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?

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? 

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?

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?