells you, you do as I tell you, and as long as your aunt's in this house, you will do as she tells you" (Lee 182). Based on this quote I completely disagree with Atticus. Aunt Alexandra is a guest in the Finch's house and she should mind her own business while she is there. Aunt Alexandra has created exessive commotion opon her arrival and Atticus has to stop this chaos  before it gets any worse. This means that Atticus has to start at the source, Aunt Alexandra. He has to take action by no longer putting up with what Aunt Alexandra says to him. Every parent should have the right to their own parenting style as long as they aren't breaking the law and Aunt Alexandra shouldn't express her opinions to Atticus. In conclusion, Atticus needs to make some major changes in his household or his family could come crashing into him.

Should Atticus also talk to Scout about her attitude? Will there be a climax with the arguements between Scout and Aunt Alexandra? How long do you think Aunt Alexandra stay?

Chapters 14-15 Ari Benkler Free Response Post: Why can Scout turn back the men who come to confront Atticus?

   Scout is able to confront the men who came to take Tom Robinson from Atticus because they are fundamentally good people who have done a bad thing and a young girl, the symbol of innocence is able to bring them back to their senses of what is right and wrong. The men, of whom she recognizes only Mr. Walter Cunningham, came towards the end of chapter fifteen to take Tom Robinson from where Atticus was guarding him at the Maycomb Jail. At first, Atticus responded to them kindly and politely when they asked him to step aside "He is... and he's asleep. Don't wake him up..." (Lee, 171). When he refused, they became more insistent, prompting Scout, Jem and Dill to come out of their hiding place and speak to the crowd of men. Scout comes along and addresses the personal issues of one particular man she knows- Mr. Walter Cunningham. She makes a slight faux pas by stepping into the circle, and the aura of innocence and cute incompetence that begins to surround her " Hey, Mr. Cunningham." He seemed not to have heard me (Lee, 174) steadily increases when she talks about Mr. Cunningham's entailment in a manner that shows she doesn't understand quite what she's talking about. "How's your entailment gettin' along... entailments are bad..." (Lee, 174). The last and most potent thing she says to Mr. Cunningham, and at this point to the gathering of men at large, is to talk about his son, Walter Cunningham. In so doing, she refers to his life outside of what he was doing in that moment, and reminds him of his son and the things he cares for in the world, how hurt he would be if something were to happen to them, and, for that moment, how to love and be compassionate. Mr. Cunningham soon realizes his mistake and has a change of heart, taking the entire gang home and promising not to bother Tom Robinson anymore. Scout is able to turn away Mr. Walter Cunningham and his gang by reminding Mr. Cunningham how to feel love and compassion, and in so doing taking away the edge of his proverbial sword which he would use against Tom Robinson: That of oppression and hatred.

What was Scout's motivation to show herself to the men, even though she thought they were Mr. Heck Tate's group? What did she think she could accomplish and why did Jem stand his ground when Atticus told him to leave?