Question: Why do you think Atticus never let on that he was an expert marksman?

         Atticus never told his children that he is an expert marksmen, because raising civilized, peace-minded children while he engages in activities potentially so brutal, is hypocritical. When Atticus says that he "hasn't shot a gun in thirty years" (127), he is trying to avoid shooting even though he knows he is capable, so that his children won't discover his potentially hypocritical ability. However, when Scout and Jem witness Atticus shooting and killing a mad dog with one bullet, they are surprised because Scout and Jem have always viewed their father as a pacifist. 

         Setting a good example for his children has always been a priority for Atticus, and he has taught them to be open-minded. After hearing talk about the case Atticus has taken, Scout asks why he would take a case like this. He answers her question by saying, "'...if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again."'(100)  By taking on a case with a black defendant, despite possible ridicule for doing so, Atticus is teaching by example. Likewise, Atticus wouldn't set a very good example if he killed every animal he saw and still told Scout and Jem the importance of staying calm or being passive.  Being a gentle man and trying to raise gentle children, and teaching those children to stand up for what is right, even when facing possible ridicule, are of the utmost importance to Atticus.
    
         How will the knowledge of Atticus's skill change his children's views of their father? Do you think it was necessary for Atticus to hide his talents? Will Atticus's firing of the gun give Scout the idea that she can get away with fighting?

Why does Atticus consider it a sin to kill a mockingbird, but okay to kill a mad dog?

Throughout the book, Atticus has been advising the kids on many different ideas and believes.  He tells the kids not to do things, as an example in the past chapters he has been telling both Scout and Jem that they can't be fighting and yelling at people because of his case in court.  On Christmas day Atticus buys the kids Air rifles and later on tells them not to shoot a Mockingbird because it will be a sin.


The title of the book revolves around this idea, Boo Radley is a mockingbird in a way because there is prejudice about him which "kills" him in a way.  Lee uses the idea of a Mockingbird to show the ways prejudice and gossip can effect innocent people.  Scout doesn't understand this idea and goes to ask Miss Maudie about what Atticus said.  Miss Maudie says "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. they don't eat people's gardens, don't nest in corn-cribs  they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.  That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (119)  In the past Chapters, as an example Boo Radley has done nothing bad to Scout or Jem.  He left small gifts in the tree for them and put a blanket over Scout to comfort her.  The  mad dog is the "darkness" in the chapter it makes all the towns people close there doors symbolizing the town losing in ways.  The dog in the book is the opposite of a mockingbird because all it does is stir up trouble.  Atticus believes that this dog must be shot because of the chaos it will cause.  "Don't go near that dog, you understand? Don't go near him, he's just as dangerous dead as alive." (111)  In that line the reader gets the feeling that this dog is no good dead or alive and will always be that dark force making chaos.  


In this chapter do you feel you see another side of Atticus?  When we read more in the book do you feel that the mockingbird image will appear more?  How do you think that this will affect the book and its final out come? why? 

Why does Atticus consider it a sin to kill a mockingbird but okay to kill a mad dog?

        Atticus focuses on encouraging moral values in Jem and Scout like fairness, limitation, and honesty. He tells them to avoid getting in fights and to practice quiet courage instead. “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand”. In this case, when he gives Jem and Scout air rifles as presents, he advises them that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.

        

       This is, of course, the meaning of the novel’s title, and it reflects the book’s preoccupation with sins inflicted upon innocents. In different ways, Jem and Scout, Boo Radley, and Tom Robinson are all “mockingbirds.” Harper lee uses Mockingbirds as a metaphor meaning good, innocent people who are destroyed by evil. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” (103). For example, in previous chapters, Boo Radley is the "innocent" person who cared for Scout and covers Scout with a blanket during the fire, and eventually saves her from Bob Ewell. Also, leaving presents to Jem and Scout but gets "destroyed by the evil" who is Nathan. It all connects to the point of Mockingbirds being different from a mad dog. The mad dog was disturbing the peace and basically the evil and it was time for Atticus to get rid of it. He was defending the people of Maycomb like a Mockingbird would with its innocence. "Dont go near that dog, you understand? Dont go near him, he's just as dangerous dead as alive." (111)

        What do you think is the significance of including the part of Atticus shooting the mad dog is going forward? Do you think it could show another characistic of Atticus? In a good way or a bad way?

Explain Atticus's definition of courage at the end of Chapter 11.

       After the death of Mrs.Henry Lafayette Dubose, Atticus tells Jem and Scout that she was the bravest person he ever knew. Mrs. Dubose was vicious; She was ruthless. Sick and mean, she showed cruelty towards the children without the slightest reserve. And yet, Atticus tells the children to look upon her in admiration. "'You know, she was a great lady." (128) he says to them; to which Jem looks up with disbelief. "'A lady?' Jem raised his head. His face was scarlet. 'After all the things she said about you, a lady?'"

          Atticus is adamant. "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is 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 is the courage of conviction, that Atticus speaks of. Mrs. Dubose, with her many faults, stood up against odds, knowing that failure was practically inevitable. She was fully aware that her time was limited, that morphine would be taking the easier way out, and yet, died according to her views. Mrs. Dubose died with self-respect, in clear-headedness and pain. True courage is when you take the pain in for what is right. Mrs. Dubose was fully entitled to dying an easier way, painless and with morphine. But Mrs. Dubose did not. She did not sit in failure -she broke out of it. Mrs. Dubose made the decision to die beholden to nothing and nobody, a task in which she started in failure and might have ended in failure. She made the decision for what she knew was right -this is the courage Atticus speaks of.

      Harper Lee uses this powerful moment as a mark for the end of the first half of the book. It represents Atticus as a parent, as a guiding figure. It also shows his views -the one view he shares with Mrs. Dubose. As Atticus prepares to fight for the Tom Robinson case, he is fully aware that he is "licked", and can easily regain his Finch reputation and quit the case. But if he does that, Atticus could not live with himself; He would no longer be following the rules of himself. Harper Lee uses these two chapters to express Atticus'es laws of being human -to show Scout, Jem, and the reader, why Atticus is taking on this case. It is Harper Lee's way of introducing and setting the stage for the upcoming chapters and climax.

Why do you think Harper Lee has put this chapter before the case? Do you agree with Atticus'es beliefs? Why do you think Atticus did not mind Mrs. Dubose calling him such names?  Do you think Atticus is right in making Jem read to Mrs. Dubose? And lastly; Do you believe that these are the rules Atticus will play by in the next few chapters during the Tom Robinson case?

Discuss Atticus' explanation for the case to Scout. What does Atticus mean when he says, "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win..."

Atticus’s explanation is quite simple, racism has been alive and well in the south for hundreds of years and now a trial comes up where it is a blacks man's word against a white man’s word. It doesn't matter that the white man is a Ewell. It doesn't matter how honest and truthful the black man is. Even Scout a six year old uses the racial slur n*****. Atticus knows he can't win this fight, but he feels it is his duty, that he wouldn't be able to hold his head high if he doesn't try, that he wouldn't even be able to face his children [117]. Atticus is in a town full of white racist’s and he is trying to defend a black man without any evidence beside his word. He knows this case was lost hundreds of years ago when slaves were first used in the south. He knows that he is fighting against the biggest force in his town. He is fighting against the Maycomb way.

The Maycomb way is what makes the Radley house hold a shrine of Mystery and danger for Jem and Scout. All who go against the Maycomb way are counted as something akin to outsiders. Scouts teacher Miss Caroline is an example of this with her foreign ideas and concepts. She came without knowing about the exceptions the Ewell’s enjoy and the poverty of the Cunninghams. [117] “Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a negro comes up...” Atticus realizes that by trying to defend a “negro” people will go stark raving mad and he is worried about whether or not Scout and Jem will be able to handle it.He thinks he can withstand it, but Scout’s hot headedness is a matter for concern.

Do you think Scout will be able to control her temper? How do you think this will affect Jem and Scouts relationship? Do you think Atticus stands a chance in this trial? Do you think the Radleys will get involved in this case, and if so how? How do you think this case will affect the towns relationship with the Finch’s?

Discuss Atticus' explanation for the case to Scout. What does Atticus mean when he says, "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win..."

Discuss Atticus' explanation for the case to Scout. What does Atticus mean when he says, "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win..."

Atticus' explanation of the case was a simplified version for a young child. He explains that though the town may call him a "n**** lover" (110), what he is doing is the right choice. He explains that by doing what is against "the Maycomb way," Atticus is keeping his integrity. "...if I didn't I couldn't hold up my  head in town." (100) Though the town may frown upon him, defending Tom Robinson is the only way Atticus keep his head up. This speech is one of many of Atticus' important moral lessons to Scout.

When Atticus says "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win..." he means that just because they were beaten a hundred years before does not mean that there is no reason to try. However, Atticus does not mean the Civil War, like Scout thinks he means. Atticus means that racism, discrimination, and hypocrisy won a hundred years ago and is still because it is still a dominating view in the country.

Do you think the jury will rule in Tom Robinson's favor? How do you think the town will continue to react throughout and after the trial? How will Scout grow as all of her classmates constantly tease her about Atticus?

How does Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why would Harper Lee include this moment in the book?

         Boo Radley placed the blanket that Atticus later found upon Scout's shoulders further allows Harper Lee to make Boo appear to be more of a human than a monster. Just slightly past one in the morning, Atticus Finch shakes Scout awake so that she can evacuate the house due to a fire. He tells Jem and her to stay still in front of the house of the Radleys so that they will be out of harm's way of the fire. The two children watch in awe of the fire destroying Miss Maudie's home and of everyone running out of their homes. Due to the fire, Nathan Radley is securing a mattress; this removes the wall blocking communication between Scout/Jem and Boo, effectively allowing Boo to communicate with the children. Once the fire is dealt with and Atticus is retrieving the children so that they can do home, he notices a brown blanket draped over Scout's shoulders that isn't theirs. This leads Jem to blindly spew out all the secrets of theirs to which Atticus responds, "...'Scout can thank him for covering her up.''Thank who?" I ask, "Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you." (72).
        This shatters the misconception that Boo Radley is a bad person. During all of this commotion and chaos, Boo opens the window of opportunity and comes out. Nathan was out of the way so this proved to be the perfect moment. The novel states that it was the coldest night in Atticus' memory. It is implied that while Scout was watching the fire from in front of the Radley house, Boo sneaked up behind her and placed the blanked across her shoulders so that she wouldn't shiver anymore. Thanks to the fire, the ever growing bond between Boo and the kids is strengthened. Nathan was too busy with his own problems to suppress Boo. This shows that Nathan is the one who should be feared; he is the one forcing the image of Boo being a  person. Harper Lee pokes out the idea that possibly, just possibly Boo might be a sort of a benevolent figure.
     
      Do you think Nathan Radley might actually be the one who all should hate? Will this further provoke the children to attempt communication with Boo?

Who Put the Blanket Around Scout?

In chapter 8 Ms. Maudie’s house catches fire, during this time Boo Radley puts a blanket around Scout without her noticing. At 1:00 AM Scout is woken up to evacuate the house and stand in front of the radley place, a safe distance from the burning house. Both Scout and Jem stood outside in the freezing cold in their pajamas. During the fire Jem and Scout discuss what is happening to Ms. Maudie’s house. Scout is intreiged and mesmerized by the fire and does not realize that someone put a blanket around them. The blanket that she was given was not hers and she had not see it before. After the fire is put out Atticus comes over to the children to take them home. When he comes over he notices the blanket. “ ‘Someday Scout maybe you can thank him.’ ‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.” (72) Harper Lee decides to have Boo put the blanket around Scout so that the readers and children know that he is a friendly figure. She is giving us insight to show that he is a friendly figure. You can also tell that he wants to be friends because he had been consistently leaving them presents earlier in the book.

This is my opinion of where the blanket came from. What is your’s? How does Scout end up with a blanket across her shoulders? Why would Harper Lee include this part in the book?

Free write question: Do you think that kids at school will tease Scout about Atticus helping a black man?

Why do the children play the "Radley Game?" What does it reveal about them (together and individually)?

          The children play the "Radley Game" because every kid needs to have that scary thing under the bed, a imaginative monster that they experiment with. Every kid deals with their monster in different ways. When Jem and Dill decide to take a peek into the Radley house, Harper Lee is showing everyones reactions, "When I protested, he said sweetly,  'You don't have to come Angel May.'"(68) Here Harper lee is exploiting that Scout is scared to death of the Radley house, while Jem and Dill act as if it is a challenge. Some kids take their games a little too far, Harper Lee exaggerates that when the kids go into the Radley's yard, "He put his hands over his head and went ridged. The shadow stopped about a foot beyond Jem... as I tripped the roar of a shotgun shattered the neighborhood."(71) To represent that kids sometimes take their imaginary monsters and get themselves into trouble, Harper Lee puts it into life and death. After that incident Jem and Scout's "monster" isn't so imaginary any more.

Who do you think was leaving them objects? Why? Why do you think Mr. Nathan blocked up the knot? Which Radley do you think sewed up the pants? Why? How did they know Jem would come back? Do you think Atticus bought their cover story? If not, why not?

Why do the children play the “Radley Game?” What does it reveal about them (together and individually)?

            The “Radley Game” is Scout, Jem, and Dill’s eyes, is played as an everyday imaginative activity. They play for fun and act out every detail about the Radley family. This game shows the reader that these children really collect all the gossip and rumors they hear about the Radley’s, and bring it to life by acting out real people’s lives.

             Boo Radley is a mystery to them, and Harper Lee creates him to bring out many different sides to Scout, Jem, and Dill. The children all have a brave side to them, when they “… were simply going to peep into the window with the loose shutter to see if they could get a look at Boo Radley…” (69), but they also have a childish side to them. That side came out when for instance, “… Jem saw it. He put his arms over his head and went rigid.” (71) Harper Lee uses Boo Radley to enhance the other characters personalities in the book.

            Do you think the kids will keep exploring the stories of Boo Radley? Will they ever go back to his house, or will they be too scared? Is Scout going to ever stand up for what she believes is a good idea, or is she just going to keep being bossed around and give in to Jem and Dill’s plans?

Explain Jem’s statement: “When I went back they were folded across the fence . . . like they were expectin’ me.”

          Jem's comment at the beginning of chapter 6 is very important to the children's relationship with the Radley family.   In the conversation that follows this statement, Scout and Jem discus the Radleys like they were supernatural abilities.  Jem timidly says, "Like someone was reading my mind... like someone could tell what I was gonna do.  Can't anybody tell what I'm gonna do lest they know me, can they Scout?"(78)   They have always been afraid of the Radleys, but the events of that night that they went to the Radley house sealed it.  The shadow on the porch would have been terrifying, and thinking you had narrowly been missed by a shot gun shot.  Jem would have been the most affected by what happened, because he became stuck under the fence of the Radley's property, not knowing if the owner of the gun was coming after him or not.  As a writer, Harper Lee made an excellent decision putting in this part of the story.  It really solidifies both the curiosity and fear the children feel around the Radleys, as well at the air of mystery the reader feels when it is mentioned.  It makes the reader think about the why the Radleys act the way they do.
         Do you think that the children will continue to go to and from the Radley house, or if they are too scared to do so anymore?  Why do you think that Jem was reluctant to tell Scout at first?  Do you think that Atticus will find out that they caused the commotion that evening?

Explain Jem’s statement: “When I went back they were folded across the fence . . . like they were expectin’ me.”

This statement by Jem is written in order to grab the reader and further the reader’s interest in the book. The whole week before Jem said this he didn’t seem content and one day as him and Scout were walking home from school he mentioned the folded pants. Before then, Scout knew something was wrong with Jem but he hadn’t told her yet. The pressure on him had been building on him since Jem, Scout, and Dill ran away after trying to get into the Radley house. After he explains the folded pants Jem says, “They’d been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed ‘em, like somethin’ I’d try to do. All crooked.”(58) The night when they went to the house Atticus had asked him where his pants were and Dill came up with an excuse so Jem was determined to go back and get his pants which shows how much Jem is committed to keeping a good relationship with his father. Earlier he mentioned how he’d never been whipped by Atticus before and he says “I wanta keep it that way,” so he was willing to do anything to stay in good terms with his father, even if that means the possibility of death. This shows how Atticus keeps his children in control with his unique parenting style. The kids, especially Jem, want to keep their father’s trust regardless of the cost.

Do you think Scout has the same level of respect for Atticus? If so, why do you think she does? How do you think the events of page 58 have changed Jem? Do you think he is just growing up and becoming more mature while Scout still doesn’t fully grasp the concept?

What do you think is the significance of the last line of Chapter 4?

The last line in chapter 4 is a very important line in the story of Boo Radley. "I had heard another sound, a sound so low i could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing." (54) Boo Radley is a mystery, and that's what intrigues the children, but as Scout learns more about the truth of the mystery she becomes less interested and more terrified. Scout decides not to tell Jem and Dill about the laughing, by doing this Harper Lee shows that Scout cares a lot about what her brother thinks of her and does not want him to think of her as "Miss Priss." (62)

           Although Scout does not want to tell anyone about the laughing she still wants to know if it was real, or just her fear playing with her. While talking to Miss Maudie, Scout asks “Miss Maudie, do you think Boo Radley is still alive?” (57) When Miss Maudie answers calmly and does not really have a personal interest in the matter, Harper Lee proves that Boo Radley is just a fascination for children and does not play a huge role in the community of adults.
           By having Boo Radley's character laugh in the end scene instead of mumbling or another noise Harper Lee strengthens the mystery with the fact that Boo Radley may have a little life still in him, he may not be completely crazy yet and is still interested in the outside world.
         What do you think? Has Boo Radley not gone insane yet and just won't come out because of his reputation? Or has staying inside so long made him crazy? And will Scout ever tell Jem she doesn't want to be involved in his games anymore?

What do you think is the significance of the last line of chapter 4?

The significance of the last sentence in chapter four is that the mystery of someone in the Radley house is revealing to be true. When Scout heard the laugh she became even more scared of the Radley house, but if she told Dill or Jem they would ignore her and say she is still scared. Scout might still be scared, but determined to find out the truth and she will have to make great strides to find it. "I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the side walk. Someone in the house was laughing." (54) The laugh was low so it must be a man in the house. Harper Lee is adding in this detail because it adds a lot of questions about the Radley's house and it attracted me to want to know more. The next question to the Radley's house mystery is, what type of person is in the house? Was the laugh an evil laugh or was he just laughing at Scouts crash in the tire? Is he the man putting the tinfoil packages in the tree?

What do you think is the significance of the last line of Chapter 4?

            I believe that Harper Lee included the last line of chapter 4, "Someone inside the house was laughing," (45) for two distinct reasons.  The first reason was to make it easier for the reader to understand why Scout starts to distance herself from Jem and Dill in chapter 5 and why they start to distance themselves from her.  It is because Scout is scared of the Radleys after she hears the laugh and no longer wants to play the Radley Game while Jem and Dill still do.  After Scout starts to become distanced from Dill and Jem, she starts talking to Miss Maudie and we (along with Scout) start to learn more important details about Arthur's life and who he was as a kid.  These details are as much for Scout during the time of the story as for us so that we are not as in the dark about who Arthur Radley really is.
            The second reason that Harper Lee inserted in the last line of chapter 4 was to make the story more intense and real.  We had heard about the legendary Boo, but the narrator had not encountered him other than in stories that she had heard.  It is one thing if a crazy woman who, up to this point in the story, we have not really met, tells us about Boo, but it is another if we have a first hand experience from the narrator about an encounter with Boo.  It is a completely different experience, both for Scout and for us the readers.
            Before I sign off, I would like to ask you one thing.  Who do you think the person who laughed in the house was?  Was is Arthur (Boo) Radley trying to scare Scout, was it just a joke that someone was playing on her, or was it simply Scout's imagination getting the better of her?

Describe Scout's relationship with Calpurnia up to this point in the novel. Can we trust Scout's perspective on this issue? Why or why not?

          In the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird, it is quickly learned that Scout, and her family's maid, Calpurnia have always had their differences. Always getting into trouble, Scout blames Calpurnia for being the first to punish her. Up until the middle of chapter three, the relationship between Scout and Calpurnia has been nasty and hostile. "I returned to school and hated Calpurnia steadily..." (33)
          Although they do disagree, Calpurnia starts to become more motherly towards Scout after she comes home from her first day of school. "I missed you today, the house got so lonesome 'long about two o'clock I had to turn on the radio." (38) Later, Calpurnia even kisses Scout on top of her head. These drastic changes in their relationship confuse Scout, but happy to not be fighting, she accepts it. Although their relationship has become more civil, Scout doesn't know how to react to the kindness, and still approaches Calpurnia with caution.
          I think that Scout has a biased point of view when it comes to Calpurnia since she's not quite used to the caring side of her. It is almost impossible to trust Scout's perspective, since she has such a history with Calpurnia, and she would need to be mature enough to understand Calpurnia's perspective as well. The two would've also had to have maintained a good relationship throughout the years, so Scout couldn't hold any grudges as she does now.
          How do you think Scout's relationship with Calpurnia will change as time progresses? Why do you think Calpurnia has had such a sudden change of heart when it comes to how she treats Scout?

For what does Scout get into trouble for with Miss Caroline? What does this reveal about Scout's character? Miss Caroline's? Burris'?

When Scout was at school, she got in trouble with Miss Caroline. Scout told Miss Caroline that Walter was a Cunningham. "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham" (26). The Cunningham's never know the next time they will be fed, "They don't have much, but they get along on it. (26) Scout then got patted on her hand with a ruler.
This reveals that scout will stand up for her classmates, and also that she can relate to them, she is poor as well, not as severe as the Cunninghams, but the Finch's are still poor. This shows that Miss. Caroline is sensitive and will not stand down for anything. At one part in the book, Burris Ewell, acted out in class because Miss Caroline was calling him dirty. No one who is poor should be treated like this, do you think so? What do you think Scout and Burris should have done differently in class? Why?

What solution does Atticus propose for Scout's Problem at school? What does this reveal about Atticus's character?

Atticus’s solution to Scout’s problems at school shows that he wants his children, especially Scout, to live with understanding. This is one theme in the beginning of To Kill a Mockingbird. He wants Scout to be able to understand others opinions, especially her teacher, Miss Caroline, and forgive her for being human and making mistakes. Atticus explains to Scout, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (39) He also wants her to be a smart individual, “In your case, the laws remain ridged. So to school you must go.” (40) Atticus tells these solutions in such a way so that it is clear that he wants Scout to always understand others opinions and be an intellectual, not just in school, but also in life.

Though he treats Scout in an adult way, he also really cares for her as a child. The reason Harper Lee created Atticus was to give understanding of Maycomb through experienced eyes. Harper Lee made Atticus as Scout’s father to help Scout learn to understand and be mature. Atticus is a firm but kind father and thoughtful man. He bends the rules, “compromise,” (41) just so Scout willingly goes to school. He understands that not everything in life is fair and honest, and tries to explain this to Scout by using the Ewells as an example. As this is reflected on, some questions remain: How will the relationship between Scout and Atticus change as the story progresses? Does Atticus treat his children like adults because he thinks they are able or because that is the only way he knows how?

Why does Scout get in trouble with Miss Caroline? What does this reveal about Scout's and Miss Caroline's character?

   
Why does Scout get in trouble with Miss Caroline? What does this reveal about Scout's and Miss Caroline's character?

     In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, six year old Scout, and her brother Jem attend their first day of school. While there, Scout's new teacher Miss Caroline,  discovers Scout can read and write which makes Scout more advanced than everyone in her class. Usually, this is seen as hard work, persistence and should be rewarded, but instead Scout receives the opposite. Miss Caroline assumes that Scout's father had taught her to read, and that he has been interfering with her learning. This causes multiple arguments throughout the day. "If he didn't teach you, who did?" Miss Caroline asked good-naturedly. "Somebody did. You weren't born reading The Mobile Register." (22)  Do you think Scout should be blamed and scolded for knowing third grade material and being ahead of everyone in the class?

    In the rest of chapter two, Scout is shown as a very outspoken and eager student. To her peers, she acts as a leader. When Miss Caroline doesn't understand what being a Cunningham means, her peers relied on Scout to explain it. "When Walter shook his head a third time, someone whispered, "Go on and tell her, Scout." (26) However, after Scout explains why Walter really doesn't have his lunch. She receives a punishment: a whipping from Miss Caroline. Scout's tone might have been a little harsh but do you think Scout deserved that punishment? Miss Caroline seems to be very challenged by her students' actions and words, like not being able to handle Burris Ewell and his "cooties."(33) She ends up crying each time a student has an outburst.This may have to do with being in a new community and not understanding Maycomb's ways, but why do you think Miss Caroline has been very vulnerable to her students in the last two chapters?  Maycomb is also a very small town, where everyone understands everyone's situations and is like a family. Do you think Miss Caroline will be part of this "family" in the end? Or will it be an issue throughout the book, with Miss Caroline not fully understanding her students?

    

Welcome to Mr. Rossiter's English blog. We will use this space to further our discussions outside of the classroom. This is also a place where every student will continue to work on writing. We will push ourselves to become thoughtful and concise with our written words. You will find this blog a wonderful resource as we study this classic novel. Also feel free to add images or movies that you want to share. Thanks.