To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 7

Quote- Middle of Chapter 23

"When you analyze it, there was little risk. There's no difference between one man who's going to convict and another man who's going to convict, is there? There's a faint difference between a man who's going to convict who's a little disturbed in his mind isn't there? He was the only uncertainty on the whole list."

Response:
I chose this quote because it seems that the ignorance and indiffrence that some white people have, can be changed by simply showing that normal humans can also treat the other race equally. This could have happened to Mr. Cunningham on that night when he left the jail, seeing that a respectable father like Atticus could spend so much energy on defending a black.

Significance:
This is interesing because the rest of the men on the jury seem to have the same view of Atticus and Tom as Mr. Cunningham did when he joined the mob. A ignorant view that they were not worthy or respectable, just something like another bloodsucking laywer and another negro. Not many people have the same views or instincts that people like Atticus, Link Deas, Miss Maudie, and other close neighbors do, it is intersting that some people need that information before they decide to treat people equally.

Question 1:
Do you think that it was the night at the jail that made that member of the Cunningham family behave like that?

Question 2:
Why do you think that the known people in Scout's neighborhood tend to be more fair then elsewhere?

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 6

Quote #6 End of Chapter 19

"I don't care one speck. It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'em that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that-it just makes me sick."

Response:
I chose this quote because it shows a different side of Dill then the one where he was "tormenting" Boo Radley. What he learned when he came back must have brought out a different side of him. Dill had spent most of his time away from Alabama, so he wasn't exposed to the way that the whites treated blacks.

Significance:
It shows that some people see that talking like that is routine, something that is okay in average day life. The fact that Mr. Gilmer could use racial discrimination to lower Tom's reputation, such as he saying he was sorry for her, proves that it is in a sense, even written in the law. This attitude could change the way that the jury votes, just seeing him in general as inferior.

Question 1:
Do you think that this attitude will be brought up again in conversation?

Question 2:
We don't know too much about Mr. Gilmer. How do you think he views the case?

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 5

Quote #1- Beginning of Chapter 14

"Alexandra, Calpurnia's not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldn't have got along without her all these years. She's a faithful member of this family and you'll simply have to accept things the way they are."

Response:
I find this quote interesting because it shows again how Aunt Alexandra is disagreeing with Atticus about working with the other race. Her racism is invoking a tension between Atticus and her, Atticus is steadfast in defending fairness.



Significance:
The rift between Atticus and his sister could become or might already be a problem to the Finch family in general. It also shows that contrary to her belief, there is differences in personalities between people of the same family. It reveals more about how Atticus's noble perspective on fairness makes him ideal for defending Tom Robinson.

Question 1:
Do you think Alexandra will forget the argument? If not, how do you think she will release her tension?

Question 2:
Why do you think that Atticus and Alexandra are so different?

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 4

Quote- End of Chapter 10

Marksmanship is a gift of God, a talent-- oh, you have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin's different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things.

Response:
I chose this quote because it shows again how Atticus firmly upholds his sense of conscience. It tells that Atticus is a person who believes that no matter what other people do, it won't diminish what he thinks is right.

Significance:
Atticus's personality is very important considering what could happen, with how important the case is. The fact that Atticus strongly cares about and believes in fairness could hurt or help him later. It also shapes how he teaches the children, which is important as well.

Question 1:
Do you agree with Atticus? If not, what sense do you see in his words?

Question 2:
Do you think that Scout would learn something from this that would change the way she thinks about fairness?

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 3

Quote #1- End of Chapter 8
Miss Maudie puzzled me. With most of her possessions gone and her beloved yard a shambles, she still took a lively and cordial interest in Jem's and my affairs.

Response:
I picked this quote because I found it interesting that Miss Maudie had such a positive outlook on life. She thought of all the positive outcomes and opinions, and felt that talking to the children was still a great thing to be doing.

Significance:
I still think that Miss Maudie will be in more big events throuout the course of the book. The quote shows her "nothing to lose" attitude, which could be quite helpful or important later in the plot. It furthermore shows more of her personality in general.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 2

Quote #3-End of Chapter 6

"Maybe so, but- I just wanta keep it that way, Scout. We shouldn'a done that tonight, Scout."
It was then, I suppose, that Jem and I first began to part company. Sometimes I did not understand him, but my periods of bewilderment were short-lived.

Response:
I chose this quote because I found that the indication that Jem and Scout began to part company is important, before, they had, for the most part, done things together. It is a relief that Scout hadn't gone back to the Radley place, she could have got into trouble. It also seemed that Boo predicted that Jem would come to get the pants that night.

Significance:
I think that the fact that Scout and Jem's relationship as siblings has changed will pose as a more important fact later in the book. It could create a change in how they will relate to each other on events of importance. If they take different moral sides on some events, it could put Scout or Jem in a dangerous position.

Question 1:
Do you think that the differences in opinions would become more significant later?

Question 2:
Do you think that Boo knew that Scout was involved in the previous events that led to Jem losing his pants?

To Kill a Mockingbird: Post 1

Quote #1: End of Chapter 1
The old house was the same, droopy and sick, but as we stared down the street we thought we saw an inside shutter move. Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still.

Response:
The quote is interesting because there is a lot of gossip about the Radley Place. Every small event dealing with that place is elaborated to look like a horror story for the children in Maycomb.

Significance:
This quote indicates that Scout is thinking about the mystery of the Radley Place. The movement should be explained later with signficance in the plot. It is almost certain that Scout will learn more about the Radleys later in the story.

Question 1:
what do you think caused the movement?

Question 2:
Do you think Mr. Radley is really actually malicious?