Today we discussed chapters 5, 6, and 7 by answering the questions below:
1. Give on example to show that Miss Maudie is the voice of reason (stands up for the truth). She speaks candidly! She is sassy toward Miss Stephanie. She tells Miss Stephanie to make room in her bed for Boo which shut Miss Stephanie up for a while. You are too young to understand it. She is the advisor on the street. She tells the truth. She doesn't make up answers to satisfy Scout's question. She treats Scout as an adult. She is a friend to Scout. Page 49. Page 60. Page 59.
2. Why might Boo Radley not want to come out? At the end of chapter 5, Jem says he is re-thinking the idea of becoming a lawyer. Why? embarrassed? anxiety? It's been so long, he knows that there will be a huge fuss. People thinks he is a psychopath and all the rumours could destroy him. Harshly judged. Afraid? Not used to it? Society is corrupt. He does not want to live in a society. Atticus tricks Jem into stop fighting. Jem is mad that lawyers can twist your words.
3. Why can't people change by being told to change? How does Jem decide to stop the Boo Radley game (of trying to make him come out of the house)? Give at least two examples from the novel. His pants are stitched up. He thinks Book did it. Boo seems to be keeping guard of the kids. Boo may not want the kids to have to suffer the way he has. Jem thinks it is childish. Growing up makes people change. He cries when he realizes how badly Mr. Radley treats him. Boo is not allowed any contact with anyone. Boo was communicating with the kids by leaving them gifts in the tree: Indian Head pennies, a pack of gum, string, pocket watch that doesn't work, carved Jem and Scout out of soap. Growing up is a theme in the story. Every couple of chapters, time passes quickly. Harper Lee is showing that despite growing up, people don't change.
4. Why does Mr. Radley fill the hole in the tree with cement and then lie about the tree's health? Nathan doesn't want Boo to communicate with the kids. He doesn't want the children to realize how badly he treats his brother. He lies because he doesn't want them to know that Boo left things in the tree. He wants to keep Boo isolated from everyone else. Nathan is cruel. He is embarrassed about Boo. Boo is notorious (a bad legend).
5. Do you see any danger in Atticus' belief in "not bothering the neighbours"? Discuss. See if you can add in connections to other examples in the novel of "letting things slide". Let your neighbours do whatever they want!!! A good lawyer can get a criminal free! Not bothering is foreshadowing!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
If there is something going on in the house and we don't meddle, there could be some serious STUFF going on!! Connects to letting things slide!!!!! Pay attention to abuse and ignorance in your town!!!!!! Dig into it. Find the facts! Not meddling closes off opinions and thoughts. If you can't talk to others, ignorance is perpetuated by a lack of understanding. The Ewells don't have money because the father DRINKS IT ALL AWAY and the family receives money from the county (welfare) to survive but he drinks that away, too. He HUNTS out of season. They let him get away with it to feed all his kids. They don't make the kids go to school. The father needs the kids to help out at home.
We also marked our paragraphs from Friday's class. If you were away today, you will need to find a partner and mark the paragraph together.
Short Stories: I returned the short stories. Some of the stories require a lot of attention and proofreading in order to get them publication ready (absolutely error free). The new draft is due Wed. Nov. 12. You may revise the parts of the story that do not meet our criteria but be sure to edit any new parts.
Paragraphs on chapters 3 to 5: We marked these with a partner today. You have to be able to find your errors so you can plan to correct them.
