to kill a mockingbird
Chapter 19
1.) What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?
- Tom Robinson was on his way home from working on the farm, and since he has to pass by the Ewell's house everyday, Tom visited the house because Mayella asked her to do a job for her, in which Tom, just wanted to help her, went into the house and did the jobs for her.
2.) Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
- Scout thinks she is the loneliest person in the word because she has no friends, she doesn't talk to her siblings, she has no mother, she takes care of the house by herself, she is socially excluded, and that her dad does not care about her. Her dad does not care about her because he did not care if she was okay and did not call a doctor at all.
3.) Describe Mayella’s relationship with her father.
- Mayella's father does not care about her, like when her father calls a police rather than calls a doctor after Mayella was bruised. Her father spends all the money that the family gets for alchahol, while Mayella, being the maternal figure because she takes care of the house and children and she is the oldest, spends the money to get the children some ice cream.
4.) How does Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom contrast with Atticus’ treatment of Mayella in the previous chapter?
- Atticus's treatment toward Mayella when she was in the stand, was very polite towards her, to the point that she feels uncomfortable because no one is polite to her. When Mayella is crying, Atticus lets her cry for awhile and lets her calm down. So Atticus treats Mayella with respect and care.
- Mr. Gilmer, however, treats Tom with rudeness and disrespect. Mr. Gilmer calls Tom a boy when he refers to Tom, and sneers and condescends Tom after Tom answers questions. Mr. Gilmer thinks that Tom is not innocent and is lying because of his race, not because of Tom's perspective and story.
5.) What social mistake does Tom make in his testimony?
- Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella, which people find preposterous because of the idea that Tom Robinson, who is black, feels bad for Mayella, who is white, and has a higher social status. This makes Tom seem like he does not understand his social status and that Tom is better than white people, even though he only just wants to help her out of the goodness of his heart.
6.) Why does Dill become sick?
- Dill does not like the way and tone Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. He doesn't like the fact taht Mr. Gilmer is being verbally abusive towards Tom, like when he sneers and rolls his eyes after Tom answers when he is in the stand. It bothers Dill, and not the adults, because Dill thinks a different way. He does not understand the race issue in society, and only realizes that it is wrong, which bothers him.
Chapter 20
1.) Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right?
- Mr. Raymond is not evil, but smart because he is an ethical man. He can see that black people are people as well, and prefers to hang out with them, and he uses the cover of being a drunk to cover the fact that he hangs out with them
2.) In most states in America people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus-Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
- He hides the Coca-Cola so people don't bother him on what he does and why he chooses to live the way he does. It gives people a reason to understand his behavior because they assume he is always drunk.
3.) What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
- Mayella tempted a black person and broke the code of society by kissing someone outside of her race.
4.) Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people’s being equal.
- He says that people are not born equal, using examples like some are smarter, bake better, or make more money. But in a court of law, people should be treated equally.
Chapter 21
1.) What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Why?
- Jem expects that the verdict will be that Tom will be innocent. However, Atticus is unsure because he doesn't want to be disappointed and have his hopes crushed if he thinks that Tom will be innocent.
2.) What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
- The jury takes an excessively long time to reach a verdict. The verdict is predictable because of the time era of the story was in the time that segregation had a strong influence, so the colored people would typically lose
3.) What does Reverend Sykes instruction to Scout to “stand up” show about his people’s attitude towards Atticus?
- It shows that his people's attitude for Atticus is full of respect because he did a good job on defending Tom Robinson.
Chapter 22
1.) Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem’s right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus’s reasons for this.
- Atticus defends Jem's rights to know what happened because he wants be a role model, he realizes that Jem is growing up and wants Jem to realize what the real world is like and how tough it is.
2.) Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
- Miss Maudie tells Jem that things are never as bad as they seem because even if they lost, the verdict might be appealed, so there is hope for Tom Robinson, and even if they lost, Atticus still helped tremendously for Tom Robinson and the colored people, causing them to have more respect for Atticus.
Chapter 23
1.) What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s personal attach and threat?
- It shredded his last credibility that Bob Ewell had, and that Bob needed some kind of comeback against Atticus. And if it saved a beating for the children, Atticus felt that it was worth it.
2.) What is “circumstantial evidence”? What had it got to do with Tom’s conviction?
- Circumstantial evidence is based on words, or hear or say, like gossip. . It has to do with Tom's conviction because no one actually saw Tom raping Mayella, or Mayella tempting a negro.
3.) What reason does Atticus give about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
- Mr. Cunningham makes the jury take a long time because he is defending Tom against the jury, and acquit the charges on Tom.
4.) Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”?
- Aunt Alexandra believes that the Cunninghams are trash. They are good because they defended Tom, they were ethical, and the knew the difference between right or wrong. But she sees the Cunninghams as beneath her and the Finch's, therefore they are trash.
5.) At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this theory? How likely is it to be true?
- His theory is that Boo Radley just doesn't want to leave the house because he lives in a very cruel town, so he might not want to deal with it. He also doesn't want to leave because of all the rumors about him.
Chapter 24
1.) Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa”? Give reasons for your answer.
- Since the tribe, Mrunas, are African American, no ones wants to go to them or help them except J. Grimes Everett. So they probably aren't sincere because they pity the people and only want to keep up their appearances and do their "christian" work.
2.) What is your opinion of the ladies of Maycomb? Explain and support with quotes
- The ladies of Maycomb seem to like gossip a lot, and talk about everything around them and everything that is happening. This is probably the reason why Scout likes men more than woman because she believes that the woman are hypocrites. The woman in Maycomb believe that it is a bad thing to set the slaves free and treat them almost fairly, and that treating different people differently is a good thing. However, they also assist the tribe, the Mrunas, because no one else will, in pity, "they weren't....Hypocrites." (p. 234)
3.) Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus’ explanation for Tom’s attempted escape?
- Tom was trying to escape over a fence, and the guards at the prison were warning him to stop. They shot the air a few times to scare him, but as Tom continued to climb over, the guards shot Tom seventeen times and killed him. If Tom had both arms, he would have made it. Atticus' explanation for Tom's attempt on escape was that Tom lost hope, that he was tried of the white men's chances and decided to take his own chance.
4.) How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her?
- We see Aunt Alexandra change because we see she is compassionate about Tom and his wife and family when she feels sad when Tom dies. She is also upset that the town is making Atticus be the person to do everything the town doesn't want to do. Atticus is doing the dirty work, and the town puts all the problems on Atticus, which she feels upset and protective for.
- Miss Maudies supports her by agreeing about civil rights and the fair treatment of both blacks and whites.
5.) What shows that Scout has new respect for Aunt Alexandra?
- Scout shows that she has new respect for Aunt Alexandra when she picks up the tray to serve the guests with a attitude that if Aunt Alexandra can stay strong in front of the guests, so can she, and act like she likes the woman.
Chapter 25
1.) How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom’s death?
- They are not empathetic or sympathetic of Tom's death because they feel that it is typical for a black man to die. They pass it off as nothing more than just gossip.
2.) Comment on the idea that Tom’s death was “typical”.
- The idea that Tom's death was typical means that the Maycomb people like to generalize things, thinking that it is normal when a black man dies. They already think very little of black people, so they believe it isn't a surprise when Tom tried to run.
3.) Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men’s hearts”.
- The contrast that Scout draws between the court and the secret courts of men's hearts is that while the court appears and acts as a fair trial, in the men's hearts, they are all against Tom Robinson and are not fair towards him.
4.) Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell’s at the end of the chapter? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do? Explain why or why not.
- They don't want to tell their dad because they don't want to burden or worry him even more. Atticus already has a lot on his mind that they don't want to put more stuff in his mind that the children might be in danger. It was wise because it would allow Atticus to focus more on other things and put less stress on him.
Chapter 26
1.) In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don’t believe in persecuting anything”. What seems odd to you as the reader about this claim?
- The odd thing about what Miss Gates says is that she believes that it is revolting and morally wrong when Hitler persecutes the Jews, but it is fine to persecute the black people in her own town. So she is portraying a strong hypocrisy.
2.) Why is Scout so puzzled by Miss Gates’ disapproval of Hitler?
- While Miss Gates thinks that Hitler was a horrible person for oppressing the Jews, and that the Jews are good people, she oppresses the black people in her town, which is basically the same thing Hitler did, and contradicts what she says and what she does, which Scout finds confusing.
3.) Why does Scout’s questions upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question “How can you hate Hitler an’ then turn around an’ be ugly about folks right at home?”
- Jem takes her questions personally because it reminds him of the case of Tom Robinson. He already wonders how they lost, why the lost, and how he even got into the case, that he feels irritated to not know the answer and feels empathetic. There isn't really an answer because you can't control how people act or think. She just has to accept how these people think that way.
Chapter 27
1.) What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra?
- The first thing that Bob Ewell does that alrms Aunt Alexandra is that he breaks into Judge Taylor's house through the back door without permission. Bob Ewll also harasses Helen Robinson while she is trying to get to work, that she has to walk the long way and can't use the public road because Bob would then "chunk" her off the road. And lastly, when he got a job, he was immediately fired a few days later for laziness.
2.) Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge?
- According to Atticus, Bob Ewell bears a grudge to anyone that he finds was involved with the Tom Robinson case or shredded his credibility at court. He went against Judge Taylor because the judge had a bad attitude against Bob like sneering or letting the case go on. Bob Ewell also went against Helen Robinson even if she had nothing to do with the case. He holds a grudge because when he persecuted Tom Robison, he thought the town would think of him as a hero. But it backfired on him because everyone already knew he was trash, a racist, and creepy that he had a grudge on people involved in the court.
Chapter 28
1.) How do the opening pages of this chapter remind us, the reader, of earlier events in the novel?
- In the beginning of this chapter, it mentions the story of how Jem broke his arm at the elbow with the assumption that Bob Ewell attacked them, which reminds us of the beginning sentence of the book where shesaid that Jem broke his arm at the age of thirteen. So it took 28 chapters to understand the beginning sentence.
2.) Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way?
- Because Scout keeps her costume on, she loses the effectiveness of her senses, like her vision. She has to touch things to know what's going on, and she realizes that they were being attacked, by she didn't know what exactly happened and who did it.
3.) Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be?
- Atticus might not have brought a chair for the man because he knows how the stranger, possibly Boo, might be awkward around people, so instead of exchanging pleasantries, Atticus let him have his space.
Chapter 29
1.) What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout’s costume?
- The shiny clean line was the shiny paint that Mrs. Crenshaw put on Scout's Pork costume
2.) What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s attack?
- Atticus' explanation for Ewell's attack was that he was crazy and insane, or "mean as hell," for being brave enough to try to kill children.
3.) What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?
- Heck Tate thinks that Bob Ewell is just mean and cruel, and vicious enough to go after children and have an attempt to kill them, not crazy.
4.) Why should the reader not be surprised about the identity of the children’s rescuer?
- The reason that the reader might not be surprised that Boo was the rescuer is because he was the person that watched over them several times. There was that part where Boo folded Jem's pants when he intruded their yard, he left Scout and Jem little presents in the tree, and he wrapped Scout in a blanket when she was outside and she was cold. The relationship between Boo and the children is that he could be a big brother to them, or a hero to them because he has saved them and took care of them.
Chapter 30
1.) Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?
- Atticus strongly thinks that it was Jem that stabbed Bob Ewell in defense from himself and Scout.
2.) Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflicted?
- Heck Tates insists that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted because he wants to protect Jem from the town thinking and making rumors that Jem is a murderer, and he is also protecting Boo because he knows Boo does not want to talk to people no matter what, and he says it would be a sin to drag him through something he doesn't want to do, which is being in public.
3.) Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo the publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer.
- I think that Heck Tate's decision to spare Boo is right because he is giving Boo his privacy and protecting Jem from bad rumors. He is being unethical, but he believes he is doing something right because he is protecting.
Chapter 31
1.) How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?
- The first sentence of the novel tells that when Jem was thirteen, he broke his arm. But the final chapters leads up and explains that sentence, saying how he broke his arm and what happened afterwards.
2.) How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atitcus’ as she stands on the Radley porch?
- When she satnds on the Radley porch, she starts to see things from Boo's perspective. She realizes how bad the neighbors have treated him that he has to shut himself up in the house and avoid contact with anyone, which she feels sorry for.
3.) How much of a surprise is it to find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader for this discovery?
- It isn't that much surprising that Boo is caring and shy, but also strange, being a grown man and is still scared of walking home by himself in the dark. It isn't surprising because there were several things that Boo has done to assist the children while being hidden, like giving gifts and saving their lives, that lets you realize he is a good person.
1.) What made Tom visit the Ewell’s house in the first place?
- Tom Robinson was on his way home from working on the farm, and since he has to pass by the Ewell's house everyday, Tom visited the house because Mayella asked her to do a job for her, in which Tom, just wanted to help her, went into the house and did the jobs for her.
2.) Why does Scout think that Mayella Ewell was “the loneliest person in the world”?
- Scout thinks she is the loneliest person in the word because she has no friends, she doesn't talk to her siblings, she has no mother, she takes care of the house by herself, she is socially excluded, and that her dad does not care about her. Her dad does not care about her because he did not care if she was okay and did not call a doctor at all.
3.) Describe Mayella’s relationship with her father.
- Mayella's father does not care about her, like when her father calls a police rather than calls a doctor after Mayella was bruised. Her father spends all the money that the family gets for alchahol, while Mayella, being the maternal figure because she takes care of the house and children and she is the oldest, spends the money to get the children some ice cream.
4.) How does Mr. Gilmer’s treatment of Tom contrast with Atticus’ treatment of Mayella in the previous chapter?
- Atticus's treatment toward Mayella when she was in the stand, was very polite towards her, to the point that she feels uncomfortable because no one is polite to her. When Mayella is crying, Atticus lets her cry for awhile and lets her calm down. So Atticus treats Mayella with respect and care.
- Mr. Gilmer, however, treats Tom with rudeness and disrespect. Mr. Gilmer calls Tom a boy when he refers to Tom, and sneers and condescends Tom after Tom answers questions. Mr. Gilmer thinks that Tom is not innocent and is lying because of his race, not because of Tom's perspective and story.
5.) What social mistake does Tom make in his testimony?
- Tom says he feels sorry for Mayella, which people find preposterous because of the idea that Tom Robinson, who is black, feels bad for Mayella, who is white, and has a higher social status. This makes Tom seem like he does not understand his social status and that Tom is better than white people, even though he only just wants to help her out of the goodness of his heart.
6.) Why does Dill become sick?
- Dill does not like the way and tone Mr. Gilmer is treating Tom. He doesn't like the fact taht Mr. Gilmer is being verbally abusive towards Tom, like when he sneers and rolls his eyes after Tom answers when he is in the stand. It bothers Dill, and not the adults, because Dill thinks a different way. He does not understand the race issue in society, and only realizes that it is wrong, which bothers him.
Chapter 20
1.) Scout says that “Mr. Dolphus Raymond was an evil man”. Is she right?
- Mr. Raymond is not evil, but smart because he is an ethical man. He can see that black people are people as well, and prefers to hang out with them, and he uses the cover of being a drunk to cover the fact that he hangs out with them
2.) In most states in America people who drink alcohol in public places are required to hide their bottle in a paper bag. Why does Dolphus-Raymond hide Coca-Cola in a bag?
- He hides the Coca-Cola so people don't bother him on what he does and why he chooses to live the way he does. It gives people a reason to understand his behavior because they assume he is always drunk.
3.) What, according to Atticus, is the thing that Mayella has done wrong?
- Mayella tempted a black person and broke the code of society by kissing someone outside of her race.
4.) Explain, in your own words, Atticus’ views on people’s being equal.
- He says that people are not born equal, using examples like some are smarter, bake better, or make more money. But in a court of law, people should be treated equally.
Chapter 21
1.) What does Jem expect the verdict to be? Does Atticus think the same? Why?
- Jem expects that the verdict will be that Tom will be innocent. However, Atticus is unsure because he doesn't want to be disappointed and have his hopes crushed if he thinks that Tom will be innocent.
2.) What is unusual about how long it takes the jury to reach a verdict? Is the verdict predictable or not?
- The jury takes an excessively long time to reach a verdict. The verdict is predictable because of the time era of the story was in the time that segregation had a strong influence, so the colored people would typically lose
3.) What does Reverend Sykes instruction to Scout to “stand up” show about his people’s attitude towards Atticus?
- It shows that his people's attitude for Atticus is full of respect because he did a good job on defending Tom Robinson.
Chapter 22
1.) Although Atticus did not want his children in court, he defends Jem’s right to know what has happened. Explain, in your own words, Atticus’s reasons for this.
- Atticus defends Jem's rights to know what happened because he wants be a role model, he realizes that Jem is growing up and wants Jem to realize what the real world is like and how tough it is.
2.) Miss Maudie tells Jem that “things are never as bad as they seem”. What reasons does she give for this view?
- Miss Maudie tells Jem that things are never as bad as they seem because even if they lost, the verdict might be appealed, so there is hope for Tom Robinson, and even if they lost, Atticus still helped tremendously for Tom Robinson and the colored people, causing them to have more respect for Atticus.
Chapter 23
1.) What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s personal attach and threat?
- It shredded his last credibility that Bob Ewell had, and that Bob needed some kind of comeback against Atticus. And if it saved a beating for the children, Atticus felt that it was worth it.
2.) What is “circumstantial evidence”? What had it got to do with Tom’s conviction?
- Circumstantial evidence is based on words, or hear or say, like gossip. . It has to do with Tom's conviction because no one actually saw Tom raping Mayella, or Mayella tempting a negro.
3.) What reason does Atticus give about why the jury took so long to convict Tom?
- Mr. Cunningham makes the jury take a long time because he is defending Tom against the jury, and acquit the charges on Tom.
4.) Why does Aunt Alexandra accept that the Cunninghams may be good but are not “our kind of folks”?
- Aunt Alexandra believes that the Cunninghams are trash. They are good because they defended Tom, they were ethical, and the knew the difference between right or wrong. But she sees the Cunninghams as beneath her and the Finch's, therefore they are trash.
5.) At the end of this chapter, Jem forms a new theory about why Boo Radley has never left his house in years. What is this theory? How likely is it to be true?
- His theory is that Boo Radley just doesn't want to leave the house because he lives in a very cruel town, so he might not want to deal with it. He also doesn't want to leave because of all the rumors about him.
Chapter 24
1.) Do you think the missionary ladies are sincere in worrying about the “Mrunas” (a tribe in Africa”? Give reasons for your answer.
- Since the tribe, Mrunas, are African American, no ones wants to go to them or help them except J. Grimes Everett. So they probably aren't sincere because they pity the people and only want to keep up their appearances and do their "christian" work.
2.) What is your opinion of the ladies of Maycomb? Explain and support with quotes
- The ladies of Maycomb seem to like gossip a lot, and talk about everything around them and everything that is happening. This is probably the reason why Scout likes men more than woman because she believes that the woman are hypocrites. The woman in Maycomb believe that it is a bad thing to set the slaves free and treat them almost fairly, and that treating different people differently is a good thing. However, they also assist the tribe, the Mrunas, because no one else will, in pity, "they weren't....Hypocrites." (p. 234)
3.) Explain briefly how Tom was killed. What is Atticus’ explanation for Tom’s attempted escape?
- Tom was trying to escape over a fence, and the guards at the prison were warning him to stop. They shot the air a few times to scare him, but as Tom continued to climb over, the guards shot Tom seventeen times and killed him. If Tom had both arms, he would have made it. Atticus' explanation for Tom's attempt on escape was that Tom lost hope, that he was tried of the white men's chances and decided to take his own chance.
4.) How, in this chapter, do we see Aunt Alexandra in a new light? How does Miss Maudie support her?
- We see Aunt Alexandra change because we see she is compassionate about Tom and his wife and family when she feels sad when Tom dies. She is also upset that the town is making Atticus be the person to do everything the town doesn't want to do. Atticus is doing the dirty work, and the town puts all the problems on Atticus, which she feels upset and protective for.
- Miss Maudies supports her by agreeing about civil rights and the fair treatment of both blacks and whites.
5.) What shows that Scout has new respect for Aunt Alexandra?
- Scout shows that she has new respect for Aunt Alexandra when she picks up the tray to serve the guests with a attitude that if Aunt Alexandra can stay strong in front of the guests, so can she, and act like she likes the woman.
Chapter 25
1.) How does Maycomb react to the news of Tom’s death?
- They are not empathetic or sympathetic of Tom's death because they feel that it is typical for a black man to die. They pass it off as nothing more than just gossip.
2.) Comment on the idea that Tom’s death was “typical”.
- The idea that Tom's death was typical means that the Maycomb people like to generalize things, thinking that it is normal when a black man dies. They already think very little of black people, so they believe it isn't a surprise when Tom tried to run.
3.) Explain the contrast Scout draws between the court where Tom was tried and “the secret courts of men’s hearts”.
- The contrast that Scout draws between the court and the secret courts of men's hearts is that while the court appears and acts as a fair trial, in the men's hearts, they are all against Tom Robinson and are not fair towards him.
4.) Why did Jem not want Scout to tell Atticus about Bob Ewell’s at the end of the chapter? Was this a wise thing to ask her to do? Explain why or why not.
- They don't want to tell their dad because they don't want to burden or worry him even more. Atticus already has a lot on his mind that they don't want to put more stuff in his mind that the children might be in danger. It was wise because it would allow Atticus to focus more on other things and put less stress on him.
Chapter 26
1.) In her lesson on Hitler, Miss Gates says that “we (American people) don’t believe in persecuting anything”. What seems odd to you as the reader about this claim?
- The odd thing about what Miss Gates says is that she believes that it is revolting and morally wrong when Hitler persecutes the Jews, but it is fine to persecute the black people in her own town. So she is portraying a strong hypocrisy.
2.) Why is Scout so puzzled by Miss Gates’ disapproval of Hitler?
- While Miss Gates thinks that Hitler was a horrible person for oppressing the Jews, and that the Jews are good people, she oppresses the black people in her town, which is basically the same thing Hitler did, and contradicts what she says and what she does, which Scout finds confusing.
3.) Why does Scout’s questions upset Jem? Is there a simple answer, or any answer, to the question “How can you hate Hitler an’ then turn around an’ be ugly about folks right at home?”
- Jem takes her questions personally because it reminds him of the case of Tom Robinson. He already wonders how they lost, why the lost, and how he even got into the case, that he feels irritated to not know the answer and feels empathetic. There isn't really an answer because you can't control how people act or think. She just has to accept how these people think that way.
Chapter 27
1.) What three things does Bob Ewell do that alarm Aunt Alexandra?
- The first thing that Bob Ewell does that alrms Aunt Alexandra is that he breaks into Judge Taylor's house through the back door without permission. Bob Ewll also harasses Helen Robinson while she is trying to get to work, that she has to walk the long way and can't use the public road because Bob would then "chunk" her off the road. And lastly, when he got a job, he was immediately fired a few days later for laziness.
2.) Why, according to Atticus, does Bob Ewell bear a grudge?
- According to Atticus, Bob Ewell bears a grudge to anyone that he finds was involved with the Tom Robinson case or shredded his credibility at court. He went against Judge Taylor because the judge had a bad attitude against Bob like sneering or letting the case go on. Bob Ewell also went against Helen Robinson even if she had nothing to do with the case. He holds a grudge because when he persecuted Tom Robison, he thought the town would think of him as a hero. But it backfired on him because everyone already knew he was trash, a racist, and creepy that he had a grudge on people involved in the court.
Chapter 28
1.) How do the opening pages of this chapter remind us, the reader, of earlier events in the novel?
- In the beginning of this chapter, it mentions the story of how Jem broke his arm at the elbow with the assumption that Bob Ewell attacked them, which reminds us of the beginning sentence of the book where shesaid that Jem broke his arm at the age of thirteen. So it took 28 chapters to understand the beginning sentence.
2.) Scout decides to keep her costume on while walking home. How does this affect her understanding of what happens on the way?
- Because Scout keeps her costume on, she loses the effectiveness of her senses, like her vision. She has to touch things to know what's going on, and she realizes that they were being attacked, by she didn't know what exactly happened and who did it.
3.) Why had Atticus not brought a chair for the man in the corner? Who might this stranger be?
- Atticus might not have brought a chair for the man because he knows how the stranger, possibly Boo, might be awkward around people, so instead of exchanging pleasantries, Atticus let him have his space.
Chapter 29
1.) What causes the “shiny clean line” on the otherwise “dull wire” of Scout’s costume?
- The shiny clean line was the shiny paint that Mrs. Crenshaw put on Scout's Pork costume
2.) What explanation does Atticus give for Bob Ewell’s attack?
- Atticus' explanation for Ewell's attack was that he was crazy and insane, or "mean as hell," for being brave enough to try to kill children.
3.) What does Heck Tate give as the reason for the attack?
- Heck Tate thinks that Bob Ewell is just mean and cruel, and vicious enough to go after children and have an attempt to kill them, not crazy.
4.) Why should the reader not be surprised about the identity of the children’s rescuer?
- The reason that the reader might not be surprised that Boo was the rescuer is because he was the person that watched over them several times. There was that part where Boo folded Jem's pants when he intruded their yard, he left Scout and Jem little presents in the tree, and he wrapped Scout in a blanket when she was outside and she was cold. The relationship between Boo and the children is that he could be a big brother to them, or a hero to them because he has saved them and took care of them.
Chapter 30
1.) Who does Atticus think caused Bob Ewell’s death?
- Atticus strongly thinks that it was Jem that stabbed Bob Ewell in defense from himself and Scout.
2.) Why does Heck Tate insist that Bob Ewell’s death was self-inflicted?
- Heck Tates insists that Bob Ewell's death was self-inflicted because he wants to protect Jem from the town thinking and making rumors that Jem is a murderer, and he is also protecting Boo because he knows Boo does not want to talk to people no matter what, and he says it would be a sin to drag him through something he doesn't want to do, which is being in public.
3.) Is Heck Tate right to spare Boo the publicity of an inquest? Give reasons for your answer.
- I think that Heck Tate's decision to spare Boo is right because he is giving Boo his privacy and protecting Jem from bad rumors. He is being unethical, but he believes he is doing something right because he is protecting.
Chapter 31
1.) How do the events of the final chapters explain the first sentence in the whole novel?
- The first sentence of the novel tells that when Jem was thirteen, he broke his arm. But the final chapters leads up and explains that sentence, saying how he broke his arm and what happened afterwards.
2.) How does Scout make sense of an earlier remark of Atitcus’ as she stands on the Radley porch?
- When she satnds on the Radley porch, she starts to see things from Boo's perspective. She realizes how bad the neighbors have treated him that he has to shut himself up in the house and avoid contact with anyone, which she feels sorry for.
3.) How much of a surprise is it to find what Boo Radley is really like? Has the story before this point prepared the reader for this discovery?
- It isn't that much surprising that Boo is caring and shy, but also strange, being a grown man and is still scared of walking home by himself in the dark. It isn't surprising because there were several things that Boo has done to assist the children while being hidden, like giving gifts and saving their lives, that lets you realize he is a good person.