Tristan Young: Chapters 12-13 Pages 153- 179. What do you learn about Calpurnia in chapter 12? What does Scout realize about her?

                                                                     

         We learn that Calpurnia is filling the role of the motherly figure in the Finch family. Jem begins to turn into a teenager in this chapter as evidenced on page 153, “Jem was twelve. He was difficult to live with, inconsistent, moody.”(Lee 153) These new developed characteristics cause Scout and Jem to separate even more, and make Scout feel alone. Scout runs to Calpurnia for comfort and receives the attention a young woman needs from their mother. Calpurnia fully understands what both Scout and Jem are going through and does the best she can to help, as she calms Scout on page 154, “Jem’s growin’ up. He’s gonna want to be off to himself a lot now, so you just come right on in the kitchen when you feel lonesome. We’ll find lots of things to do in here.” (Lee 154) After Atticus was called away for two weeks for an emergency session for work, Calpurnia was left to take care of the kids all by her lonesome. Scout learns about Calpurnia’s love and dedication for her and her brother when she takes them to her all black church and stands up to Lula, an attendant to the church, “I wants to know why you bringin’ while chillun to nigger church. They’s my comp’ny said Calpurnia. You ain’t got no business bringing white chillun here, they got their church and we got ourn.” “It’s the same god ain’t it,” Calpurnia said. (Lee 158) Calpurnia is very religious and it is a big deal that she is taking Scout and Jem to church. Calpurnia has a huge role to fulfill in the Finch family and her passion for the children clearly shows.

Do you think Scout and Jem realize the love Calpurnia has for them?

Natalie Madden Chapter 12-13 page 153- 179. Free Response Post: How has Jem changed in these chapters?

Natalie Madden Chapter 12-13 page 153- 179. Free Response Post: How has Jem changed in these chapters?

Jem grows older throughout the book and in these pages, in particular, the other characters are starting to notice. Jem is now twelve years old and Scout thinks that Jem is, “Difficult to live with, inconsistent, and moody.” (Lee 153) Scout doesn't understand that he is not as young as he used to be. Earlier in the book Jem constantly tells Scout that she is a girl in an offensive manner. Now Jem tells Scout, “It’s time you start bein’ a girl and acting right!” (Lee 153) Scout then runs to Calpurnia and starts crying. Calpurnia is also noticing changes in Jem and starts calling him Mister Jem. Jem is growing wiser.  For example he starts to read the newspaper and talking more proper. Aunt Alexandra comes to visit and brings heavy bags. She orders Calpurnia to bring them to her room, but then Jem offers to bring the heavy bags to her room like a true gentleman. Throughout the book Jem is growing up and starts to change in different ways. 

Who else is noticing that Jem is maturing? 

Chapter 10-11: Why do you think it is appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mocking bird? (Lauryn Jacobs)

              It is appropriate to kill a mad dog because it is causing trouble and fear to the neighborhood. A Mockingbird on the other hand is simply singing to everyone willing to listen, not eating your plants, or tearing up your yard. On page 124, it says, " Whoever's got a phone on this street and tell 'em a mad dogs comin'?"[Lee 124] This shows that just knowing that there is a mad dog in the neighborhood is frightening everyone and causing chaos in the town. It also shows that if the dog bit anyone they could kill them or spread the disease all over the town nearly killing everyone. Also a mad dog could potentially infect other animals in the town, then you would have a bunch of mad animals running all over the place. Now if you kill a mockingbird, your killing it for no reason. Mockingbirds have never done anything to harm humans in anyway. On page 119, it says, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy". [Lee 119] This shows that Mockingbirds don't do anything but make music so there no reason for you to kill them. Mockingbirds are just enjoying life, while mad dogs are terrifiying innocent people.That's why it's more appropriate to kill a mad dog and not a Mockingbird.

Why do you think that Harper Lee added the scene about the mad dog into the story? Why do you think the Radley's ignored everyone screaming about the mad dog?

Chapter 10-11:Why do you think it is appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mocking bird?

Chapter 10-11:Why do you think it is appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mocking bird?(Carter Liou)

           

From when Atticus kills the mad dog, to when he and Mrs. Maudie tell Jem that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, it shows that it is ok to kill a mad dog and not a mocking bird.  On page 127, it says, “The rifle cracked.  Tim Johnson leaped, flopped over and crumpled on the sidewalk in a brow-and-white heap.”  This shows that they might want to kill the mad dog because it could be very sick and if it bites a human being it can transfer whatever disease it has to that person.  If that person gets that disease, he or she could easily die because the medical technology in 1930 is nowhere as advanced as it is today.  However, it is not appropriate to kill a mocking bird because Atticus says, “Shoot at all the blue jays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mocking bird.” (Page 119).  Atticus is basically saying that you should never kill a mocking bird because it is an immoral act and an act against God’s will.  Also, Mrs. Maudie says, “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.  They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.  That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (Page 119).  This statement shows that Mrs. Maudie is just explaining that mockingbirds do nothing wrong, and therefore; there is no reason to harm them in any way.  Though it is okay to kill a mad dog in Maycomb, it will forever be a sin to kill a mockingbird.

How do you think the dog got mad dog disease in February?  Do you think that the mocking bird plays an important role in this story, if so how?

Chapters 10-11: Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? (Marcus Patalano)

     Is it appropriate to kill a "mad dog" but not a mockingbird, just because killing a dog isn't a written in the bible as a sin? When Jem and Scout are out in the neighborhood with their new air guns, Jem notices a dog walking lopsided. They decide to go tell Calpurnia because a mad dog can be very dangerous. When they show Calpurnia the dog she "stared, then grabbed us by the shoulders and ran us (Scout and Jem) home. She shut the wood door behind us went to the telephone and shouted, gimme  Mr. Finches office!" (Lee 123" After Mr. Finch arrives they have no option to kill the mad dog before it causes any damage to anybody or anything.

     Earlier in the chapter Atticus says to Jem "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit em', but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. When Scout asks Miss Maudi about it she says "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy". What Miss Maudi is trying to say is that you shouldn't kill anything that cant kill you.

     Do you think that this rule would still apply if killing a dog was a sin, even if it was mad? Or does this event have a higher meaning, perhaps foreshadowing on a later event? What significance does this incident have to the book, considering the book is called To Kill A Mocking Bird?

Chapters 10 and 11 - Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? (Brooke Graves)

        It is appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird because mockingbirds are not a threat to the neighborhood, but mad dogs can be very dangerous. One day Jem and Scout went exploring with their new air-rifles to see if they could find anything. They were about five hundred yards past the Radley's house when Jem spotted an old dog named Tim Johnson. The dog was walking lopsided and slow as a snail. He was also shivering and opening and closing his mouth. They raced home, told Calprunia, and Calprunia warned everyone on the street to stay inside. The street was deserted as if crisis had struck. When the sheriff arrived, Atticus told him, "He's within range, Heck. You better get him before he goes down the side street - Lord knows who's around the corner," (Lee 126). Atticus means that the sheriff better shoot the mad dog before it wanders off and harms someone. Ms. Maudie had explained how killing a mockingbird was a sin earlier in this chapter. When Scout asked her why it was a sin, Ms. Maudie explained to her that, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens... That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird," (Lee 119). Ms. Maudie means that it is a sin to kill mockingbirds because they don't but anyone in danger. In Scout and Jem's neighborhood, it is a well respected rule that you don't harm anything that doesn't harm you.

Does this "rule" apply to people too? For example, would people in their neighborhood try to harm Boo Radley based on the rumors they have heard about him. Do people consider Boo Radley harmful and dangerous? Do you think this "rule" is foreshadowing any events that could occur in the future?

chapter 8-9: how did scout end up with the blanket...

         Scout finding the blanket across her shoulders is a big moment in the book. Scout did not even notice the blanket being placed around her. She later discovered from Aticus that it was Boo Radley who provided the blanket to keep her warm. There was a fire across the street at Ms. Maudie’s house and Scout was watching from in front of Boo Radley’s house. It was a cold night with the first occurrence of snow in an extremely long time. Boo must have been watching the fire from inside and cared so much about Scout that he had to come outside and give her a blanket. This moment was put in the book to show that Boo really isn’t the person that they thought he was.  

        “Just think scout, if you’d just turned around, you’da seen him.” [lee 96] This quote shows that up to now all Jem and Scout wanted to do was to see Boo Radley. This point in the book is very interesting because they had such a close encounter with Boo and never saw him. Harper Lee included this incident in the book to keep the reader interested in finding out the identity of Boo Radley. The interactions that the Finches have had with Boo are completely opposite from the rumors that have been passed around the neighborhood. The development of Boo Radley’s character will create an enthralling story.

Chapters 8-9 : How did Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why did Harper Lee include this moment in the book

        Boo Radley put a blanket on Scout while Ms. Maudie's house was burning down. At this moment we see Jem as a much more mature boy as he tells Atticus all about what happened with the knothole, the pants, everything. Also Jem is smart enough to realize that most of the rumors about Boo are false and that he actually is nice. This was included in the book because Harper Lee wanted to include pieces of evidence that Boo is a kind character little by little.
      "I'm going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man" (Lee p.65) Atticus stated this earlier in the book. Once Jem tells him about what has really gone on he tells them to not tell anyone about it. Atticus cares deeply for his children and Lee wanted us to know that at this part in the book. 
       Lee put this into the book because she wanted us to realize that Jem could understand what is going on, that Scout and Jem might be separating because Scout is much less mature than Jem, that Atticus cares for his children, and lastly that Boo Radley, although all of the harsh rumors state otherwise, is actually a kind and thoughtful character.

P.S. Sorry this is late, my internet was being mean over the last few days.

Chapters 8 and 9 : How did Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why did Harper Lee include this moment in the book?

Boo Radley placed the blanket across Scout’s shoulders when she was busy watching the commotion at the fire. “‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you’” (Lee 96). Harper Lee added the moment when Boo added the blanket on Scout’s shoulder to prove that Boo Radley is a caring man, who is nothing like the rumors about him. Boo has feelings but expresses them differently than most. He folds and sews up Jem’s pants, leaves Scout and Jem gifts in the tree and when Scout accidentally rolls up and hits the Radley front staircase, she hears Boo laughing. His older brother Nathan is always keeping him inside, “protecting him” and keeping him safe, while everyone else makes assumptions about who Boo really is, only because they never have the chance to get to know him. Boo means well and is only trying to help, his family doesn’t trust him and his neighbors don’t know him when all he wants is to be a part of the world. Harper Lee included this moment in book to show that while Boo Radley may be unpredictable and young, he means no harm and against his family's will, tries to help Scout and get to know the Finches better. In the future Boo will prove to be an important character.

Chapters 8 and 9 How did scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders?Why would Harper Lee include this moment in the book

During the fire Jem and Scout had to wait in the cold while waiting there scout becomes extremely cold until Boo sneaks out of the house and gives her a blanket without her knowledge. Harper Lee included this scene because throughout the book we hear of terrible rumors about Boo being a monster. The only person who believes that he is a real person and not a monster is Atticus. With this scene we learn that Boo is a warm hearted individual. He takes the few moments he could to get out of the house and help comfort a child that has been harassing him during the summer. "I'm going to tell you something and tell you one time: stop tormenting that man" (Lee p.65). This is the only time we have seen Boo and rumors of him have left a bad impression, but due to this seen we have a more positive outlook on him as a person. Will we see Boo as a good guy throughout the rest of the book or was this simply a fluke.

Chapter 6&7- Explain Jem’s statement: “When I went back they were folded across the fence . . . like they were expectin’ me.” (Oakes Austin)

More than any other reason, Scout looks up to Jem because she sees him as a strong, commanding, and most importantly, fearless figure. Jem is always calm and unruffled in any scary situation, so the Radley house is made all the more scary for Scout by the fact that Jem is also scared by it. Scout, Jem, and Dill all go to the Radley house at night to try and catch a glimpse of Boo Radley.  Jem’s voice is full of fear when he finally tells her about how he found his pants. “When I went back, they were folded across the fence... like they were expecting me. And something else... they’d been sewed up” (Lee 78). Even after being caught at the Radley house, Scout still perceived Jem as “fearless” as shown when she says “Safely behind [the fence] we gave in to numbness, but Jem’s mind was racing” (Lee 72). Scout trusted Jem to find a way out of the situation, and she was reassured by his quick thinking. Jem’s quote marks a turning point for him and Scout. They are realizing that the Radleys are not a joke anymore, and that they should treat them with more respect. This comment helps the reader understand that Jem looks out for Scout and because he doesn’t want her to be afraid,  and is willing to hide his own fear for her. Although Jem is breaking Scout’s trust by confiding in her that he is afraid, he is also trying to protect her, and bring her closer.

Chapter 6 & 7: What does Scout mean by “It was then that Jem and I first began to part company?” (Charlie Ablon)

   When Scout says that she and Jem are "parting company" Harper Lee is attempting to break the relationship between the Finch siblings.  "It was then that Jem and I first began to part company." (Lee 75). In this quote, the author was trying to show the differences between the two kids. Ever since the beginning of the Summer Jem has alligned with Dill against Scout. This caused Scout to feel ignored and excluded by her peers and as a result, she started to befriend the neighbor Ms. Maudie. The primary reason that Dill and Jem excluded Scout was because of their different opinions about Boo Radley. Scout didn't want to play the Radley game because she was afraid of the Radley family and of the punishment she would recieve from Atticus should he find out about the game. On the other hand, Jem wanted to expore the mystery of the Radley history. This caused Scout to bother Jem about playing the Radley game, "My nagging got the better of Jem eventually, as I knew it would, and to my relief we slowed down the game for a while" (Lee 55).  After constantly fighting whether Scout is going to further explore the Radley house, it started to get on Jem's nerves. "I declare to the Lord your gettin' more like a girl every day!"(Lee 69). The differences between genders also plays a big role in the parting of the Finch kids. With Scout maturing, she will change her opinions and thoughts to be increaslingly similar to those of a girl. When Scout was younger she had more of a boy's personalitity due to the fact that she spent so much time being around Jem. Now that Scout is more independent, the two siblings will begin to "part company".


     Will Atticus notice the changes of Scout and Jem's relationship and try to intervene? How will Jem respond to Scout's girlish behavior? Will Jem continue to explore the Radley house without Dill and Scout? How does Scout and Jem's "parting company" affect how Scout will behave in school with her peers?

Chapter 6&7: Explain Jem's statement: "When I went back they were folded across the fence... like they were expectin' me" (Abby Cozier)

After Scout being scared of many things in life, the fearlessness in Jem, her older brother, shows how much Scout can trust and rely on him to be there for her through terrifying times. When Scout, Jem and Dill sneak through the Radley's house and shortly after hear a gun shot, they run and Jem looses his pants trying to jump over the fence. But, when he goes back out to find the pants he finds them neatly hanging, as if someone knew he was coming back. "...They were all in a tangle when I was gettin' out of 'em... when i went back they were folded across the fence.. like they were expectin' me....they'd been sewed up... -somebody knew you were comin' back for 'em" (Lee 78). Jem is the fearless older brother to Scout, and had been holding this information in for days. But, when it was just him and Scout he decided to open up and sound less fearless and more scared. Jem means to say to Scout that he thinks Mr.Radley knew he was coming back for the pants, so Mr. Radley took them and folded them up. Jem is saying that Mr. Radley knows what he did and if he does it again, he will come after Jem. This comment helps the reader understand that even though in the beginning the little kids were just joking around, this is not a joke anymore. The seriousness and fear in Jem's words make it seem even more serious and not a joke to both Jem and Scout. Jem is trying to not make Scout more scared, but to show her not to joke around anymore and that it was a bad idea in the beginning  Scout trusts Jem more than anyone in the world because they are so close and when Jem said this, it made Scout trust him more that he will always protect her and will still be her fearless older brother.

Why do you think Jem said this to Scout? Do you think he was scared when he got the pants? Do you think Jem is fearless? Do you think Scout loves Jem more than anyone in the world?

Chapters 6&7: Why do Jem, Scout, and Dill play the Radley Game? What does it reveal about them (together and individually?) Ari Benkler 

Jem, Scout and Dill invented and play frequently the Radley Game, a tale of Arthur “Boo” Radley's life assembled through a patchwork of town legends and their own imagination, which reveals that they are deeply curious as to someone whose life habits are the opposite of their own. In Chapter 5, when Scout is sitting on the porch of Miss Maudie's house, she keeps asking Miss Maudie about Arthur Radley's past. She is determined to find out about him in any way she can, thus she, Jem and Dill resort to writing a play about him. Arthur Radley never goes out and never interacts with other people. He is a figure shrouded in mystery to them, as he never comes outside. This is very much the opposite of the way of life that Scout identifies with. She is very much in the same mind frame as Miss Maudie earlier in the book, when the author explains her attitude towards the outdoors: “Time spent indoors was time wasted.” (Lee, 47). Jem, Scout, and Dill put on plays about everything. They had put on countless different ones the previous summer. They are trying to understand Arthur Radley by writing a play about him, the only way they really know how to get at the core of what something really is. Their game is not just for fun, it serves a greater purpose than just dwelling on Arthur Radley, it helps them understand him through portraying him. Scout, Jem, and Dill know that it is a form of tormenting Arthur to play the Radley Game, as evidenced at the end of chapter four: “What are you all playing?” he asked. “Nothing.” said Jem. Jem's evasion told me our game was a secret, so I kept quiet. (Lee, 45) This is a very similar technique for trying to understand someone as Atticus gives Scout earlier in the book, “...you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...” (Lee, 33). The children are just trying to get to know Arthur Radley. Jem, Scout, and Dill play the Radley Game because they are curious about how a person whose lifestyle is so different from theirs would be as a person in the flesh.

How else might the Radley Game effect Scout, Jem, and Dill, or show something about their personalities? Does Dill have different motives for playing the Radley Game then Scout and Jem, because he isn't from Maycomb?

Chapter 1-5 Test (Ms. Tarshis)

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