TKAM 24-25

Chapter 24

-Jem and Dill go skinny dip.

- Aunt Alexandra has ladies over for a meeting of the Missionary Society of Maycomb, and forces Scout to stay in an attempt to make her a proper lady. 

The women discuss the plight of the Mruna people, a non-Christian group in Africa who are said to live in squalor and are being converted thanks to the efforts of a missionary named J. Grimes Everett.....a topic really necessary in Maycomb?

- Scout doesn't enjoy it, but does her best to take part. 

-Sudden turn to gossip: The topic of Tom's wife, Helen. The ladies have a lot to say.  Aunt Alexandra magically calms the room. Another lady says that Northerners are hypocrites who claim to give blacks equal standing but actually don't mix socially with them, whereas in the South people are very up-front about their lack of desire to share the same lifestyle.....This time period gives way to some very questionable opinions.

-Scout remembers that Calpurnia told Atticus that the day Tom went to prison, he lost hope. Atticus couldn't promise 

-Atticus enters the house and requests Aunt Alexandra and Calpurnia's presence in the kitchen. 

-Tom escaped fro prison and was shot to death by the prison guards. (Apparently the guards tried to tell him to stop and fired warning shots, but Tom kept running.)

- Atticus needs Calpurnia to go with him to Tom's wife to give her the news. 

-Aunty and Maudie talk about the trial and how it has drained Atticus.

-. Miss Maudie thinks that the town has paid Atticus a high tribute by trusting him to do right and uphold justice. 

-The two women are quite shaken, but then join the other women effortlessly. For the first time, Scout feels proud of her Aunt and of Miss Maudie, and for the first time feels inclined to be ladylike, thinking that, "if Aunty could be a lady at a time like this, so could I."

-What's happening to Scout?

Chapter 25

-It is now September.

- Scout sees a roly-poly bug and goes to kill it. Jem stops her, saying the bug never did anything to harm her. 

- As she returns to her cot on the porch, she thinks of Dill and remembers his story of the day Tom died in late August.

-When Atticus and Cal were driving out to see Tom's wife when they spotted Jem and Dill on their way back from swimming. Jem and Dill ask for a ride.  Hesitantly, Atticus agrees to let them come along. 

-Tom's wife faints

-Tom's death was only news in Maycomb for two days.  People were not shocked because of racial biases

-Scout reflects that "in the secret courts of men's hearts," nothing Atticus could have said could have freed Tom. 

-Upon hearing the news, Mr. Ewell is rumored to have said, "one down and about two more to go," and Scout is afraid for Atticus. 

-Jem confidently tells Scout that Mr. Ewell won't really take any action on his threats. HMMMMMMM

Plesse read 26-27 for Monday, 5/4

TKAM 22-23

Hey Darlings,
We are going to check out 22-23 for Wednesday, 4/29.  I hope to see you there! 

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Chapter 22

-Jem is crying and angry - he thought that the case was clearly in Tom's favor. 

Atticus is exhausted and when Jem asks him how the jury could have done it he responds, "I don't know, but they did it. They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do it - seems like only children weep." (What does  he mean by this statement?)

-A new day, a new bit of hope....The next morning:

New energy, the possibility for an appeal.  -Tons of food from the African American community (Attiucs, grateful, but they shouldn't have Cal, these are hard times)

The kids: cake time with Miss Maudie.  Jem loses faith in his community.  Miss Maudie points out that many people helped, including Mr. Tate the sheriff, the black community, and especially Mr. Taylor the judge, who offered Atticus the case in the first place. 

-She says that Atticus at least allowed the jury to stop and thing. She says, "we're making a step - it's just a baby step, but it's a step."

-Dill announces that he wants to be a clown. "there's ain't one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh, so I'm gonna join the circus and laugh my head off."  I get it, but I am not a fan of clowns!!  

- The children see Mr. Avery, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Rachel passionately discussing something.

-Apparently Mr. Ewell saw Atticus by the post office, spat in his face, and told him that, "he'd get him if it took the rest of his life."

Bob EWell, enough said!

Chapter 23

-Atticus isn't worried.  Ewell was publicly humiliated.  He says it d better he takes out his frustrations on him rather than the Ewell children.

-Tom is being held on a prison farm...NO visitors. 

-Atticus thinks there's a good chance he'll be spared execution by having his sentence commuted by the governor. Atticus comments that too many people are sent to death based upon purely circumstantial evidence. 

-Jem thinks that juries should be done away with, because they can't make reasonable decisions. Atticus responds that men don't behave rationally in some situations, and will always take a white man's word over a black man's.  (They discuss how juries are limited:  No women, No interest,Hard times)

-Atticus points out that they didn't decided immediately, it took a few hours....because of one jurror, it was a Cunningham.......progress.

. Atticus thinks that all Cunninghams will stand solidly behind anyone who wins their respect, without fail - and the incident at the jailhouse won the Finch family great respect.

-Aunty chimes in, she'll never change

-To comfort Scout, Jem changes the subject to his chest hair and going out for football in the fall.

-He says that there are four different kinds of people in Maycomb county: "ordinary" people like themselves, people like the Cunninghams in the woods, people like the Ewells by the dump, and black people. Each class looks down upon and despises the class below it. 

-Scout disagrees and thinks, "there's just one kind of folks. Folks." Jem says he used to think so as well, but he doesn't understand why they despise one another if that's the case

-. Jem seems very frustrated with society, and adds that maybe Boo stays inside because he wants to.

-Back to the Radley's.  Did you forget about them?????????

TKAM 20-21

Hey Kittens,

I am so excited for Monday's class!  The plot is really heating up.  Here are my notes:

Chapter 20

-Mr. Dolphus Raymond - Don't judge this book by it's cover, just ask Dil!. 

-Scout asks why he does such a thing, and Mr. Raymond explains he feels he has to give the population some reason for his life choices. 

-Mr. Raymond believes it's easier for people to handle one's differences when they have a reason to explain it. 

-He says he thinks that children like Dill, who is so upset over the trial, haven't lost the instinct that tells them that it's wrong for white people to "give hell" to black people without consideration for their basic humanity.  GO DOLPHUS!

-Atticus gives his closing remarks:

 Atticus explains that the case is very simple, because there is no medical evidence and very questionable testimony to prove Tom's guilt. \

Atticus explains that Mayella has, "broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society" by attempting to seduce a black man. He acknowledges her poverty and ignorance, but says, "I cannot pity her: she is white." 

-He explains that Mayella followed her desires even though she was aware of the social taboos against her actions. 

-Having broken one of society's strictest codes, she chose to, "put the evidence of her offense," namely Tom Robinson, away from her by testifying against him. Atticus accuses Mayella of trying to rid herself of the source of her own guilt.
- He suggests Ewell beat her
-Takes off his coat and addresses the jury as if he's talking to  them in his living room.
-He reminds them that there are honest and dishonest people, regardless of color
-Wants them to be honest!
-Calpurnia rushes to the front of the courtroom

Chapter 21

-Cal hands him a note from Aunty...Where are the kids?  (They've been gone all day, and she just notices now?????????????)
-PPl in the courthouse point them out.
-After dinner, return for verdict
 -Everyone is silent and still, and Scout feels the sensation of chilliness in the room. 
-Scout notices that not a single member of the jury looks at Tom, and she takes this as a bad sign. Meanwhile, she and Jem can't believe that anyone could convict Tom.......he is so clearly innocent.
-It was a unanimous vote!
All the black people in the balcony rise to their feet to honor Atticus as he passes them.  They are grateful for his effort!

If you think things are INTENSE now....just wait for the rest of the novel!

PLEASE READ 22-23 FOR WEDNESDAY, 4/29

TKAM 18-19

Hey!!!!  Now it's time for ch 18-19.

Ch 18

-It is now Mayella's turn to be a witness. (She's totally distraught!)

 -She finally tells Mr. Gilmer that her father asked her to chop up an old chiffarobe (chest of drawers) for kindling, but she didn't feel strong enough. When Tom Robinson walked by, she asked him to do it for a nickel. 

-She claims that she went inside for the money, and Tom followed her, pushed her to the floor, and took advantage of her while she screamed and tried to fight back. Then, her father arrived and Tom ran away. 

Now it is Atticus's turn.

-She freaks out when Atticus refers to  her as "Miss Mayella," and the judge has to explain that Atticus is imply being polite. (Doesn't understand respect)

-Here is what we learn in cross examination: Mayella is 19 and her family receives relief checks, but there isn't enough food to go around; her father seems to be a drunkard. Mayella went to school for a few years but none of her eight siblings go, and their mother is dead. Mayella doesn't seem to have any friends. 

-She says her dad is "tolerable" but doesn't beat her.

Atticus -Has Tom ever been invited in the House? 

Does she remembers being beaten in the face, and Mayella first says no, but then yes. Atticus asks her to identify the man who raped her, and Mayella points to Tom, who Atticus asks to stand. 

Big REVEAL: Tom's left arm is twelve inches shorter than his right, due to an accident in his youth when the arm got stuck a cotton gin.

 Atticus asks for more questions which Mayella doesn't answer: Why didn't the other children hear her screaming? Where were they? Why didn't they come running? Did she start screaming when she saw her father in the window? Did she get beaten up by her father, not Tom Robinson?

Mayella just says that she was taken advantage of, and if the upper class gentlemen won't prosecute Tom, they are cowards. Atticus appears to have found his exchange with the young woman distasteful. The court rests for ten minutes, but no one leaves the courthouse

YOUR OPINION: Is she telling the truth?  Does she want pity or fear humiliation?  

Chapter 19

Tom is called to the witness stand. He tries to put his left hand upon the Bible, but it is a futile effort, as his left arm is entirely non-functional.

-Tom explains that he was once convicted for fighting because he could not pay the fine that would have released him. (In an aside, the narrator explains that Atticus is showing how honest Tom is and that he has nothing to hide from the jury.) 

Next, Tom's side.

-He says he passed by the Ewell house every day on his way to work at Mr. Link Deas's farm, where Tom picks cotton and does other farm work. 

-Tom confirms that one day last spring, Mayella asked him to chop up an old chiffarobe with a hatchet, but that was long before the November day in question. 

Mayella continued to ask for his help with odd jobs...he was never paid

-He said he helped her out because he felt bad  for her.  Why doesn't this fly during this time period?

-Scout thinks about how lonely Mayella is - she's so poor that white people won't befriend her, but black people will avoid her because she's white.

On November 21 of that year. Tom says that he passed their house as usual, 

-Mayella asked him to come inside and fix a broken door, but when he got inside the house, the door didn't look broken. 

-Then, Mayella shut the door behind, got rid of the kids, and Tom tried to leave.

-She asks him to take a box down from on top of another chiffarobe. 

-Mayella grabs his legs, hugged him around the waist, and kissed his cheek.

-Mayella asks him to kiss her back, Tom tries to leave, and Mayella blocks the door.. 

-Then Mr. Ewell arrives, happens upon the scene, calls his daughter awful names and threatens to kill tom

-Mr. Gilmer questions Tom next, and he does so fairly aggressively, addressing him only as "boy". 

-Mr. Gilmer tries to get at Tom's motivations, and Tom finally says he just tried to help because he felt sorry for her, which stirs up the audience  Why?

-Mr. Gilmer asks whether Tom thinks Mayella was lying about asking him to chop up the chiffarobe in November. Tom avoids a potential trap by saying he thinks Mayella must be, "mistaken in her mind" about this and everything else.

-Tom doesn't want to be falsely accused

-Dill starts to cry, WHY?

- A sympathetic voice behind them agrees that it makes him sick too - they turn to see Mr. Dolphus Raymond.

-

TKAM 16-17 and Research Assignment

I. Research Assignment:
     A.  HS Library Database instructions:
     B.  If anyone would like to use the PowerLibrary or Proquest databases for enrichment, students can access them remotely using the links on the high school library website.  
     C. The PowerLibrary password is 24752000189470 or they can use a public library card number.        D. The Proquest login is username: berwickhs, password: berwickhs. 
II. Read over the two PowerPoints
     A. Note any questions you have
     B. I will begin to go over the PowerPoints next Wednesday.
III.  After the PowerPoints
     A. Begin the two Assignments
     B. Please complete them by Friday, 5/8
     C. Turn them in to Google Classroom.  
     (I will share them with Mrs. Henry....She will grade them and check off the skill in your file)

DUE DATES:
-For Wednesday, 4/23 -READ CHAPTERS 16-17
-By Wedensday, 4/23- make sure journal 7-9 is turned in
-By Friday, 4/25 - Turn in Journal 10-12
-By Monday, 4/28- turn in Journal 13-15

Chapter 16 Notes:
-Why does Scout cry?  Does she understand?
-Atticus says that Mr. Underwood despises black people, but was still willing to defend Atticus. 
-Aunt Alexandra urges Atticus not to speak like that in front of Calpurnia, but Atticus protests as usual, claiming fairness and honesty are important. 
-Scout wonders out loud why Mr. Cunningham wanted to hurt Atticus when he usually is Atticus's friend. 
-Atticus explains that some people can forget that they are human beings when they become part of a mob. (Mob Mentality)
-Clearly moved by the situation, Atticus explains to her that it took an eight-year-old girl to bring them to their senses.

-Let the trial begin 
-Atticus tells the kids to stay home....do they ever listen?
-Nope, Scout, Jem, and Dill go to the courthouse where the locals are all out picnicking in the park. (What an event to celebrate?????? ODDDDDDD)

Dolphus Raymond is symbolic....you'll have to read on to learn why

-They notice Mr. Dolphus Raymond drinking liquor from a paper bag and sitting with the black people. 

-Jem explains that he married a black woman and that he has "mixed" children. Jem says that these children are "sad" because they don't feel accepted by black people or by white people - though they can be accepted in the North.

-In the packed courthouse, the children have trouble getting seats , don't worry, Rev. Sykes helps them

-Scout believes The JUDGE is a good person

CHAPTER 17-Look for the clues and deduce your own thoughts

-Sheriff Tate Speaks first as he's questioned by Mr. Gilmer (Ewell's attorney)

He states the events surrounding Tom Robinson and Mr. Ewell's daughter, Mayella. Mr. Tate states that on November 21, Mr. Ewell came to get him because he claimed Mayella was raped by an African American

- He says that he found Mayella on the floor, very beaten up, and that Mayella claimed Tom Robinson had taken advantage of her and beaten her. Atticus questions Tate next, asking whether anyone called a doctor. 

-No doctor?   No Evidence!  (Think Scottsboro Boys)

-Mr. Tate says no. Atticus asks where Mayella had been beaten, and Mr. Tate says, with some hesitation, that her right eye and entire right side of her face were bruised, and she had scratches all around her neck.

-Mr. Ewell is surly and crass in the witness chair, but the judge, who clearly does not respect the man, manages to keep everything orderly. 

Mr. Gilmer asks Mr. Ewell for his version of the events. (Be able to point these out...note the page numbers)

-Atticus questions Mr. Ewell, asking whether a doctor was called, and Mr. Ewell again says that no (Why do you think this would have been key?)

-Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell remembers Mayella's injuries as being the same as described by the sheriff. Mr. Ewell says that he does. Atticus asks if Mr. Ewell can write, and he says he can, so Atticus asks him to write his name on an envelope. In so doing, it is revealed that Mr. Ewell is left-handed.

(What does this clue prove?)

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, 4/23 @2  Hope to see you there!!

TKAM 15

Here are my notes on chapter 15:
-Yay, Dill gets to stay!  (one positive moment, and the nightmare begins)

 -Tom is being moved to the Maycomb jail the next day (Sunday), because the trial will occur on Monday. 
-The men outside are concerned that the "Sarum bunch" will cause some trouble, but Atticus thinks they won't do anything (such as a lynching) on a Sunday night.
- Mr. Link Deas warns Atticus that he has everything to lose from the trial, but Atticus says that he wants the truth to come out. 
-The TRUTH!
-The children are afraid for their father.
-Aunty's concerned about the family name....that's the least they have to worry about!
-Later that afternoon, Atticus leaves the house in his car, carrying an electrical extension cord with a light bulb at the end. He refuses to allow Jem and Scout to come. 
-Around 10:00pm, Jem starts changing his clothes and tells Scout that he's going downtown. Scout insists on coming, and they pick up Dill on the way. 
-Atticus is at the Jail.  Why?
-The children watch and hide
- Jem feels reassured knowing where his father is, but as they are about to head home, four old cars come into town. A shadowy group of men emerges.
-They start to attack the kids...Kick Scout Kick!
-Scout says in the men smell of "whiskey and pigpen" (dressed like the conspirators in JC?????)
-Scout relieves the tension.  "Hey Mr. Cunningham..." ;  She makes guilt set in for the men.
-Mr. Underwood reveals himself in a nearby window with a gun, pointing out that he had them covered the whole time. ---The Finch family and Dill head home.

Think About....
1. Find 2 instances that foreshadow that something bad is going to happen?
2. Why jump on the side of the Ewells?
3. Scout/ Entailment...What does she unknowingly do?

Please read chapters 16-17 for Wednesday.  We will meet at 2PM

TKAM 13-14

Hello my darlings,

Wednesday's analysis was spot on!  I am so proud of you!  As you know, tensions are starting to rise in Maycomb.  A once simple town is now turning bold and complicated!

For Friday, 4/7, I would like you to read chapters 13-14 and complete the packet work.
Also, I would like the journals for 7-9 by Friday,

Here are my thoughts on each chapter:

Chapter 13:
-Aunt Alenandra has decided (and convinced Atticus) it would be best for the family if she stays with them for "a while," which worries Scout even though she knows there's nothing to be done. 
-Aunt Alexandra establishes herself in the neighborhood and continues to pester the children about what they should and should not do.
-She is old-fashioned, snooty, and proper, and often refers to the people of Maycomb in light of their family history...Talk about being judgy!
-She seems to believe that behaviors and character traits are hereditary, passed on from one generation to the next - one family might have a Gambling Streak, or a Mean Streak, or a Funny Streak. 
-Obviously, the Finch family is most important and genteel (yes, I'm being sarcastic....but that's how she feels--even with crazy cousin Josh!)
-Atticus begins to listen to Alexandra, but Scout gives him a reality check! 

Chapter 14:
-Atticus answers ALL of their questions.
-Aunty flips when she learns that they attended Cal's church.....Fire her!
-He refuses on the grounds that she's done an excellent job of running the house and raising the children, and the children love her. 
-Jem takes Scout aside and tries to tell her not to antagonize their aunt. 
-He and Scout get into a fist fight, which Atticus breaks up, saying that Scout doesn't have to obey Jem unless he can make her do so. (Atticus is just  trying to keep the peace!)
-What's under Scout's bed?  A Poisonous Snake!!!!!???? EEEK!!
-It's one interesting "critter" with an interesting tale....Do you Believe it?
-How is this character similar to BOO?

Hope to see you on Friday!  I'll send a reminder link.
Mrs. C.

TKAM 11-12

Good Morning My Beautiful Class,
I hope your extended weekend found you happy and healthy!!

Attiucs gives three major bits of advice to his children:
1. Walk in someone's skin/ shoes
2. It's a sin to kill a mockingbird
3. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience


 Today, Monday, 4/13, we are going to discuss chapters 11 and 12.  Here are my notes:

-Mrs. Dubose - Such an angry woman.  What is the cause of her anger?
-Atticus's advice regarding Mrs. Dubose: just hold your head high and be a gentleman. In town, Jem buys himself a model steam engine and buys Scout a sparkly twirling baton she has had her eye on for some time.
-Jem Doesn't take that advice so well.........
-Punishment - Scout and Jem must read to her for a month:  Is Atticus out of his mind, or (as usual,) does he have another lesson in mind?
-Racism and Racial Slurs are growing.......It's getting ugly in Maycomb

Chapter 12
-Jem is growing up to be moody and temperamental ....We've all been there!
-Summer kicks off poorly, No Dill, No Atticus for two weeks
-Cal's church - The children are treated poorly,,,,,,Lula isn't exactly welcoming
-However, Calpurnia points out that it's the same God, and the rest of the congregation welcomes the newcomers.
-Scout, "Why does Calpurnia speak differently at church?"
-Rev. Sykes takes up a collection for the Robinsons...and he's quite insistent on raising $10
-Not exactly a rich church, but a group of generous people
-Scout asks Cal tons of questions:
-What's going on with Tom Robinson?  What is rape?  Why are there no hymn books at church?
-Top off the day, Aunty is visiting!

tkam 9-10

Hey Kittens,
You did great on Monday, 4/6 and I hope to see you on Wednesday, 4/8.  I really like analyzing the book with you....you bring up some very interesting points!


So as promised, here are my notes from chapters 9 and 10

Chapter 9
-Cecil let's the racial slurs fly, and it makes Scout boil!  What are her reactions?  Is she growing up?

-Later, she asks Atticus what the phrase means, and he explains that he has decided to defend a black man named Tom Robinson who lives in a settlement behind the town dump. Atticus says many of the town people think he ought not defend Tom because he is black. Scout asks why he's still doing it if people don't want him to, and Atticus responds that if he didn't take the case, he wouldn't be able to "hold up my head in town."

Think about this quote, and we will discuss it on Wednesday

-He tells Scout to keep her cool no matter what anyone says, and fight with her head, not her hands. Scout asks if he's going to win the case and Atticus says no, but "simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win." He tells her that no matter what happens, the people of Maycomb are still their friends, and this is still their town. (We will talk about this too)

-Let's go to Finch's Landing and meet Uncle jack, Aunt Alexandra, her husband, and Fancis (ewww, Francis, that's all I have to say!  He's HORRIBLE!).

-Scout calls him "the most boring child I ever met." Talking to Francis gives Scout the feeling of, "settling slowly to the bottom of the ocean." The only good thing about being at the Landing is Aunt Alexandra's excellent cooking.

-How about Uncle Jack's reaction?

-Atticus just hopes that he can get his children through the ordeal without having them catch "Maycomb's usual disease," when "people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up." 
-Atticus hopes that Jem and Scout will look to him for their answers rather than to the townspeople. 
-Then he calls out Scout's name and tells her to go to bed. She runs back to her room.-Years later, the narrator, an aged Scout, explains she eventually came to understand that Atticus wanted her to hear

Chapter 10
-Is Scout ashamed of Atticus at this age?
-Scout doesn't think her father can "do" anything besides be a lawyer - he doesn't do hands-on physical work and he doesn't play football. He's much older than the parents of her peers, which makes it difficult for him to take part in such activities.

Central Quote/ Theme of the Novel:
-Atticus tells Scout and Jem they can shoot their air guns at tins cans and bluebirds, but that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. 

-Miss Maudie affirms this, saying to Scout, "Your father's right. 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."

-Meet Tim Johnson, btw...the current seniors were totally fascinated by Tim!

-"One Shot Finch"

-Scout wants to tell everyone in school about the incident, but Jem tells her not to. Jem explains that he wouldn't care if Atticus "couldn't do a blessed thing," because Atticus is a gentleman.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOMEWORK:

-Please turn in your journals for 4-6 by 4/9
-Please turn in your journals for 7-9 by 4/13
-Read 11-13 for next meeting.
We will meet after the holiday.