Chapters 24/25: What is the significance of the "roly-poly"? What does this incident tell you about Scout and Jem?(Julio)

The roly-poly symbolizes their innocence. In chapter twenty five, Scout finds a roly-poly in her room (a bug). She plays with it and makes it roll into a ball by poking it with a stick over and over again. After a few minutes of playing this game Scout says, "Feeling sleepy, I decided to end things" (Lee 319). After she said that, she was going to kill it. Jem stopped her and said, "They don't bother you." (Lee 320).This relates to Tom Robinson in a way because he is like the bug in this situation. It is innocent and about to get his freedom taken away for no reason. Tom was charged for something he didn't do and unfairly punished and Jem didn't want it happening to the bug.

Chapters 22/23: What are Aunt Alexandra’s and Atticus’ definitions of “trash.” How do they differ? (Antrias)

Atticus and Aunt Alexandra have two extremely different definitions of trash. Atticus thinks that for someone to be considered trash they must take advantage of an African American. Aunt Alexandra thinks that someone is trash when they are lesser than the Finches. When Atticus is talking to Jem and educating him about racism and biases he says "You'll see white men cheat black men every day... and don't you forget... when a white man does that to a black man... that white man is trash"(Lee 252). This quote proves that Atticus thinks that when a white man abuses his power over a black man "that white man is trash". Atticus's definition of trash differs from Aunt Alexandra's because while she is explaining to Scout why Scout can't hang out with Walter she says "They're not our kind of folks... I'll tell you why... because-he-is-trash, that's why you can't play with him" (Lee 256). In this quote Aunt Alexandra claims that the Cunninghams are different than the Finches making them trash. Aunt Alexandra thinks that just because the Cunninghams have less money or are less proper than the Finches, Scout cannot play with Walter Cunningham.

Chapter 22/23: Explain Maudie’s two important quotes about Atticus in Chapter 22. How is she showing her support? (Tyler)

Miss Maudie has a respect and understanding of Atticus’s decisions and actions more than many of the other citizens of Maycomb.  She doesn’t show it much but she understands. During chapter 22 Jem, Dill, and Scout go over to Miss Maudie's after the night of the trial, they end up getting into conversation about Atticus and Miss Maudie expresses her thoughts about him. She says,  “... there are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father’s one of them…” What Miss Maudie is trying to say is that Atticus doesn’t care about the job he has to complete he just completes it. She continues, “We're so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we’ve got men like Atticus to go for us” (Lee 245-246).  Miss Maudie shows a lot of admiration of Atticus toward Jem, Dill, and Scout. She is trying to say that whatever challenge or “dirty work” is thrown at him he will work hard trying to solve the problem. This shows in the Tom Robinson case, when it was given to Atticus everyone thought it would be impossible for him to win but he did his duty and put up a good fight.  Miss Maudie understands this and supports Atticus by being proud that he is making baby steps towards equality.

22/23 "How is Jem maturing physically and emotionally in these chapters?" (Keira)

In chapters 23 and 24 we see Jem maturing physically and emotionally. In chapter 24 we can see how Jem is maturing physically, Atticus unbutton his shirt and shows jem how he has hair on his chest, this is showing how Jem is becoming more mature and turning into a young adult. He is also maturing emotionally, he is beginning to see how much racism affects Maycomb county and surrounding towns and states. After the trail, its hit Jem that life is not fair and things almost never go your way, he instantly beginnings crying, “It was Jem’s turn to cry. His face was streaked with angry tears as we made out way through the cheerful crowd” (Lee 242). Jem always makes fun of Scout for crying but because Scout knows how Jem feels neither of them say anything about Jem of crying.

Chapter 20/21: Examine the final line of chapter 21. What is the significance? (Alexsa)

The last line of chapter 21 in TKAM, shows how much respect the people in the court give Atticus. The line states, "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin." (Lee 241) The significance of this quote shows how much respect the people in this time respected a white person, Atticus. At this time, negros did not like white people and white people did not like negros, so when the negros stood up, in respect of Atticus leaving the court room, changed how people saw Atticus and other white people. The theme of the chapter and specifically the last line is courage and bravery. Throughout the trial, Atticus never stopped fighting for Tom Robinson, a black man. This showed how much bravery and courage it took Atticus to not give up and turn on Tom. As you can see, this final line and chapter showed respect, courage, and bravery of people of all kinds.

What do Scout and Dill learn about Dolphus Raymond? What does this tell you about his character? (Antonella)

Dill and Scout learn that Dolphus Raymond pretends to drink a lot so people can peg his behavior on drunkenness. He actually just wants to be happy with his significant other and their children. When Scout asks why he would dirty his reputation even more by pretending to be a drunkard, he replies “… it’s mighty helpful to folks… they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that’s the way I want to live”(228). People cannot understand that Mr. Raymond chooses to live the way he does, so, to avoid rumors and the like, he provides a reason that they can understand, being drunk. That way people will leave him be and he can live a quiet life with his family. Mr. Raymond doesn’t care about what others think, so he sacrifices his reputation for a happy life with his family.

What keeps people from understanding Mr. Raymond's real reason for living the way he does? Is Mr. Raymond a good man?

Chapter 20/21: Explore Atticus’ words and actions in his closing argument. What makes his argument so effective? Why does Harper Lee do this? (Spiros)

Atticus’ actions during his closing argument are so effective because he is able to show his audience that he is putting himself out there and is being vulnerable in order for them to understand his opinion on people of color and how they should be treated equally rather than always having people against them. Harper Lee wants to include this to show how passionate a white person could be at that time in order to make such a powerful statement. After Atticus is done with questioning Tom Robinson, he performs his closing argument. He takes off his jacket and loosens his tie, which is considered to be very rare and even naked for when the kids see him: “He unbuttoned his vest, unbuttoned his collar, loosened his tie, and took off his coat.” (Lee 230). What Atticus was trying to say was that although there might be a bias towards black people, but in court, all men are equal and that bias should be discarded in order for it to be a fair trial. Harper Lee wanted to include this scene because she wanted to show that not all people were against people of color, and that there were still white people such as Atticus who would defend them and try to show that they are equal. It is a really meaningful message to the readers too, (especially the ones reading it when the book had come out), because it was also an epiphany to them as well, since some of them had the same biases as the characters in the book. Atticus really had to put himself out there in order to show that he truly meant what he was saying and how that had to consider his side. Although he was unsuccessful, the jury must have really considered his vulnerability due to the fact that they took so long make a descision. How do you think that the rest of the people in the courtroom will take this statement? Do you think that it will be very effective?