Post 1: Chapters 1-11
Post your thoughts, comments, reactions, predictions, questions, etc. about the first part of the novel. Be sure to include textual evidence to support your response. See assignment sheet for more details and rubric.
Then, respond to three classmates' posts.
Then, respond to three classmates' posts.
September 20, 2018.
ReplyDeleteI really love this book so far because I am taken to a world I have never seen before and a time period I have never lived in. I really love the word choice and the setting of where everything takes place in. However, I do not like that the narrator, Scout constantly judges people based off of their families. I also do not like how chapter six came close to an end of page 63 “I began to feel sick. Going back to that place by himself… He lay down, and for a while I heard his cot trembling” (Lee 63 and 64). I am so curious to what happened but I am afraid that Jem got caught and got beat up or was scarred from whatever he saw when he left. I really do not like that I feel he may have gotten hurt because of him going out to find whatever it is he saw. I predict that in the morning when they wake up everyone is going to question what he saw and he will not respond to anything, being too fearful of what’ll happen, so Scout will go herself to the Radley house and meet Boo Radley. Then they might become friends because I believe when she fell and heard the laughter it was him. So in conclusion I believe they will become friends and later on the Ewells and them will get into a fight. Jem will break his arm that way. At least I think so, it might be something else but I feel that would happen because on page one Scout talks about how she thinks he broke his arm because of the Ewells. “When he was nearly thirteen, ,my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow...I maintain that the Ewells started it all…” (Lee 1). I really wonder how he broke his arm and what was happening during the time and place he broke his elbow/arm.
I compleatly agree because seeing things from this new time period and perspective is very interesting especially when you realize that most of this is based of of true events in Harper Lee's life.But one thing I do disagree with is your dislike for Scout. Personally I think this brings a very good perspective on the culture and teachings of this time period.I find it really interesting how she is so used to seeing and using racial and ethic stereotypes and derogatory terms like it is part of her life.And you have to remember that all of the intense emotions and descriptions should be taken with a grain of salt because Scout is only six, so this is how she thought when she was six and what six year old does not over exaggerate everything.And although I don't agree with your prediction I do find the friendship with the Ewells and interesting concept because of the family history.
DeleteI really think Jem will break his arm playing a game with his firends. I think Jem will be clowning around and fall from soemthing or trip onto something and he will break his arm from that. I also do not think Atticus will allow Jem and Scout to fight the Ewill's becasue Atticus is all about kindess.
DeleteI like all of the questions that you are asking. They make me think a lot more about how everything is going to connect and going to be presented within the novel. Your first point was asking what Jem could of seen that made him so scared and silent the next few days after he went to the Radley house to get his pants. This is a big thing for Jem because throughout the book so far he has been shown a a strong guy who isn't affected by anything. This proves that wrong but still concerning what could make that happen. Also, when you make the point about Scout going and meeting with Boo Radley, I agree with that because Harper Lee is showing that sometimes Scout is the most curious because she doesn't know as much as Jem does due to their age. Next, you bring up the point of how Jem broke his arm. I feel that it is a good point that we have to think about what caused Jem to break his arm, not who did it. That would make sense that the Ewells would do that because it was shown that the Ewells are all over the place and have no control over their actions towards others like how Burris Ewell acts towards the school teacher.
DeleteI agree! I love how this book takes place in a different time period because we, as the readers, get to see more about the history of this time period and what people went through. I think Scout is just a person who only sees the world out of her eyes, not others. She really only sees things from her perspective sometimes, which is why she seems so judgmental. I agree with your prediction about Jem breaking his arm. Your thoughts and opinions on the novel really help to pick apart the tinier details in the novel.
DeleteI agree with your statement how the Ewells may have caused him to break his arm and I know that he found his pants sown up but I wonder what else happened there,and I do agree that scout is very judgmental and it dose fit in with the prejudiced thing we learned about at the beginning. and this dose make sense how the Ewells Could have caused it because one of them threatened to kill a kid and get into a fight with him, so they are sort of out of control. Over all I liked your blog post, Bravo!!!
DeleteI agree with your thoughts about this novel completely. I do not like Scout as a narrator because I think she is too judgmental towards others, and doesn’t think before she says something. I also love this book because I find it very interesting to learn about different time periods, especially ones where we have family members who lived in this time. I like learning about history so this book is great to read. I also agree with you that the Ewells may have caused Jem to break his arm. I love your thoughts on the book!
DeleteBased on the first couple chapters of the book, I predict Boo Radley is going to become friends with Jem, Scout, and Dill. I think Lem, Scout, and Dill will eventually get inside the Radley house, while Boo’s older brother is away, and have an interaction with Boo Radley. Boo Radley, in my opinion, would want to talk with the kids because it seems like he has shown an interest in them throughout the summer months. When Scout rolled, in the tire, onto the Radley’s front lawn, she “heard... sound, so low I [she] could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside was laughing” (Lee 54). I do not believe Boo’s older brother or his mom would be laughing at the neighborhood kids. This is mostly because the older brother shot into the night because of the kids in chapter six and Boo’s mom was probably traumatized by the disgraces her family endured, rendering her as emotionless. In addition, Boo was basically on house arrest, and would most likely need some entertainment or even friends. Earlier in the book, someone inside the Radley house showed interest in Jem, Scout, and Dill when Jem ran up and touched the house. Subsequent to Jem’s brave cat, the kids looked back at the house, and “...as we [they] stared down at the street we [they] thought we [they] saw an inside shutter move” (19). Boo Radley has shown interest in the kids, but I think he will become friends with them because he has been locked inside for a long time, and as books go, isolated people usually find companions. For these reasons, I believe it would make sense that Boo’s companions would be some of the only people who had shown any interest in him: Jem, Scout, and Dill.
ReplyDeletePost by Avery Hendl
DeleteI like how you proved your statement with so many strong quotes and explanations. It really made me agree with what you were talking about. Apart from that, I agree with what you are saying about how Boo Radley has been showing interest in the kids. I feel that he has been trying to be keeping to hidden because he is scared of what everyone will think of him with all of the rumors that been passed around the city for years now. I feel bad for Boo because he just wanted a normal life and his father kept him up inside their house and then he just got all of these rumors about him and he felt ashamed to go out because of what people thought of him. Even though I feel that Boo Radley is feeling this way, I also agree with the your statement that he justs wants a relationship with someone else other than his brother and his mother.
DeleteI also agree that Boo Radley is showing an interest in Jem and Scout Finch. You included many great events and quotes in relation to Boo's interest in the children and I would like to add that later in the novel he put a blanket around Scout during a fire which shows that he has compassion and aids to the idea of his interest. I believe that later in the novel the answer as to why he is interested in his neighbors and why he is doing the actions you mentioned will be answered but I do agree with your prediction that he simply wants to be friends with them.
DeleteI think you have an interesting prediction that makes a lot of sense. However, since the children have stopped bothering Boo I don't see how they could become friends. The only way I see the children's fates meeting back up with Boo's is during the Tom Robinson case. This is clearly such a big event in the book that I think the whole story and characters will all intertwine due to the case.
DeleteI think you have a good prediction as to what will happen in the following chapters, and backed up your prediction with good evidence. I also think that somehow Boo will continue to be a part of the story and interact with the kids. As of now he is too much a part of the plot for his character to stop spending more time with the kids. He may even become friends with them as well. I think it would be very interesting to read about their friendship.
DeleteI agree with you. At this point of the story, Boo Radley is this mysterious man who is portrayed as a lunatic being held hostage in a house. A person would defiantly go crazy if he was held in a house with no friends to talk to. At some point you would want a companion. I am looking forward to reeding how the author is going to incorporate Boo Radley with the kids.
DeleteI agree with your theory, and I think your evidence does help prove your point, but the thought that they will all become friends like Dill was with them is very unlikely. Boo Radley is much older than they are, and has only made real contact one in the whole 11 chapters. Although he will most likely play a more important role, I feel he will not come up until later in the book.
DeleteI also agree with the fact that Boo will become friends with the Jem, Scout, and Dill. Everyone says he is the town crazy man and everyone is just spreading rumors about him. Even though the kids believe these rumors right now, I think they will eventually meet Boo Radley and find out he is nothing like the rumors portrayed about him. I also think Boo will help the kids out in some situations. I do predict people will find out they are friends and start to spread rumors about the kids. Plus, the other students at school will start to say things if people find out they are starting to talk to Boo Radley.
Delete^^Comment by Annalise
DeleteLauren VonderHaar- I agree with this because I do think that Boo Radley will eventually come back into the story more, and the kids will get to see him for the first time. Also I agree with what you are saying on how you think he is interested in the kids because Boo does seem to want to maybe meet them because of all of the signs that he has been giving the kids all along. It would make sense if they became friends because Boo Radley is mentioned so much throughout the story.
DeleteI agree with your theory compleatly, it makes a lot of sense that Boo might be the nice one in the family and his relatives might be scarred or just mean.I think though that the reason his brother shot at the kids was because he though they were intruders and thought that they were Negros.I think that Boo also does have something wrong with him because he never wants to interact with anybody but he seems to care for Jem and Scout at the same time.I think that Boo might even be the only one in town that agrees with Atticus and that may be how be becomes friends with Jem and Scout but that is only a prediction.
DeleteI completely agree with your prediction. I believe that the things that happened over the summer are indicators that Boo Radley knows the kids are trying to contact him. When Jem's pants were sewn up and returned to the fence after he had ripped them, that gave me a good sense that Boo wanted the kids to know he was interested in them. I agree with your thoughts about how Boo might want a companion so I think that Boo might be interested in the kids because he might be excited to finally have someone who is interested in him.
DeleteI like your prediction, and you had very good reasoning for yor prediction. I pesonally dont think thats going to happen but your quotes that were used fit very well into what you were explaining. I think that once the trial comes the kids will kind of forget about their obsession with Boo Radley, however once Atticus starts to lose the case Boo comes forward with some information that will help Atticus win the trail.
DeleteI like your prediction and you really explained your prediction very well. Also I like how you used the quotes to explain why you thought this was. However, I dont really agree with your prediction. I think once the trial starts the kids will kind of forget about their obsession with Boo Radley. Then Atticus starts to loose the case and Boo comes forward with some information that will help Atticus to win the case.
DeleteOne thing I found very interesting in To Kill a Mockingbird was the hatred people from Southern Alabama have for people from North Alabama.And when I looked deeper in the story I found out that Scouts teacher is actually from North Alabama and the story explained, "When Alabama seceded from the Union on January 11, 1861, Winston County seceded from Alabama, and every child in Maycomb County knew it"(Lee 16).I found this interesting because even the children who were in the first grade knew about the North Alabamans.I think that this great hatred for the North Alabamans had been taught from an early age like the hatred for black people was.And Scout even says later in the story that "North Alabama was full of Liquor interests,Big Mules, steel companies, Republicans, professors, and other persons of no background" (Lee 16).This to me showed that the children are taught about the Civil War and the North Alabamans the same as them learning about the ABC's and this left me very confused.Why would hatred for some group of people be taught to people that young and impressionable and why did the whole culture around Maycomb let it happen.
ReplyDeleteYes. I completely agree with this. I noticed the hatred towards fellow Alabamians and wondered why they were so mean to eachother.I assume the same thing will happen towards black people and white people down the road.
DeleteI completely agree with you because there is so many bad vibes from people talking about certain people.
DeleteI agree and also find this a very interesting topic. Clearly, the setting has played a huge roll in the book, but when it comes to any place other Maycomb and Finch's landing their seems to be a grudge and hatred for them. However, on the reverse, its almost as if Miss Caroline has a hatred for South Alabama too.
DeleteI believe that many of the younger kids knew about this rivalry and hatred because one kid must have found out and told the rest of the school. Wether its true or not, that was a topic back then that wasn't kept a secret, it was talked about openly among families because it was all around them. But to hide something about society that major would be almost impossible to hide from the kids.
Deleteabove by john ugran
DeleteI completely agree with this statement. Not only do you see hatred between blacks and whites. But also you do feel tensions between whites and whites. I also like the quote you used to support the different conflicts between races. It's like the kids are taught to hate from a certain age.
DeleteI agree with what you are saying because in the book it really does make you aware on how some of the people like from certain parts of Alabama had different view on certain topics, and they had opinions on these topics. Like for example Scout's teacher had different views than the students because she had lived in another part of Alabama before which caused some issues.
DeleteI agree that the Northern Alabama hatred is a very interesting point in the book, although after the explanation, it doesn't surprise me that they know. The Civil war was only a handfull of generations away from the time of this book. From the Civil War to the 1930's was about 70 years, and an average American today lives 79 years. There were still a number of people alive during the Civil war at this time period, and even more people who had been raised under a parent who was faithful to the Confederacy. That would be remembered for a few more years yet by people from Alabama.
DeleteI completely agree with what you are saying. I didn't think about this until you poined it out. The quotes that you gave to support this claim really proved that Northern Alabama was hated by Southern Alabama. One thing that I want to know is why the kids are tought that Northen Alabama is a bad thing.
DeleteThis is such an interesting subject to talk about. Personally, I didn't notice the subtle clues that you found. It can be so hard to catch everything in a book that has so much information being given to you in every page. I understand why you would question that teaching. Kids should be able to make that decision for themselves once they are able to understand how to make good ones. But back in the days, I feel that adults were more set in their ways just like they were for blacks. If they had been doing it for so many years/decades, it becomes natural for them to do that to children. Today it would be wrong but back then I understand why it would happen. Also, since it was such a small town, I guess that they have many new people come into it so they didn't have anyone to tell them any other way.
ReplyDeleteThe comment above was from Faith Carlson
ReplyDeleteJOHN UGRN
ReplyDeleteOne thing I find very interesting in To Kill A Mockingbird is the kids/main characters fascination with Arthur/Boo Radley. Arthur is a mysterious character that is thought to live there, but nobody is actually sure. ¨Mr Radley's boy was not seen again for 15 years¨(Lee 13).The influence he has on the story is whats makes it so intriguing,that there is a character that nobody really knows about but yet people want to learn and find out what rumors are true and aren't. The only thing they really know is his young teen life when he was apart of the closet thing to a gang, and that he was trouble.He had opposable stabbed his father and many other things.¨Boo drove the scissors into his parents leg¨(Lee 13). Everybody knows that he is trouble, yet the kids want to learn more about him, even going to the extent of going onto his front yard to try to peek into his home.
I believe the kids are fascinated with the mysteries of Boo Radley. I don't think they think of him as a gang affiliated person who kills and eats rats, but I think they like to talk about funny and weird myths about Boo for their entertainment.
DeleteI think they are so fascinated because the town they grow up in everyone knows each other except him so of course they're curious about them. This is a really good topic of discussion.
DeleteI believe the reason why they are so in to him is because Maycomb County seems like a town a where people talk with other people and know each other. And when the kids see a house in their neighbor that has random items sticking out of a tree and no one comes out might intrigue them.
DeleteI think the curiosity of the kids comes from the gossip that goes around town as well as Dill. Other people tell stories that make Boo Radley seem like something out of scary story. The kids don't know if these things are true and want to find out if Boo Radley is really the demon they say he is. The kids are enticed by Dill to explore their curiosities even more because he brings up the idea of trying to get Boo to come out. Jem and Scout are somewhat afraid of the kind of person they believe Boo Radley to be, but would rather risk finding out than live with their immense curiosity.
DeleteThroughout the first part of this book, I have noticed that the children in the book are super creative, when it comes to coming up with games to play, or ways to get Boo Radley outside. Also, I can see that Boo is trying to connect to the kids and, I believe, wants to befriend them. I believe this because of the knot in the tree, where, presumably, Boo Radley fills the knot with presents for the kids, and when Boo gives Scout a blanket when Miss Maudie's house burns down. Overall, I only have two questions, why doesn’t Boo just go outside and try to hang out with the Finch children, and why does Nathan Radley cement up the knot? I feel it does no harm to keep the knot in the tree open.
ReplyDeleteNicolas Willingham
DeleteI agree with your first two observations but have you thought that NAthan RAdley could have filled up the hole because he knew that Boo was giving the kids stuff. Maybe he wants to continue his fathers legacy and keep Boo locked up in the house but Boo is starting to rebel.Also textual evidence might help to solidify your response.
DeleteI agree with you. I also think Boo is trying to connect with the kids in the book through the placement of items in the knot of the tree. I think Nathan Radley cements the knot because he doesn't want Boo to interact with anyone. I predict that maybe the Radleys are isolating Boo as a punishment, and that Nathan was just trying to make sure his isolation is complete.
DeleteI think that you have made some really good observations. I think the children are so creative and use their imagination because that is the only thing they have. Back then, the kids didn’t have iPhones to play on. They could not use Google to figure out how to get Boo Radley out of the house. Instead, they were forced to come up with games and ideas of their own. I agree that Boo seems to be trying to connect with Jem and Scout but his brother, Nathan, seems to be getting in his way. By shooting off his gun when the kids when they went to peak in the window, and by filling the tree with cement, Nathan is making it difficult for Boo Radley to communicate with the outside world and for the outside world to communicate with him.
DeleteI completely agree with the part where you said the kids are creative and find new ways to do things, but im not too sure on the part that Boo wants to befriend them. Maybe, he want to deceive them into thinking that he is their friend and has their trust so if he does something, their on his side.
Deleteabove by john ugran
DeleteI really agree with the questions that you have because I was also wondering the same thing. I find it interesting that Nathan and Boo Radley seem to be so secretive from the town, and the tree seems to be important to them based off what they have been putting in the tree.
DeleteAt first, I did not really "To A Mockingbird". It started off slow, I did not understand the characters, but as the story progressed, I really got into it. At this point, I really want to know who Boo Radley really is. The whole town pictures Boo as this guy who is dangerous and awful and not wanted. Due to that, no one will go by the Radley house. Rumors and go a long way. As I continued to read, I think Harper Lee, the author, dropped some hints proving that Boo is not really as bad as a person as he seems: "'Boo Randley. You [Scout] were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket on you'" (Lee 96). When Miss. Maudie's house was on fire, Atticus told Jem and Scout to stand in front of the Radley house while everyone else helped to stop the fire. When Jem, Scout, and Atticus came home, Atticus realized that there was an unknown blanket wrapped around Scout. They then came to the conclusion that Boo Radley had given it to them. I predict that Scout and Jem will learn to know that this man is not the same man people think he is. I think that they may even become friends. It is never too late to change, so Boo Radley probably wants to switch his life around. I really hope the town will open up to Boo later on into the story; I am interested to find out.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hendl
DeleteI agree with you. I think later in the story Boo will make a physical appearance and that by the end of the story it will seem like he was always a friend of Jem and Scout. However, I also beleive that there are some missing details in Boo's story that might affect the way people treat him later on.
DeleteI agree that even though the story started out slow the phonomenon of Boo Radley led to it becoming more interesting. The town of Maycomb is surrounded by rumours of Boo, which creates a persona that he is some evil and frightening person. In reality, nobody really knows Boo, and the small hints given by Harper Lee also makes me belive Boo is not this bad person he is made out to be. I agree with your prediction that throughout the story Boo will build a relationship with Scout and Jem. Throughout the novel, I also think will learn to accept Boo and get to know who he actually is rather than just rumours of him.
DeleteI agree with you and I also think that Boo is different than the rumors say he is. So far he doesn't seem like the guy everyone thinks he is, and we keeping learning more and more proving that. I also think that Boo Radley has made the plot more interesting to read.
DeleteI agree with you Alex, because I think that boo wants to be friends possibly with the three kids, or he is just trying to be nice And not have people think he's crazy. I still think that boo wants to be unrecognized for the time being until more and more people in the town start realizing that he's not a bad guy. Having Boo in the story really gets a suspenseful feeling while reading it and keeps you hooked each chapter.
DeleteI do agree with you, but I am still not all that sucked in. The story is slow and choppy, and at times can be exiting and dramatic, but I still don't see any of the themes discussed before we read the book in the story itself. Although I do enjoy the mystery, it constantly sways what the story is about between different plot point.
DeleteI agree, as I have a prediction similar to yours. Maycomb hasn't seen Arthur Radley in a very long time, and while most presume he is dead, those who believe he still lives have created an identity for him based on rumors. If and when he does finally emerge from the Radley house, I think the town will be somewhat shocked as he is not what their rumors depicted him to be.
DeleteI agree, at first the book bored me because of its slow pace, but as the book progresses I find myself more and more enticed by the mystery surrounding Boo Radley. In the first few chapters I was simply confused by him, and now that we are diving deeper into the book the whole Radley family is becoming even more confusing. I think that if Boo Radley ever comes out of the house people will be shocked and maybe even confused. Many presumed him to be dead while others have created incredibly crazy stories about a wild man who eats squirrels and is foaming at the mouth when really he is probably a fairly normal man (aside from being locked in the same house for 15 years).
DeleteI like that you brought up how it is very possible Boo Radley is actually a nice person, and not as bad as everyone makes him out to be. If it is cold out and there is a fire at someones house, an insane person would not do the sweet favor of wrapping a blanket around a little girl, only someone with a kind heart would do that. I also think that if Scout can overcome her judgmental mindset, then her and her brother may one day become friends with Boo. Great comment!
DeleteMorgan Schmitt
ReplyDeleteI predict that Arthur "Boo" Radley is trying to reach out to the children and create a relationship. During the children's early interactions with the Radley Place, Scout had seen and heard things from inside the house; "...we thought we saw an inside shutter move. Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still" (Lee 19). Boo Radley could have been watching the children out of curiosity, and after being inside his house for so long, maybe Boo wanted to have interactions with people. In chapter four, the tree near the Radley Place is first introduced into the story. Throughout the next chapters, Jem and Scout find many things left in the tree for them to keep. After the fire at Miss Maudie's house, Scout ends up with a blanket on her, however, she does not know where it came from. Possibly trying to be caring, Boo Radley could have come out of his house to make sure Scout was warmer. I believe that Boo Radley is trying to interact and create a relationship with Scout and Jem.
I completely agree with you because in his childhood he was isolated from everyone so he definitely wants to be around other children so he can get over the fact that his childhood was strict and after being arrested. I think he wants the kids to no longer be scared of him and think he is this scary monster.
DeleteI agree that Boo Radley is trying to make contact with Scout and Jem. After being secluded and alone for so long, Boo is probably wishing for someone that he can talk to. Scout and Jem found figures carved to resemble them inside the tree knot. Only someone who had been watching them could have created it. Boo has probably been watching them as they have played and walked past the Radley house.
DeleteI agree with you that Boo Radley is trying to form a relationship with Scout and Jem. After being seperated from society for so long, maybe Boo wants to make contact with Jem and Scout which he had been deprived of for so long. As Scout and Jem have been lurking around the Radley home he definetly could have been watching them from the protection of his home. After the fire, I also think it was Boo who protected Scout from the coldness by giving her a blanket. Through his subtle actions, Boo could possibly want to form a relationship with Scout and Jem.
DeleteI can agree that I also think Boo is trying to form some sort of relationship with the kids. I think he is trying to be nice to the kids because of him being in hiding and having no one to confide in because of his horrible home life. I personally think that maybe, because of his past and his parents, he may not have the best intentions with the children. He might be trying to get close to them to eventually have them help him with something.
DeleteI definitely see where you're coming from, and I agree. While some would think that Boo would be trying to hurt the kids because he has a past of craziness, I think you're more right. It's assumed in the book that the soap carvings are from Boo, the blanket is from him, and the gum in the tree is from him. The soap can be seen as a nice gesture, the blanket was to keep Scout warm, and the gum can also be seen as a nice gesture. Boo wouldn't do this to scare Scout and Jem away, only to build a relationship/friendship.
DeleteI agree with you Morgan, I think boo boo wants to be included and not feel scared to come out of his house and have people be scared of him all the time. The fire was a big part of the story where you really think that Boo is protecting Scout and his town and trying to show that he's not a bad person. as said in another reply, I do think that Boo wants to be unknowns the time being until he thinks he's proved to the town that he's a good person and they trust him. I also predict that we're going to see a lot more of Boo helping people and him contributing to the story as it progresses.
DeleteIt's so interesting that you said that! I never thought of that until you pointed it out. I totally see how Boo could be trying to contact the outside world by using the kid's curiosity. By hiding things in the knot of a tree and showing kindness to Scout, it's as if Boo is trying to prove the rumors of him aren't true. It would definitely make sense as to why Boo would try to reach out. In a bustling, small town, Boo must feel excluded. He's spent most of his life in his house, so it's certainly an interesting thought that he's trying to connect with the outside world again. It's really interesting how he's trying to connect with Scout in particular.
DeleteI also agree with your theory because it makes sense that he would eventually reach out to someone.I think that maybe he knows how Scout and Jem are treated by the rest of the town and feels some sort of empathy for them because the same thing as done to him.And I think that he does not want them to grow up and end up like him and be complaetly shut out from others.And maybe he was also the one who started putting candy and other things in the trees hole fr the kids as a sort of nice gesture.
DeleteI really enjoy this book from what ive read so far, because almost all of this novel is based off of the true events that have happened throughout history and certain things that have happened to Harper Lee when she was growing up. I like how the story is, in my opinion, extremely easy to follow. Lee did a great job of introducing the story with setting and charterer description and has little bits of humor throughout that make a more pleasant read. I found that the way stuff is set up the book like how it is referring back to the olden days, is super cool. The way Harper Lee adds southern lingo into the book makes it much better because it makes it feel authentic like your really there. I think that it was a very good idea was how she incorporated the Radleys and how there this neighborhood mystery that leaves you wondering what is happening inside the house and what is going to happen next. Overall the book is definitely worthy of the great American Read list and is just a great historical read that makes you feel like your really there.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the setting of the story is very interesting. I like the way Harper Lee used dialect to add to the story and make it more authentic and enjoyable. I too think that Lee did a great job of including humor in the story. This is created mostly by the actions of the kids and how it is relatable to the reader. When Scout climbed into the tire and Jem "[pushed] the tire down the sidewalk with all the force in his body" (Lee 49), I laughed because that is exactly what one of my sisters would have done. The suspense created by Lee through events like Jem's broken arm at the beginning of the story and the mystery of Boo Radley intrigue the reader.
DeleteI completely agree that Harper Lee has done a great job of introducing the characters, using an interesting setting, while adding some humour to the story. I also enjoy how she uses real events that happened in her life to inspire some of the events in the novel. By her word choice the reader is able to get a more Southern feeling, which overall helps add to the setting. The suspense created from the Radley's has defiently made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next. Overall, I agree with youthat this book is a great historical read.
DeleteI definitely agree this is a great story. The move of making the point of view from a little girl was a genius maneuver that makes the book easier to understand and lets her ask the questions we would want to ask. The story being based on true events also gives meaning to the book. It is trying to give a message hidden in the story of a little girl and her friends in Maycomb, Alabama. It also shows a lesser seen side of the Great Depression, the wealthy class. Most stories that take place in the Great Depression are stories about poor people, but this story is about the people who are getting by okay, and this adds a lot of contrast when you see the poor characters in the book. So I agree with you, it is a great book that is easy to follow and masterfully created.
DeleteI am starting to get into the story as well. Before reading it, I was dreading the fact that I had to read this book because I thought it was boring. I made a mistake there. The book is not too hard to understand, but if you daydream or just read the words and not comprehend what you are reading, you can miss some important details. I really like reading historical fiction books because I like to learn about the past. There is just some interesting things about this topic the author decided to write about.
DeleteI agree with you Matt, I think that having the story in first person and not flip around is really helpful while reading the book. I also think it's easier book to read than others even with the dialect. Also having Boo in the story is helpful to keep it going and not lose interest. I think in the beginning of the story I was confused of which characters were which and if they were important, or if they were going to be a contributor to the story, but after getting a few chapters and I kind of understand what's going on and who's who. It's kind of interesting to see how Harper Lee wrote this story years ago, but some of the big topics that she's writing about can fall of the history after the book was published. I think this is a great story and how a lot of what's going on has happened in history.
DeleteI completely agree with you Matt! This book has been so enjoyable mostly because the fact that I feel like I am living in the story. The way Lee incorporates the southern language and setting in the story is so clever and helpful. In the beginning of the story I was having a hard time figuring out which character was which because I felt that she introduced them mostly at once and briefly. As the story has gone on, I have figured out who is who and that has helped make the book 10x more enjoyable. The Radley's have helped keep me interested in the book as well because I almost feel like I have to continue reading to find out what happens. I am really enjoying this story!
DeleteI agree with you. The book has so many southern cultural aspects in it. The southern history sets the mood for the story. For instance the way they talk and act. Also, the Radley's plot contributes so much to the story so far by adding suspense and mystery. I also feel that the way the author address the story it really makes you feel like you are there.
DeleteI think you are right about how this book is better because many of the events in it actually happened, and that Harper Lee makes it easy to follow. I also agree that she has done an outstanding job of introducing the characters, and how she adds some southern slang into the story, giving it a southern feel and gives a better sense of the setting. I also think the Radleys add some suspense to the story, because you never know what is going to happen next. Overall I agree with you on everything and the book is a great read, good comment!
DeleteDon't forget to include textual evidence in your posts. You can add evidence to this post in a reply or by editing the original post.
ReplyDeleteIn To Kill A Mockingbird, I noticed that social status plays a large role. For example, Atticus, Jem, and Scout belong to the highest social class in 1930s Maycomb. Atticus is a white lawyer. Race plays a large role in social classes, and since Atticus is white, he is given more respect. His profession also contributes to his social status. Although he is higher on the social pyramid, he does not disrespect those who are lower. This is shown through his attempt to teach his children, Jem and Scout, to treat all people with kindness. Jem and Scout had been born into this class. Miss Maudie Atkinson is another character who belongs to this social class. She grew up with the Finch’s and is a good family friend.
ReplyDeleteThe poor white people belong to the next social class. The Cunninghams belong in this class in many ways. To start with, they are white which means that they are not going to be in the lowest class. Another reason is even though the Cunninghams are poor, they manage to get by through borrowing money and paying the loaners back through gifts. They are farmers and the stock market crash really hurt them. “The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay black-no church vaskets no scrip stamps.” (Lee 26) They live their lives one day at a time, and they seem to be honest people.
Occupying the next lower social class is the Ewell family. The Ewells are filthy and poor. They have been the disgrace of Maycomb for many generations. Burris Ewell, introduced in chapter 3, is particularly rude. He threatened Miss Caroline and called her names. The Ewells only go to school on the first day and don’t return for the rest of the year. The Ewells don’t have a mother. Calpurnia belongs to a class below the Ewells. This is mainly because she is black. Calpurnia is a middle-class, respectable women who would be in the same social class as the Finches if it weren’t for her skin color. She plays a motherly role in Scouts life and teaches Scout the proper way to act. I found it interesting that all the first grade students knew who belonged to which social class at such a young age. They were teaching Miss Caroline the different ways that those in the social classes lived their lives.
I have definitely noticed the social structure in “To Kill a Mockingbird” as well. The Finches are part of the upper class because they are white professionals and have a family that can be traced back to plantation owners. Even though they are of a higher class than other, Atticus treats everyone with respect and teaches his own children to do the same. He treats everyone with compassion, and at a time where a lot of racism was present, it is very impressive, especially when you consider he came from a family of former slave owners. Atticus even risks his reputation to defend Tom Robinson because he believes in doing what is right.
DeleteMorgan Schmitt
DeleteI was also able to see that social structure had a large impact on the story. Even within the white community of Maycomb the different families, for example, the Finches the Cunninghams, have very different living conditions. The Finches are in the upper class and have an African American chef, Calpurnia. On the other hand, the Cunninghams, suffer greatly from the Great Depression, and they often cannot afford to buy food. Even though they are different, Atticus, Scout and Jem's father, teaches them to treat them equally and with kindness. He teaches his children not to be prejudice in this time of racism.
Thomas LoGalbo
DeleteThe different levels of social structure are very apparent throughout the book. There are some very clear divides in social standings between the many characters. Another aspect that plays into the social standings is the importance of your family in the town of Maycomb. All the members of the families share similar social standings. The Finches are all more affluent, the Cunningham are all dirt poor, and the Ewells are all veiwed as outcasts and filth. Whichever family you belong too determines a lot about who you ended up becoming. Atticus even said that "The Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three Generations." (Lee 40)
Whatever Family someone belongs to sticks, and plays a role in how they were viewed by others in the town
I have noticed it too, although Scout does not seem to know it exists, or at least completely ignores its existence. She seemed to not mind at all when she was explaining to her teacher, how the Cunninghams work and probibly doesn't notice it because, to her, it would seem like it had always been there.
DeleteEmma Lang
Within the book, there is a huge fascination shown towards Boo Radley from Jem and Scout. All they want to do is find out more about Boo’s story. Harper Lee until now has only shown a lot of rumors about how he acted towards his family and his violent outbreaks. But when we did the project in class with seperating the rumors from the facts, it is shown that all of the facts have been about either Boo’s real name, his family, how Miss Maudie thought of him when he was a boy, and that no one has seen him again in over fifteen years since the court case. There was nothing talking about how bad mannered he was other than his little distubances that sent him to jail and then home with his dad. I feel like all of the bad rumors were only exuses made up by the townspeople to try and figure out why he has never come out of his house because it is unheard of to not be social in Maycomb. The only fact that anyone could honestly think of for a reason is because of his father: “If the judge released Arthur, Mr. Radley would see to it that Arthur gave no further trouble. Knowing the Mr. Radley’s word was his bond, the judge was glad to do so….Mr. Radley’s boy was not seen again for fifteen years” (Lee 11). Because all of the actual facts that have been told to us have not equaled up to the horror of the rumors that have been passed around, I think that Lee is going to make Boo Radley come out of the house and show to us that he isn’t really bad at all, just misunderstood due the truth made into lies/rumors.
ReplyDeleteFaith Carlson
I agree completely with your post. You are correct that the author is using rumors from Maycomb citizens to portray Boo Radley and since there is very little evidence of what he is truly like, and the evidence is not positive, people just assume that Boo is a horrible person who has done bad things. I agree that maybe later on in the text Boo Radley will leave the house and show people that he is not at all who they think he is. Also I think the reason that he has not left the house in over fifteen years will be answered later in the novel.
DeleteI agree with all of the points made in your post. The readers really do not know much about Boo. There were really no other facts about Boo other than the one that you stated. Boo is really portrayed as a bad person right now because of his past and his family, and I also believe that more secrets about his family will come out in the future. I think there is more to the Radley family than meets the eye.
DeleteI couldn't agree more! It is true that the only facts we've heard about Boo had nothing to do with how ill-mannered the kids make him out to be. It's obvious that it's just rumors creating this psychopathic aura around the Radley's house, saying that the pecans growing from their yard is poisonous and such. Another point, that I appreciate you including in your post, is that it's most likely the father's fault for keeping Boo in the house. We've heard Miss Maudie talk about how the dad is a strict foot-washer, so we can assume that it is partially the father's beliefs that are controlling Boo.
DeleteI agree completely, there is so little said about Boo that it seems like there is more to him than what the rumors say. This is also an excellent example of prejudice, which I think will develop into a major concept at some point later in the book
DeleteEmma Lang
There were several things in the first 11 chapters of "To Kill a Mockingbird" that seemed unusual. One thing is why has Arthur "Boo" Radley been locked up in his house for so long? There was a day " .. barely within Jem's memory, when Boo Radley was heard from and seen by several people, but not by Jem".(Lee 11) If the last time Boo Radley was seen was barely in Jem's memory than it must have been at least 5 years or more. Why would he be locked up in his house for five years or more? Another question is whether or not he is actually alive since no one has seen him? I think both of these questions will be answered in the main part of the story. My second major question is what happened when Jem, Dill, and Scout were at the Radley Place.When they were looking in the back window they saw a man in the dark."The shadow stopped about a foot away from Jem"(60)so how did they not see who it was and how did the person not see who they were. Mr.Radley then claimed that he shot at a Negro but if the shadow was actually him he would at least have seen 3 people not 1. Is Mr.Radley covering up the actions of his son or was the shadow him? All of these events have something unusual about them and could play major roles in the plot of the story.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is strange how long Boo Radley has been locked up. That is an interesting theory about Mr. Radley covering up for the actions of Boo Radley. It makes sense considering later on, Mr. Radley cements a perfectly healthy tree, saying that it is sickly and dying. Coincidentally, this is the place someone one has been leaving things for Scout and Jem to find. If the person leaving things was Boo, then is Mr. Radley trying to cover up for him again, and for what reason?
DeleteI also agree with the theory that Mr. Radley is covering something up for Boo. The fact that he cemented up the hole in the tree could show that Mr. Radley, like his father, is a foot baptist, but Boo isn't. It's possible Boo is trying to communicate with the outside world, but his family is continuously trying to keep him cut off and cover up his whole existence.
DeleteI do agree that all these pints could reappear later in the story, but we have, multiple times, been shown that he is still alive, but there are some plot holes. The strongest to me being, how could he survive without going outside, He would eventual get sick and possibly die from vitamin deficiency. Although I agree with many of your point, I think you have left out many bits of valuable information.
DeleteI agree that it's strange that Boo Radley has not been seen in years, however in chapter eight did it not say that Boo came out and put a blanket around Scout? Something strange is definitely going on with the Radley family, but perhaps Boo is in a position where he is being held in the house by his family. One reason he may not be allowed out is because his family thinks he's a huge disgrace and this is how they it will go away. Another possibility is that he stays inside to hide from the people who would shame him outside of his house.
DeleteMorgan Schmitt
DeleteI am also curious about the character Arthur "Boo" Radley and why he has not come out of his house in so many years. Your theory about Mr. Radley covering up for Boo the night someone shot the shotgun is very interesting, and I did not think about this part in that way. It now makes me wonder if there are any other parts of the story Boo could have been behind. The details you mentioned about Mr. Radley seeing on 1 person makes it seem as though he was not there during this event.
I agree that the fact of Boo has been locked up for many years is rather peculiar, but I don't think he's being locked up by his own will. It is presumed throughout the book that Boo Radley was trying to interact with Scout and Jem. I think he was most likely the one leaving things in the tree, and that Mr. Radley sealed the hole to isolate Boo. Boo fell into a bad crowd early on and Isolation may have been the Radley's way of preventing that from happening again. Your theory that Boo was the one who shot at Jem is definitely a possibility, but I don't think that was Boo, because every other thing that is unknown that could be chalked up to Boo Radley has been beneficial to the children. Boo giving Scout the blanket, leaving behind gifts for Scout and Jem, and retrieving Jem's pants for him were all good things for the children overall.
DeleteAbove post was Thomas LoGalbo
DeleteI agree that it is strange that Boo Radley has been locked up with no human interaction for this long. My belief is that Mr. Radley covers up for Boo Radley and that is why when Boo's died, his older brother took the place. A few examples are saying the tree was dying so put cement in the tree. Another one is taking blame for shooting the gun saying he saw one person, where as the person shooting the gun would have seen three. I also agree with the concept that Boo isn't even alive anymore.
DeleteI agree with everything except the part about Boo being dead. If Boo is dead, then who was putting the items in the tree knothole and who was peeking out of the blinds when Jem rolled Scout into the Radley yard? I think Boo is still alive, but that is the only point I disagree with.
DeleteEmma Lang
I agree with you. Something interesting was definitely happening that night Jem, Dill, and Scout went to the Radley house. I think your prediction of Nathan Radley covering up the reactions of Boo makes a lot of sense, especially when you explained the fact that he would've seen three shadows, not just one. However, I believe that Jem might've seen something that night, mainly because he acted very quiet and closed-off in the following days.
ReplyDeleteIn “To Kill a Mockingbird” I found the mysteries surrounding Boo (Arthur) Radley very interesting. All of the children are too young to remember what actually transpired, so they believe him to be a crazy monster. Boo Radley has become a sort of legend to the children, and many fear to even walk past the Radley House. Despite the fact that the children all think Boo is terrifying and insane, some adults, like Miss Maudie, remember the actual events that happened. They remember Boo Radley as a very polite person. During the fire, he was even able get out of the house just to give a blanket to Scout. I suspect that Boo has been watching the antics of Jem and Scout. After Scout rolls in the tire into the Radley house, Scout thinks, “...[It] happened the day I rolled into the Radley front yard. Through all that head-shaking, quelling of nausea, and Jem-yelling, I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard from the sidewalk. Some inside [the Radley house] was laughing” (Lee 45). It seems to me that Boo is enjoying their games and their interest in him. When the children try to touch the Radley house, they see a shudder move. It makes me wonder if Boo has been watching them all along. These events give a sense of foreshadowing throughout the story. Furthermore, Jem and Scout keep finding mysterious yet valuable things in the tree knot. However, Mr. Radley suspiciously fills the knot with cement. Jem asks Atticus, “‘Is that tree dyin?’ [Atticus responds] ‘Why no son, I don’t think so...the leaves…[are] all green and full, no brown patches...that tree’s as healthy as you are, Jem’” (Lee 71). There is no reason for Mr. Radley to be filling the tree with cement if it’s healthy. I think that Boo Radley was the one leaving things for Scout and Jem. Then, when Mr. Radley found out, he filled the tree so that Boo couldn’t contact them. Boo Radley’s tale is shrouded in secrecy, making it the most mysterious part of the book.
ReplyDelete
DeleteI think that the mystery of Boo Radley is very interesting as well. I definitely think that he is watching Jem and Scout. When the two children found the two soap figures in the tree, they realized that “they were almost perfect miniatures of two children. The boy had on shorts, and a shock of soapy hair fell to his eyebrows. [Scout] looked up at Jem. A point of straight brown hair kicked downwards from his part.” (Lee 80) Based on your evidence, assuming Boo is the one putting gifts in the tree, he must have watched Jem and Scout closely to be able to make such precise models of them. All of the gifts in the tree knot make sense to have been put there by Boo Radley. The Maycomb County spelling contest medal must have been his because the contest ended before Jem and Scout were born. Soap sculptures could be his because he probably didn’t have much material to work with. Overall, I agree with your predictions and find Boo Radley a character with a very unique and mysterious history.
I also believe that Boo Radley is shrouded in mystery. I’ve also come to the conclusion that Boo watches the children play during the day and tried to interact with the children through the tree. I like how you infer that Mr. Radley filled up the hole because he doesn’t want Boo to communicate with the children, I came up with a similar idea. But if Boo had been watching them, I wonder how he felt about them reenacting the rumors about him? Yes, I do agree with your inferences and ideas about the mystery that is Boo Radley.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThroughout the first section of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, the descriptions of Boo Radley by other characters have created a frightening image of him within the readers head. Scout and Jem have not seen Boo Radley come out of the Radley's home in a lengthy amount of time. The image Jem and Scout create about Boo Radley is based off of rumours they have heard about him. Rumours such as he stabbed his father with scissors, and that he should be in an asylum because he is deemed insane has created an alarming image of him within the young characters heads. Boo Radley then creates a scary feeling towards the Radley’s and their home within Maycomb. According to Jem's description of Boo, "There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time"(Lee 14). This description of Boo creates a ghostly image of him, as does the symbolisation of his frightening figure by his nickname being Boo. While Atticus always tells Scout to not judge others without climbing into their skin and walking around in it, with no real insight on the truth of Boo the image created of Boo is based off of pure rumours and assumptions about him without any truth. Since the novel is written in first person point of view it leads to the image I have of Boo to be alarming and disturbing based on the evidence I get from Jem and Scout.
I also have the same image of Boo Radley based off of the novels context. I agree that the author uses Scout's first person point of view to give the reader an idea about his personality and figure. The author hardly uses other people's views on him because Harper Lee is purposely portraying Boo this way most likely to connect to future events that will show his true personality and things that have happened in his life. I agree with your statements on Boo in relation to the novel and this is why I think the author portrays him the way she chose to.
DeleteI also agree with you that the image Scout creates throughout the novel is seen in the readers head. We have no real evidence as to what he looks like so we have to go off of what Scout tells us which is mostly rumors from around the neighborhood. I think that if Boo Radley does come out of his house and the kids see him they will be very surprised because I think he will look very different from what the kids see him as in their heads.
DeleteWithin the first few chapters of the novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee, the author included various events that leave the reader wondering what will happen next in relation to the events. In one event, Jem and Scout Finch as well as their friend, Dill, were curious about their mysterious neighbors, the Radley's. Their curiosity caused them to venture into the Radley's yard at night to try to peek through the windows in hopes of finding something interesting inside. Instead, they were caught as Mr. Nathan Radley shot a bullet into the air and caused the neighbors to come out to see what was the problem. In his frantic attempt to leave the yard, Jem's pants got stuck on a fence and he took them off to be able to get through. Late at night he decided to go back to get his pants to avoid trouble and returned acting differently for a while, according to Scout. Jem stated that when he went to get his pants, they were poorly sewn yet lay across the fence waiting for him. Jem believed this to be very strange. '"It's almost like--" "somebody knew you were coming back for 'em."'...Jem shuddered. "Like somebody was readin' my mind"'(Lee 66). This leaves the reader to wonder why Jem's pants were sewn back up and left out for him. What did it mean about the Radley's? It is one of the many mysteries tied into the Radley residents. Other mysteries about them are what Boo Radley looks like and what his personality is and why don't they ever leave the house or talk to others. Another big one is why did the Radley's fill up a hole in a tree with cement that the Finch children took various items out of and what did the items mean? What I predict will happen is that the Radley's will turn out to be nothing like what the Finch children think of them and that their reasons for hardly leaving the house or communicating with others is deeper then anyone knows. I predict that they will have an underlying secret that the Finch children and their friend, Dill, will discover through their curiosity and the next chapters' unfolding plot of the novel. - Nicole Bahleda
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. I think that the Radley's are seen as such bad people and seen in a certain way around the neighborhood. However, I think they are actually going to turn out to be totally different then people think. I believe that at some point the kids will meet Boo Radley and they will figure out that he isn't what the neighborhood portrays him to be.
DeleteI definitely agree with you. I find the Radley's to be very mysterious but I also think it's what makes the novel so suspensful. It gives a reason to continue reading. You propose some great questions as well. I think that the Radley's will have a lot more going on then what we have heard so far and I don't think they will be anything like what I expect when we are finally able to meet them in the story. I think that the part with the pants kind of lets us in on a different side of the Radley's because it shows how they fixed the pants and gave them back instead of just keeping them inside.
DeleteI agree, the book does involve the children getting involved with many mysteries in the town. Most of these are about the Radley's. When Mr. Radley filled up the tree with cement, I was very confused. He said it was because the tree was dying, but it never appeared that way. I think that it was because it was Boo leaving the items and Mr. Radley didn't want that.
DeleteThroughout the beginning of the book, one of the main phenomenons is the mystery of Boo Radley and the Radley family. The main characters, which are all children, think of Boo as this character that they have all kind of made up in their mind. He becomes an obsession of sorts to them, as they always talk about him and his family. They all spread different rumors about who he is, what he looks like, and his personality. Since Boo is a man, presumed to be in his late thirties or early forties, and all of these children are fairly young, they have really never seen or met him. He has such a large impact on these children, even though he has never even spoke to them. The main characters are even scared to go up and touch the house he lives in because of their fear of him and his family. Dill dares Jem to go and touch the Radley house, and Scout talks about the experience: “Jem threw open the gate and sped up to the side of the house, slapped it with his palm and ran back past us…” (Lee 16). Even the thought of being close to his property terrifies them. They believe that Boo is locked up in the house because of his religious parents and his reputation. Boo is put into the story to give these kids a sense of wonder as to who and what he is. This character also is meant to intrigue the readers in the same way. At this point in the novel, the readers really do not know too much about him, other than he was in a gang of sorts and got in trouble with his parents and the law. He is put into the story to add another sense of mystery to this small town that has no unknowns. This family is the only thing that is really unknown about this town. He is personally one of my favorite characters to learn about right now, and he adds so much into the story.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. I think the author made this character to keep the reader guessing the whole way through the novel. Boo Radley and the whole Radley house are such major mysteries in the story and it just keeps the reader guessing all the way. I believe we may find out more about him if he ever comes out of the house and the kids actually see him. If this happens, this will probably change the way the kids see him and the way he is portrayed to the reader.
DeleteI completely agree with you about Boo Radley. I think that he is interested in the Finch children now and will try to be friends with them. I am also interested in learning more about him and seeing what he does. The whole Radley family is a mystery to Jem and Scout so they use their imagination to fill in the gaps. They are intrigued but also afraid of Boo Radley and show it by daring each other to go up to the house. I think that Boo Radley was put into the story to give the kids something to investigate and wonder about,
DeleteI'm so happy you said that! I agree with you in the fact that Boo is put into the story for a sense of mystery. It's interesting how in this small, town, there's one family that is anti-social. It's crazy how, because of their different life style, they are feared. The kids' imagination go wild with this family, even though they have no evidence to support their thoughts. It's really none of their concern what Boo does, but because there's so many false rumors and little known truths, Boo is going to be a very interesting character to figure out.
DeleteThroughout the first part of To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout has talked about Boo Radley and the whole Radley house many times. They have tried to go up to the house and even talk to him. Therefore, I believe that at some point in the book Boo Radley will come out of the house and actually talk to the kids. Scout has said that Boo Radley hasn't come out of the house in 15 years, but in chapter 8, in all the confusion in the fire Jem said that Boo Radley came outside and put a blanket around Scout. “‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you’” (Lee 82). If Jem is right and Boo Radley did come outside and give Scout the blanket, then that means that he is getting more comfortable to go outside and potentially be seen by neighbors. I also think that he is the one who has been watching the kids like when Jem went up to the house and they saw a shutter move or when Scout was rolled there and she heard a laugh. “I heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing” (Lee 45). I don’t think that Nathan or Mrs. Radley would have just laughed at them so I think it was Boo. Based on this evidence, I believe that Boo Radley will come out of the house soon and talk to Jem and Scout.
ReplyDeleteI think that is all true. I'm sure he is growing interested in the kids fascination with him. So yes, I think you are correct and he will come outside soon to explain his story. but, I think it will be in a series of climatic events that will add suspense to the story in the name of solving the mystery. I think the kids will have to be brave and do something very crazy to attempt to talk to Boo Radley, whether it be just walking up to the front door or composing a crazy scheme to drive him out. I think the kids will get to talk to him, but they will initiate the process, not Boo.
DeleteNot only have Scout and Jem tried to go up to the Radley Place, but it seems as if Boo has made efforts to build some sort of friendship between them all. Boo has left gum, a blanket, and soap carvings for Jem and Scout, so Boo is probably trying to reach out to the kids. Therefore, I think that you are right, Boo will do more then watch the kids, he might even come out of hiding.
DeleteI agree with what you predict, and also think that sometime soon Boo will meet the characters face to face. As the plot continues he seems to be getting bolder in his interactions with the kids. First he laughed at Scout when she was rolling in the barrel, and then he started to leave things in the tree for them. When he put the blanket on their shoulders it showed a desire to have a type of contact with them. I think eventually it will build up to where they talk to him.
DeleteI agree that he will soon be revealed too. Speaking of Nathan Radley though, I thought it was very weird how he cemented the hole in the tree. I feel like he obviously did that because he found out that maybe Boo was putting all the gifts in the tree for the kids and he wanted him to stop interacting with them. I just still cannot comprehend why they keep Boo locked up. In my opinion, he didn't do anything that was extremely terrible. Also, in no way, shape, or form do I believe that he is dangerous or crazy.
DeleteI agree with you. The author has been building up this story about Boo Radley. Is he bad? Is he crazy? Is he actually nice? At this point, I have no idea. There is such a small change of the author dropping this Boo Radley obsession the kids have. Something must happen; I really want to know. Turns out, we picked the same quote for our blogs. This is why I don't really know if Boo Radley is crazy like people say or nice due to events like this. I was stunned when Atticus came to a conclusion that Boo Radley helped them out. I am torn at this point. I just have to read and find out
DeleteI think that you are correct, I think that sometimes soon Boo will come out of the house. I am wondering why he stays in there if he is alive. In addition, I wonder if Boo will somehow relate to Atticus's court case? I think picked good quotes for your post.
DeleteI agree with what you have to say but I am not so sure if Boo is good, because Jem braking his arm has something to do with Boo Radley so I think he probably got it broke getting caught trying to get boo out, but anyway I liked your response and it was well written, Good job.
DeleteI agree, I believe that Boo Radley will be significant later in the story. I also think that his appearance will differ from the exaggerated rumors that are spread around Maycomb. I believe that he will teach the kids a lesson about judging someone based on rumors.
DeleteFor the first 11 chapters of "To Kill A Mockingbird", the Radley's have been a very mysterious household with strange actions. The Radley's have been very reclusive throughout the book, but they don't seem to mind sticking their nose into other people's business. When Scout was on the front porch after Jem touched the Radley house, she saw "an inside shutter move. Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still" (Lee 19) This intrusion of privacy gives a creepy and mysterious vibe to the story, making you even more curious about Boo Radley. I think, however, that Boo Radley will somehow be the opposite of the rumors from the town. When the mystery is revealed, he will be a good guy, not the villain that the gossip made him out to be. I think the real villains are Mr. Radley and Nathan Radley for locking Boo up in the house. The whole scenario seemed sketchy from the beginning. Mr. Radley locked Boo up for more than 15 years for resisting arrest. He also claimed that "he was no criminal." (Lee 11) And then Mr. Nathan comes in and KEEPS him locked up for even more time. SO why are they locking him up? Is something wrong, or is there something more than Boo Radley. I think that the mystery will be solved by the end of the novel, and Boo will be the hero.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your prediction in part. I think that Nathan Radley will be the villain but I think Scout will be the hero not Boo. When Boo put the blanket on Scout Nathan Radley was over by the fire. This shows that Boo can only come out when Nathan is not there or maybe sleeping. I think Boo will be a victim but not a hero.
DeleteThis is a really cool idea because I had not thought about that kind of thing yet. Nathan Radley might have a deeper sinister life inside the dark Radley house. Hopefully we find out soon why Boo has been locked inside this house for so many long years with no outside contact. Maybe he will have a greater significance? Or a greater purpose then was first thought?
DeleteI agree that the whole thing of the secret family is weird in such a small town where people are best friends. I disagree that Boo Radley is going to be a hero just because he might have been a good guy but now the years in the basement have changed him a lot and made him appear creepy and haunted. I think the reason he is locked up is because there is something wrong with him and the family is ashamed of other people knowing so they hid the whole thing up.
DeleteI agree that Boo Radley will be an important figure to the plot and will eventually, physically appear to Scout and Jem. I feel like your prediction of Boo Radley becoming a good person would be true because of all the rumors that are negative towards him.
DeleteI agree with your prediction that Boo Radley will not match the description that the people of Maycomb gave him. I think his malicious vibe is mostly due to the imaginations of the children and gossip. I also think that he will play a significant role later in the story.
DeleteI think you bring up a very interesting point that I've never even thought of. After Boo does stuff for Jem and Scout, like leaving soap carvings for them, and sneakily giving Scout a blanket, I would agree that he would be the opposite that everybody else thinks of him. I think it would be such a plot twist if Mr. Nathan and Mr. Radley turned out to be villains. I don't know why they would lock Boo up, by I think that does make sense, and would be very interesting. The whole scenario does seem kind of sketchy with Boo's past, especially with Mr. Radley saying that Boo wasn't a criminal, but ends up locking him up.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJoey Felice
ReplyDeleteThroughout ¨To Kill a Mockingbird” character are continuously built upon. Since the book is narrated in first person through Scout, characters are often stereotyped and built upon by Scout’s conversations with adults. One character who Scout completely changes her view on is Mrs.Dubose. Mrs. Dubose is an old lady who terrorizes Jem and Scout every time they walk by. The young Finch children do their best to ignore the old woman, but after she insults Atticus for defending a Negro in court, Jem goes on a rampage on Mrs.Dubose’s yard. Jem’s punishment is to go to her house and read to her for two hours every day for a month. Scout, as loyal as every, goes with him every time. After the punishment is over, Jem and Scout are filled with relief. However, their opinion of her changes when Atticus gets a phone call and goes to Mrs.Dubose’s house. He comes back and informs the children that Mrs.Dubose has died. He then continues to explain more about the women who insulted them every time she saw them. Mrs.Dubose had a morphine addiction and had been fighting it for years. ¨´According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest woman I ever knew´¨ (Lee 128). The children come to realize that Mrs.Dubose was woman who had been fighting something for most of her life, and managed to come out on top.
I think you bring up a very good point with this. She was in a battle of her own and I never realized that she came out on top like you said. My question is why did she want to die beholden to nothing and nobody? In my opinion, that is a very lonely and somber way to leave the world. However, could it maybe be because she did not want anyone to see her like that? Was she embarrassed by her addiction? Why didn't she want anyone there to comfort her? Were Jem and Scout there simply for her comfort?
DeleteI’m thought Mrs. Dubose was great dynamic addition to the book. She went from a very mean spirited person to a woman whose last act was a one of gratitude. She reminded me of Severus Snape from Harry Potter -awful to begin with but a great person to learn from at the end. On top of that, both of these characters died knowing they had worked for the cause they believed.
DeleteJOHN UGRAN
DeleteI agree that Mrs.Dubose had a huge impact on the story, even though she was harsh towards the kids. After the punishment was other though, she kept going over there and spending time with her because once she got to know her, she liked the woman who used to be mean.
When I first started reading To Kill a Mocking bird, I didn't like it very much. As I continued reading more and more the plot started to pick up and become more interesting. The mystery surrounding Boo Radley is very compelling, and I want to find out more about who he is. Every time something happens with Boo it contradicts what you thought you knew about him. Scout believes that Boo is somewhat of an animal, but more and more she learns otherwise, "'Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you'"(Lee 82). The kids living in Maycomb,least of all Scout, would never imagine him doing that. Not only does Boo's actions show you more of his personality, it furthers adds to his mystery. The other thing I enjoy about this book is the dialect the characters use. It helps the reader to be engaged in the story because it is so informal. If the characters spoke with proper grammar it would feel fake and would make it harder to connect with the characters. The dialect also shows how people spoke at the time and tells us more about the setting. It makes it easier to compare the setting to where we live. I look forward to reading the rest of this book and discovering more about the characters.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your thoughts on Boo Radley. Each time he is mentioned your view on him gets changed either for worse or for better. One question I had though was how did Scout not notice him placing the blanket on her? Also, how did Jem not notice because I thought he was standing right next to her? However, this action makes me feel as though Boo Radley is a very caring person who is just misunderstood by the entire town.
DeleteI agree with what both you and Madi are saying. Your perspective and view on Boo changes so often that he is just a complete mystery and it allows for the book to take a turn in any direction with this character which I really like. Going off the accents of the the characters I totally get what you're saying. The language gives more personality and character and builds up a setting and community for all the characters.
DeleteI agree with your thoughts on Boo Radley. Starting out he seemed to be more of a bad guy. The rumors spread about him made him seem like such an awful person, when the people who actually knew him before he became locked up knew that is not what he was like. Also, like you said, based on his actions so far in the book he seems to actually be more of a caring guy as he gives Scout a blanket when she is cold and leaves little gifts for the Finch children to find and wonder about. Everything they said in the beginning of the book is starting to seem less and less true.
DeleteKitana Slomovitz
ReplyDeleteSomething that I find interesting when reading "To Kill a Mocking Bird" is that, while many people are poor, people handle it in different ways. For instance, my favorite character by far is Little Chuck Little because his family is going through these economic struggles, yet he's still kind and eager to live his life despite the fact that he doesn't know when his next meal will be. He, like Walter Cunningham, lives in a broke family who can't easily afford the necessities of life such as food. Little Chuck Little is, as Scout puts it, a "born gentleman". Even though his family is broke, they still made it a priority to have morals and keep their humility. On the other hand, there's families who toss their dignities to wind. One perfect example of such a dysfunctional family is the Ewell family. The Ewell family doesn't care about how others see them and happily live their lives like savages. The father is an alcoholic who doesn't bother to keep his kids in school or obey the laws. His children are rude and disrespectful to other adults like Miss Caroline. Scout shows us how Ewells are seen by Maycomb by sharing a moment betweeen her and her father: "Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations... he would take me with him to show me where and how they lived. They were people, but they lived like animals," (Lee 33). The two kids, Little Chuck Little and Burris Ewell are living in the same time period, and experiencing the same economic struggles, but their parents are raising them differently. Because of this, Little Chuck Little is kind, patient, and understanding, while Burris is harsh, aggressive, and vile.
I do find your statement to be very interesting, but perhaps there is another factor that plays into Burris' demeanor and attitude. The Ewell family is poor, just as Little Chuck Little's is, but there's a possibility that something else may be influencing their disposition. Burris' father is an alcoholic, how does that affect the children? (Not teaching them manners, neglect, etc) For all we know so far, Burris could be living in a toxic household and it is negatively impacting him. Other than that, I agree that the two of them handle their situations very differently.
DeleteAs I started to read To Kill a Mockingbird, I did not understand the plot nor did I enjoy the book very much. As I continued reading, the plot became more clear and more thought-provoking. Once the kids, Jem, Dill and Scout, started to play games and have more interactions with the Radley house, I wondered if they would become friends with Boo Radley or if they would come in contact with him. I also wondered what the significance the nicknames scout and boo have in the story and if they mean that scout has a sense of exploration and is observative and Boo refers to people fearing him and they way others feel towards him due to a poor connotation and rumors. I find it interesting how there have been several things including gum, indian head pennies, a ball of grey twine, two figures carved from soap, an entire pack of gum, a spelling bee medal, and a pocket-watch. I want to know if these objects connect and relate to each other way and if they are Boo Radley’s way of communicating to the children. I think that Boo’s older brother, Nathan, does not want Boo to be able to communicate with anyone therefore he filled the knothole with cement and lied about the tree dying. Mr.Nathan says to Jem, “‘Tree’s dying. You plug ‘em with cement when they’re sick’”(Lee 70). However Atticus states, “‘Why no, son, I don’t think so. Look at the leaves, they’re all green and full, no brown patches anywhere… that tree’s as healthy as you are’”(Lee 71). This implies that the tree was not dying and that there was another reason as to plugging the tree. Overall, I am curious as to what will happen between the kids and the Radleys and if one of the kids' games led to Jem breaking his arm.
ReplyDeleteThis response is very interesting, and I love the points you brought up in it. For criticism, I'd say maybe make is more clear as to what you're addressing, because you start out with two sentences of overview and then you branch out to scattered predictions and finally end with what I can assume was your main point-the connections between the objects in the tree. If this was your intention, then that's fine-then I'd advise you to put more quotes that relate to the other things you mentioned instead of concentrating them around the things in the tree. Otherwise, I really love the originality in your question about the tree and your prediction following about how Nathan is severing Boo's communication with the outside world, followed by evidence to support-it's very nice and really makes you think. Nice job.
DeleteI really liked your response. It's very intriguing how you think Scout and Boo's names are symbolizing how they act or are portrayed to act. I never thought of it that way but when you say it it does seem to be very true because Scout is very curious about almost everything and Boo is made out to be a scary person who frightens everyone. I also, like you, thought that the objects may be connected by some way. Almost like Boo was giving them objects to put together to build something important. what that something is I don't know, it could also be things that are important to him or maybe it is just random objects he was giving them.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMessage and Characterization
ReplyDeleteBy Devon Salgado
Even though the first few chapters bring up a few questions about the mysterious Boo Radley and show the innocence of the kid's views, the second half of Part 1 is where the message of the book starts to develop. This struggle of differing views is the beginnings of a theme in to Kill a Mockingbird.
It starts talking about the court case that will pit the Finches against the rest of Maycomb. This court case starts to get introduced at the end of chapter 9, where Atticus talks with his brother about the case, with Scout being the silent listener at the stairwell. Scout hears about how “she and Jem will have to absorb some ugly things,” (Lee 100). I think the most important part of Scout’s eavesdropping was how it characterized Atticus. It was said by Scout that “it was not until many years later that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said,” (Lee 101). I really like how Lee starts to show that Atticus is the wise figure that can sometimes appear in novels of adventure.
A plot device that I thought the author did an amazing job on was the mad dog incident. Through the fuss of Calpurnia calling everyone on the street and heads popping through windows, it seemed to me like only a hero could save the street from the maddened dog. Atticus eventually stepped up and displayed a talent which he had never told Scout and Finch about. I think this goes to show how Atticus believed in how a talent or heritage doesn’t define a person - their character does.
I agree that Atticus is very important to the character development of Jem and Scout and how much of an important father figure he is to them. I feel like the trial that is going to take place later in the novel will show Atticus in new colors and will be enjoyable to read.
DeleteWhile I was reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" there was one thing that I kept wondering about, and that was why did Atticus keep it a secret that he was the best shooter in Maycomb? However, it does connect with the fact that he would not buy Jem and Scout the rifles, he made his brother buy them. Also, he would not teach them to shoot either. It seems as though Atticus despises guns and my main question is why? The text states, "'You'll have to teach 'em to shoot,' said Uncle Jack. 'That's your job,' said Atticus. 'I merely bowed to the inevitable'" (Lee 91). My prediction is that something happened in the past that has made Atticus resent guns. Perhaps some sort of accident that he has not been able to get over took place and that is why he hates the idea of shooting and guns. I feel like this could also tie in with the court case and how he keeps saying that he has to first make amends with himself before he lets his children turn to him for anything. What does he have to make amends with? What secret is he hiding from his family? The text says, "but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself" (120). I predict that Atticus's past has something to do with this case and why it is so important to him. He is willing to jeopardize the way the entire town views him and his children as well, so it must be something of great importance. In conclusion, i think that Atticus has a secret that is going to be revealed as the case gets started.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely something suspicious about Atticus' distaste for firearms, and I too believe it will play into the story later. An interesting idea about an accident playing into his secrecy about his skills, and if this were the case, it would be intriguing to find out what happened. You've created a very thought-provoking response.
DeleteI agree with you. I think that Atticus has suffered from some kind of traumatic event with guns. It definitely has something to do with the major plot, and adds even more mystery to the book. I don't know if it is going to have to do with the case, but I'm sure it will be important.
DeleteMason Kacmar
ReplyDeleteIn the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Boo Radley is a character that people are unsure about who he is and what is he doing in his house. I predict that Boo Radley is not what people think and he really is trying to get to know the kids and not scare them away, but get to know them and possibly become friends by the end of the book. Yes the rumors have portrayed Boo as a scary and insane kind of character, but I think that the author wanted the reader to know that you shouldn't be judging someone based on rumors. “Through all the head-shaking, quelling of nausea and Jem-yelling, I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing”(Lee 41). If you did not want to be seen or heard from he would not have made the laugh that Scout heard. Another part of the book was when Scout found the chewing gum and now found another piece of tin foil and Jen begins to realize that sounds telling the truth and something is happening or someone is causing these objects to appear. “ As we came to the Live Oaks at the Radley place I raised my finger to point for the hundredth time to the knot-hole where I had found the chewing gum, trying to make them believe I had found it there, and found myself pointing at another piece of tin foil”(38). These examples are proving to me that boo is trying to communicate or show that he is around and possibly get to know Jem, Scout, and Dill. I predict that Boo Radley still lives in the house and is watching the kids as they explore his house.
I really like this response, Mason. Your textural evidence is nicely distributed and I completely agree with your statement that people shouldn't judge someone before they know the truth. The writing is well done and I don't have much criticism except for your run-on sentence right before your second quote-try adding dashes, colons, or commas to make it flow better. As for your opinions, I think whoever was laughing inside the house may have thought that Scout wouldn't be able to hear them through the wall, but either way it was important to fuel Scout's fear for the house and whoever was inside it. I do agree, however, that even though the objects were being stolen out of the tree, someone, most likely Boo, was still putting things in them, therefore he was mostly likely trying to communicate, as you said. Nice response, well done.
DeleteI agree with what you think Mason. I feel the same way about Boo and the fact that he is trying to communicate with the kids but will all the rumors, it is making it very difficult. I want Boo to be introduced because I am dying to find out what he is really like and learn more about him. I think that there is more behind the Radley's and that they are not the people that they are said to be. I feel that although the laugh was probably not meant to be heard, that it plays an important factor because it could mean that the Radley's may not be as scary and crazy as everyone thinks they are. I loved reading your post, great job!
DeleteI like what you said in your prediction you took what was given in the book and connected the pieces into a solid theory. I like how you brought up the wax figures of the main characters and how Boo might just be misunderstood, and I like the evidence you used like how when he laughed he would have laughed he would have been quiet but he wanted to be heard.I how you structured your piece and it was well balanced. I liked how you gave loads of good support for your info like when you gave evidence for how he was trying to communicate and that he was not so scary. Over all I enjoyed your post, good job!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIsabella Hsia
ReplyDeleteI really like Atticus as a father figure in the book, and even though he’s not a main character, there are many instances in the book itself that really dig deep into Atticus as a character and allow me to appreciate him more. The first plethora of information we receive about Atticus is that he’s a lawyer, and it’s later revealed that the main arc of him in this book is a case he receives-the Tom Robinson case, only, he’s defending the Tom Robinson side of it. As a result. Atticus receives a lot of ridicule from neighbors and family members alike; so do his children, Jem and Scout at school, but the only difference between him and his kids is that he remains calm while his kids literally blow a gasket. This always results in some sort of disaster, whether it be broken teeth or beheaded camellias, and Atticus, like a good father, would always scold his kids for the damage but give advice as to how to deal with the taunting: “‘you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let ‘em get your goat’” (Lee 87). It doesn’t work too well at first, but even after multiple incidents Atticus remains patient and is willing to advise them time “‘You just hold your high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it’s your job not to let her make you mad.’” (115) and time “‘sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down…’” (120) again. This shows Atticus to be a man who can keep his head level and advise others to so even in the most infuriating of times. As for the Tom Robinson case, he regards it as ‘his case’. “‘Every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one’s mine, I guess’” (86). The surprising thing is, though, he’s quite different from the common plantation owner at the time-he thinks of slaves as human beings which is why he’s content with being Robinson’s lawyer. Later, when Scout asks him for his opinion as to whether or not he really was something people had been calling him, a ‘nigger-lover’, he responds without hesitation: “‘I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody…baby, it’s never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn’t hurt you” (124). I find it amazing, how brave and good-intentioned Atticus proves to be especially in times like these. He’s such a benevolent character and my favorite so far. If the residents of Maycomb could learn to share even 10% of his wisdom, they’d be much better people.
I completely agree. Atticus is such a great character with his deposition and influence on his children. The quotes you chose help describe him perfectly, whether it is how he tries to show Scout it is better not to fight or how he loves everyone and treats everyone the same. I love your opinion that if everyone could be just a little like him they would be so much better people. I think it is a great insight.
DeleteI agree with your statement of Atticus being a good father figure to the kids. He has so far given many good life tips to the kids to keep them in a good state of mind and out of trouble. When Scout wants to leave school, Atticus convinces her it is best to stay in school and not quit. In your comment, I really liked how you had strong quotes proving Atticus's fatherly figure. I also like how you mentioned he stands up for Tom Robinson even though he gets a lot of hate for doing it.
Delete^By Annalise
DeleteElizabeth Crawford
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the first chapters of “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, I am extremely intrigued with how this novel’s plot is going to unravel. Throughout the beginning, many topics have been brought to our attention about things such as Scouts school experience and Boo Radley, but has left us with questions that remain unanswered. I continue to wonder if Scout is going to stay in school and if she will advance to the next grade and I also wonder if her, Jem, and Dill ever meet Boo Radley. I thought the beginning of this book was slow but as we read more into it, the more I became interested in what was going on. I also like how the book is placed in a time that none of us lived in so we have the ability to partially understand what was happening with this like racism, segregation, education, and even money and financial stability. It was very clear who was poor and who was not although no one really had much money during this time in history. This is displayed in the book when Scout mentions Walter Cunningham’s problems to her teacher, Miss Caroline, “Walter Cunningham was sitting there lying his head off. He didn’t forget his lunch, he didn’t have any. He had none today nor would he have any tomorrow or the next day. He had probably never seen three quarters together at the same time in his life” (Lee 22). This piece of evidence also shows how everyone in the town also knows everyone’s business. I also feel that this book will teach us about values and morals. Scout’s father and Calpurnia have already taught her a lesson that is one that I think most of us can connect to personally, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-” “Sir?” “-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it” (Lee 33). This is a piece of evidence that can apply and relate to each and everyone so I believe that there will be more of this throughout the novel. Overall, I think that this book is going to be a great one and I feel that I will enjoy it very much.
That is a really great point about that famous quote from the book. This was such a great idea of Lee to add this quote into the story because truly everyone can relate to this in someway. I also agree with you about how its a really different contrast in this story because none of us lived during this time period. This book gives us a narrative and a window into how peoples lives were during that time.
DeleteAs I read part one of this book, I really noticed how the setting is described and affects the story. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in the fictional Maycomb, Alabama. Maycomb develops as a small and close-minded setting for the book that is important to the story. First of all, everyone in the town knows each other. Because of this, it is unnatural for the Radleys to be so introverted and rumors about the family quickly spread. Maycomb is also very poor because it is the midst of the Great Depression and most people in the town are farmers who are struggling to support themselves. Scout describes Maycomb by saying, “There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County” (Lee 6). The people in Maycomb also have very similar, small-minded ideas. For example, children such as Cecil Jacobs and Francis in chapter 9 and even adults like Mrs Dubose in chapter 11 have plenty to say about the Finches. Because Maycomb is in the south, they are segregated and racist so when Atticus started defending a black man they all started insulting their family because they believe that a white man shouldn’t be spending his time defending a black man. They also believe that it is not right that Atticus never remarried and lets his children run free. Most people in Maycomb believe there should be a mother figure and that Scout should be learning how to be a lady instead of running around with her brother in overalls. I think the setting is important for the story because it controls how everyone treats each other and what happens in the story. The treatment the people give the Finch family is also important because it will teach them to grow up and face their insults and will influence the development of Jem and Scout’s character. Atticus hopes he, “...can get Jem and Scout through it without bitterness, and most of all, without catching Maycomb’s usual disease” (100). In my opinion, how Jem and Scout handle Maycomb’s characteristics and ideologies will be an important part of the story and will help make it a great book by teaching us to not listen to other people’s criticism.
ReplyDeleteThere are many, many things I liked about this blog, but I'll start with the criticism. In the beginning, you start by talking about the setting, and then you link setting to how people treat each other, and end with that. These transitions are very well done, but I do believe that if you start with setting you should circle back around it to the end and pair it with your 'treatment with other people', so that the conclusion of your paragraph touches on everything mentioned in the writing. Other than that though, I love your lead-ins and quotes! I also loved how you referenced certain chapters without inserting specific quotes so readers would know you read the book without a sensory overload. And your connection between setting and how people act is something I probably would have never thought of, but it makes a lot of sense. Overall, this paragraph with that killer conclusion paired with your expansive use of vocabulary is awesome. Nice work.
DeleteI agree, I think that the setting of Maycomb, Alabama plays a very essential part of the book. The city is both small and segregated. This makes everyone become known and the everyone to have very similar ideas about segregation. I think you used good word choice and you chose good quotes for your setting. Something that could have additionally been included is that the town was close and that their neighbors were close and helped each other during things such as the fire and when Calpurnia made sure everyone knew that there was a mad dog in the streets.
DeleteThis post was a very detailed and intriguing to read. I liked how you pointed out that it is a small town and everyone knows each other. It really shows how extreme the Radleys are in their confinement. The small town part is also part of the rumor spreading and the single, simple idea of segregation and disrespecting anyone who has a different thought. The town is so judging against the family with the lack of a mother figure and Scout not acting like a lady. I also like the use of the quote to show Atticus' feelings about the town. All in all, a great paragraph and analysis.
DeleteHow has Scout Changed? - Juliana Malinowski
ReplyDelete"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story told by a young girl named Scout. Scout had grown up with her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus. In the beginning, Scout was always less than ladylike. Not only would she use fowl language, she would beat up kids at school: "Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt ..."(Lee 30). She barely had any self control and was accustomed to settling matters in a more unruly manner. Like most parents, Atticus was displeased with her activity. Scout really begins to display an evident change in character when her father takes the defense of an African American man by the name of Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a young woman. Her fellow classmates and neighbors begin to mock and insult Atticus for doing so, and Scout is more than angry. Who wouldn't be if their father was being scorned by the community? Atticus makes her promise, though, that she won't fight anymore. Her father doesn't want her fighting because of him, and says, "'You might hear some ugly talk about it in school, but do one thing for me if you will: just hold your head high and keep those fists down'"(Lee 101). Scout promises to show self control, rather than start a fight over her father's choice. As the book progresses along, several adults and children test her patience, but she shows maturity, walks away, and ignores the taunts and jabs at her family. Scout shows a real change in character as she transitioned from an aggressive child, to a more mature girl who avoids conflict and fights with her brain instead of her fists. Honestly, it eased my mind to know that she would begin to make more intelligent decisions instead of her impulsive actions and words. I think she will continue to mature as the story continues, and the Scout we knew at the beginning of the novel will be a very different person by the end, hopefully for the better.
I believe that Boo Radley will play a much more sophisticated role in "to kill a mockingbird" than what he is now. I think that he will play an important role, but more as a helping hand and "prophet" style character. I believe he will either provide important information, or create a determination for the kids. He has already been shown to still be alive and well at the end of chapter 4. "Through all the head-shaking, quelling of nausea and Jem-yelling, I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing"(74). This shows he has some connection with the kids, whether he finds them good company, or is making fun of them, but does still show that he is alive. One other instance is during the fire when Boo gives the kids a blanket to keep them warm. "“Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you”"(130). This also more securely solidifies my idea of a friendship between the kids and Boo by showing how willing he was to risk himself to help them when in need.
ReplyDelete(Made by Killian)
This was interesting because I never thought of Boo Radley becoming a "helping hand" as you mentioned. I like how you said he will make a determination for the kids because in a way he has already created one by being mysterious and strange. He has caused the kids to want to investigate more and with this they have already encountered experiences they would not have before. One example would be investigating the Radley lot which they may not have done without the fascination in Boo Radley. I do hope to see the author create Boo in a different way than everybody else sees him as. Instead of a sacry, insane person, I hope he is the opposite and actually helps the kids in different situations. I like that the kids are making a friendship with Boo as well.
Delete^^Comment by Annalise
DeleteMorgan Schmitt
DeleteI also predict that Boo will become an important character in "To Kill A Mockingbird". In your response you mentioned how Scout heard a laugh in the house. It makes me wonder if Boo was watching them play. From the gifts in the tree to the blanket on Scout, Boo Radley is being mentioned more in the story and becoming an important part of the plot. These events lead me to believe that Boo will become an important character and part of the book.
While I was reading "To Kill a Mocking Bird" I realized many thing and me being the theorist I am immediately began wondering about the Radley house and who Boo Radley was. This was a huge factor in the first half of the book and is a factor in one of the first large mystery of the book, how Jem broke his arm. "He said it was the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley some out"(lee1) this was the introduction of the book and it was leading to a mystery,And a few pages later the book gives a whole description of the Radley house and it's myth. this made me start questioning what was real about the Radleys. Well Boos name is actually Arthur and some believe he is dead and some are convinced he is still alive in the house. Later in the book Scout and Jem find a notch in a tree and things keep appearing in it. I have no idea who is putting these things in it, and when there neighbor's, Mr. Nathen, fills in the whole with cement while the tree is still alive though he said it was dead. "'Trees dying. You plug'em with cement when they're sick."(70).Also his mysterious presence is displayed When Miss Maudies house burns down and they assume that the blanket left around Scout was put there by Boo and also when the house burns down Jem comes out and tells his father about how boo fixed her pants and this starts to paint Boo in a lighter, nicer picture. Any way I have loved the book so far and It took a while to get into but at this point it has been great. Hopefully soon we will find out the truth about the Radley house and Boo Radley.
ReplyDeleteBy-Isabella Clements
Something I found interesting in the story “To Kill a Mockingbird” is the characterization of Scout. Scout, the main character, is a young girl who lives in Maycomb, Alabama. She lives with her brother Jem and her father Atticus. Since her mother died when she was very young, she has many mother figures in her community such as Calpurnia and Miss Maudie. Scout is different then many girls her age, perhaps because she was raised without her mother. Scout is less proper then many people expect so ,”when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants”(Lee 108). She usually walks around in her overalls, playing around with her brother and friend Dill. At this time, girls weren’t supposed to act like this, they were supposed to be more proper. She uses foul language and many of her neighbors judged her but Scout didn’t care. Another thing I found interesting was how Scout stood up for herself. She tended to get into many fights, whether it is at school or with her family. Since many people were opposed to the idea of Atticus defending a black man accused of rape, people judged her family. This angered Scout greatly and whatever her father said, sometimes she still got into fights. This showed Scouts pride, that she wouldn’t let people judge the Finch’s. Lastly,growing up in a small town, many things are confusing to Scout. She has to ask her father to explain things to her. One thing she learned from him was perhaps one of the most important lessons in the book, that you can’t judge someone until you know it from their point of view. She is also oblivious to some of the things happening at that time. She wasn’t very sure why father was defending the man or why people were so against the fact that he was. In my opinion, Scout is given an interesting and unusual personality in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying about Scout and the way people look at her. The family is already found as odd due to there being no mother in the picture as well as Atticus taking on such a controversial case. In this society girls are raised to a high "lady-like" standard where you had to act and dress a certain way. Scout was definitely not raised that way and would probably never change into that kind of girl. In fact, Scout may grow to become well educated due to her want and in ways need to understand why things are the way they are.
DeleteI agree with what you have said. Scout is very prideful but doesn’t really act how people think young girls should. She would much rather run around with her brother and Dill than learn how to be a lady. And, unlike most people, she would fight anyone who insulted her until she learned to control herself. I also think it is important to note that she is incredibly smart for her age. She taught herself to read when she was young by reading anything she could and could write years before anyone else her age. I also think she is very perceptive and I agree that she does provide an interesting perspective and personality.
DeleteI agree with your opinion on Scout. She is very "unladylike" and would rather hang out with her brother and Dill. She gets into a lot of fights, verbal and physical. She is unlike the girls and women of this time period. This makes Scout special and unique. I also think that this is because she grew up without a mother. She had no real mother figure so she grew up with boys, her brother and her father. She is judged by almost everyone in town for being "different". I like how she is written distinctively from any other girls. She doesn't understand everything that's happening but she tries to and asks questions.
DeleteSo far I have really enjoyed this book but something that is very unusual to me is how Harper Lee passes time in the book. It goes from the last day of summer to last day a school in a page length. I feel like there could more information about Erwells on how they only go for the first day a school and then leave. Also, what did Miss. Caroline do for the rest of the year to Scout about having more knowledge than everyone else? There is a lot of thing I would have liked to know what happened in that vast amount of time. Besides the negatives I really like how the author incorporates suspense in the book with the Radley's. The neighborhood really do not know the truth about the Radleys or who they are. I also like how we get a description of them from the kids perspectives. There are so many unknowns about the Radley's for instance who is leaving the different items in the tree hole and who folded Jem's pants.
ReplyDelete"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee has taken me by surprise. Grow up I had always heard of the book and wondered what it was all about and the whole start has changed my view on the book. To start one thing I enjoyed that surprised me in the book was Dill's character. This book was written based off of Lee's life so when I was reading about Dill, I was reading about a real person. The reason I keep bringing Dill up specifically is because as I read about him I began to wonder if he was gay. I realize that this is a touchy subject that I'm not going to go too far on but my curiosity led me to discover that the real life person Dill was based off of was in fact gay. I first started to wonder this due to Lee writing about the boys going off together all day long: "They [Jem and Dill] spent days together in the treehouse plotting and planning, calling me only when they needed a third party" (Lee 46). Now I realize this isn't truly good evidence to conclude that Dill was gay, but it did make me wonder and something about Lee's writing led me to have guessed correctly. Lee was able to portray this to me as a reader even if no one else caught this showing a great ability when writing that many writers dream to achieve. Something else that caught me by surprise that I liked was Boo Radley during the fire. His supposed act of giving Scout a blanket turns your way of thought when Boo is mentioned. Instead of a scary, rotten, crazy man, I think of compassionate young man whom image has been warped by society. There are many possibilities with where this character could go and I cannot wait to keep reading to find out what happens with Boo next.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about all the possibility Boo (Arthur) Radley could hold. Also how he could impacts this story in so many different ways. He may turn out to be a major character involved deeply in the children's lives. I am very surprised about Dill and the fact that you caught that fact about him, I would have never guessed.
DeleteAndrew Pilarczyk
ReplyDeleteThe first part of To Kill a Mockingbird showed off the main characters, setting, and a mysterious character that all that is known about him are rumors. I think the southern, post civil war setting is important to the story because of the deep ties to the beliefs of the Confederacy in some of the characters and the overall dislike of Atticus taking Robinson’s case. The part that confused me was when the city rose against the sick dog out of fear that it went mad, when it showed no signs of a thirst for blood or going rabid and was just getting ready to die. The attacks that Jem and Scout receive because of their father are very realistic to the time and really convey the feelings of anger that the kids feel into the reader. The character that interests me the most is Boo Radley because of the rumors surrounding him and the lack of a real truth of his personality. I think that he likes the kids and I think that the little movement of the shudder after Jem slapped the house was him, “Flick. A tiny, almost invisible movement, and the house was still,”(Lee 19). He is almost definitely the cause of the movement and was the one putting things in the knot hole of the tree before it was filled in by his brother. All of the characters are unique, but Boo Radley is the one I am the most interested.
Annalise Bender
ReplyDeleteThroughout the reading of the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird", I have admired the way Harper Lee wrote the book so the time period affects the events in the book. One example would be the way school is during these time periods. Scout, the main character, has a different experience than most kids nowadays have in school. During one event in particular, Miss Caroline, her teacher, becomes vexed with Scout for knowing how to read; "I knew I had annoyed Miss Caroline. . ." (Lee 20). In today's world, a student knowing how to read is very normal and is a positive when involving school. The time period of the story also affects how much the kids are allowed to go to school. One kid, Burris Ewell, only comes to school for the first day of school every year mainly because the law allowed them to not have to go to school. Overall, throughout the book "To Kill A Mockingbird", I have enjoyed the time period it takes place in and how it affects the events in the book.
I completely agree with you. I also like how Harper Lee has used the time period to impact the events. The time period and setting are much different than what we experience today. Their school life is very different from ours which makes it interesting to read about. This time period is an interesting one to be told from a child's point of view. Most of the time we see adults or seniors perspectives but rarely a child's. It's fascinating to see what a child makes of the events and opinions of this era.
Delete
DeleteI agree with you also, I believe that the date in which the book was set really plays a big role in the actual story. It allows the reader to really see how everything worked back then and it also adds to the fact that this happened in the past. The time period really does impact the events.
I agree! In a story, the time period plays a role, but I've noticed how much more of a role it has been playing throughout this novel. With this time period affecting how things are laid out, it makes the novel so much more interesting as if was set in the present. It is always so nice to learn and read about what is occurring in time periods before our time.
DeleteAmelia Taylor
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading ¨To Kill A Mockingbird¨ I realized how deeply the development unrest, hate, and disrespect affects each and every character in this story. Its portrayed through the way the author writes the story, the charter development, the characters words, actions, and thoughts. i have also noticed how children who grown up in Alabama grow up with a seeded hatred. That they themselves have to practice it or else they are looked down upon,considered a disgrace to their family's name,or just become outcasts. But its not like these people are born this way, but people from all walks of life teach this disrespect and seething hatred for certain groups of people. They begin to pick it up because its just a way of life in Alabama and most of the south. I just do not feel like this is an okay thing to do, mainly because it hurts others and its just not right in context of basic human feelings. You can see it in almost everyone in this community of Maycomb. In elders like Mrs.Dubose,in other children like Ceril Jacobs,and even in family members like cousin Francis. If anyone tries the break the pattern the entire community gangs up and turns their back on them. They become outcasts and ridicule of the town. At the point we are at in the book shows the signs of this cruel process beginning on the Finch family. Their father mentions how before it gets better its going to get much worse, ¨Scout, said Atticus, when summer comes you'll have to keep your head about far worse things...its not fair for you and Jem, I know that...This case Tom Robinsons case, its something that goes to the essence of a mans conscience¨ (Lee 120). This shows how deeply invested and affected Atticus is by thsi new case he is taking. He is going against his home and community because he wants to do what he thinks is right. I think that this is a very brave thing to do. While Atticus does his best to overcome it, the children are beginning to struggle with not being angry at the world and acting on their anger and other feelings. This is how the times were in the South in the 1930 and probably not one of Americas finest moments. This hate and general feeling is a common occurrence through out this text.
So far in To Kill a Mockingbird I like Atticus and Jem. Atticus is a good father and tries to teach his kids right from wrong. He is constantly teaching them new lessons and how to behave. Jem is nice and includes Scout in his games. At this point in the book I have mixed feelings about Scout. One thing I like is how she is unlike the other girls. She doesn't wear dresses and she plays with boys. I like this because it is different from the traditional views of what women/girls should do during this time. Another thing I like about her is how she stands up for herself and her family. “‘Francis called Atticus somethin’, an’ I wasn't about to take it off him’” (Lee 98). Francis kept calling Atticus names so Scout punched him and defended Atticus. I like this because you don't see a lot of girls getting into fights and defending people and it makes Scout different. One thing I dislike about her is how rude she is. She talks about/judges what people do in front of them. When she invited Walter Cunningham over she questioned him about his food. She asked him why he ate with so much syrup and made him feel embarrassed. “Walter poured syrup on his vegetables and meat with a generous hand. He would probably have poured it into his milk glass had I not asked what the sam hill he was doing” (Lee 27). Scout called Walter out about how much syrup he used. While she may not have been trying to be rude, she still judged him and made him feel bad. One thing that I wonder about is why Scout and Jem call Atticus by his name more than they call him father or dad. I also wonder why Boo Radley has not come out in 15 years. One thing that surprised me was when the trial was brought up. We didn't learn or hear anything about the trial until the town started calling Atticus names. I wonder why the trial started to come in the middle of the book. I predict that Boo Radley will come out soon and try to talk to Scout, Jem, and Dill. I think this because he was laughing at them one time, he left “presents” in the tree, and he sewed up Jem’s pants for him.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Witmer
ReplyDeleteHarper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a well-known novel that emphasizes mystery itself and a haunted past in America. Due to the obsessive similes used, clue build up, and cliffhangers, I really enjoy this book. In literature, figurative language is used to make the reader more interested, to make the story flow, and to add character. This is exactly what the narrator did in this story, especially through similes. For example, while Jem and Scout were creeping inside their house, the author details that, “ Jem’s white shirt-tail dipped and bobbed like a small ghost dancing away to escape the coming morning” (Lee 76). This simply makes that sentence more enjoyable to read, compared to just saying something about how Jem’s shirt-tail waved around. Another use was when a mad dog was cruising the narrators street: “We could see him shiver like a horse shedding flies” (126). This adds to the character of the dog, emphasizing its madness. I also like the clues that slowly build up surrounding Boo Radley. One clue was when Scout and Jem were passing their tree and peared into its knot-hole: “Our knot-hole stopped us again...I (Scout) pulled out two small images carved in soap. One was the figure of a boy, the other wore a crude dress...Jem looked from girl-doll to me. The girl-doll had bangs. So did I.” (80). This eerily shows that somebody knows about Jem and Scout, and based on the reading, it’s most likely Boo, who is claimed to be hidden away in his house. Another clue found was when a neighbors house caught on fire and Scout and Jem watched from a distance, in front of the Radley’s Place. Scout was beginning to freeze, but when she arrived home, she, “looked down and found a brown woolen blanket I (Scout) was wearing around my shoulders” (95). Scout was super cold, and all of a sudden she had a blanket, but she didn’t know from who. Based on them being in front of the Radley’s Place, it leads you to believe the mysterious character of Boo Radley placed the blanket on Scout. Finally, what I really enjoy about this book are the cliffhangers that end chapters. They make you want to read more to see what happens. At the end of chapter nine, the narrator ends by saying, “I never figured out how Atticus knew I was listening, and it was not until many years that I realized he wanted me to hear every word he said” (117). Atticus, Scout’s father, had been talking about how things were going to get ugly because of his involvement in the trial of a black man. Scout listened to the whole conversation, but was caught, but realized she was meant to hear the whole thing, leading the reader to think, why? Only eleven chapters in, this novel has already cemented its place on my book list, all because of the similes, clues, and cliffhangers that contribute to this books greatness.
In the book,"To Kill A Mockingbird", is a story that lets people of younger generations see into the past. Throughout the dialouge helps to set the stage becasue of the way southerns talk. The reader is able to pick up that this story takes place in the south by the dialouge. "'...'n' all of a sudden he just relaxed all over, an' it looked like that gun was a part of him...an' he did it so quick like ... I hafta aim for ten minutes 'fore I can hit somethin'...'"(Lee 111). This is an example of how you can tell that the story takes place down south just by the way the characters in the book talk. Another thing about the book is that Scout's father, Atticus, has to defend a black man in court. The book takes place around the 1930s and at this time segrigation was big. Since Atticus has to defend a black man people in the town don't like that. So one thing that I think is going to happen is that Scout and Jem will be picked on at school for what their father is doing becasue kids are already saying things about their dad now, and whats going to happen when the trial actually starts. One question that I have is why does scout get so mad when other people talk about her dad in a bad way? I feel lke scout is almost overly protective of her dad, is it becuase her mom passed away that she gets angry when people talk about her dad? This book might seem like a borign book in the beginning but as you keep reading it gets better and better, cant wait to see what happenes next.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the book has started a little slow I like how the author has explained the setting and other need to know information. I like the tension that is building with Atticus helping a black man in court so people call their family names if they believe differently. I enjoy the way the author is talking about her past just switching the characters up a little. The confusing thing to me is why they call Authur Radley, Boo. "Mrs. Radley ran screaming into the street that Arthur was killing them all, but when the sheriff arrived he found Boo still sitting in the living room." (Lee 12) This is an example of the two names being called to one single person. I predict that later in the story that when Jem is trying to see Boo Radley, Boo is somehow going to break Jem's arm. I personally cannot relate to this racist environment because I never lived at the time, but I know that this atmosphere was harsh. Through the book Scout has changed a lot with a lot more information in her head at first she fought anyone who said something bad about her dad, now she keeps her head high and understands why she does it. A quote that made me create an image was this one, a description of Boo. "Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall... his hands were blood-stained...there was a long jagged scar that ran across in face." (Lee 14) This quote help me get an image of the scary Boo. I really want Dill to come back so then they venture and see Boo Radley once and for all. I also want the case to start because then the story will speed up with the drama of the trial itself, and the burden Atticus' family will have to take on since he is helping a African-American.
ReplyDelete-Post by Thomas LoGalbo
ReplyDeleteBoo Radley's Significance
Throughout reading this book, I'm far more interested in the interactions between the children and Boo Radley than the main plot of the story. Their interactions are the main plot of the earlier chapters of the book. I noticed throughout the story that the way Boo is trying to reach out to the children adds a level of depth to the Radley family that was unexpected. Mr.Radley filled the knot hole in the tree where someone, presumably Boo Radley was leaving gifts for Jem and Scout saying, “ Tree’s dying. You plug ‘em with cement when they’re sick.” (Lee 83) even though it was a healthy tree. This indicates that Boo Radley may not actually want to be a recluse. Furthermore, The only times that his presence is possible, he’s never actually seen. He gave Scout a blanket without her noticing and is also most likely the one who folded Jem’s pants and placed them on the fence. The “always-there-but-never-noticed” aspect of Boo Radley is rather intriguing to me and I hope that the quasi-friendship between Boo and the kids gets much further explored throughout the novel. I predict that Boo will eventually be involved in how Jem broke his elbow later on in the story. I think that because of how Jem thinks the incident started “... When Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out.” (Lee 3). This indicates that the children’s relationship with Boo is most certainly connected to whatever happened to Jem’s elbow, whether Boo broke it himself, or if he prevented the damage from being much worse. Either way, from page one Harper Lee was foreshadowing that Boo would be tied to significant events later on.
I agree, I also am a big fan of the Boo and town children, Jem, Scout, and Dill, interactions. I feel that Boo wants to be a part and help them like giving Scout a blanket and also wants little contact with them like cementing the tree where he would leave them things. I also agree that Boo is going to be a part of the braking of Jem's arm. I think this incident will happen when the kids try and get Boo to come out later in the book. There has been foreshadowing since the start of the book and I think that it will be explained right at the end of the book.
DeleteI feel like the plot development of the "Boo Radley" story is very interesting and will be exciting to see how Boo and the other children in the novel will interact in later chapters. I agree that the foreshadowing of Boo Radley will be important in later events, maybe the breaking of Jem's arm, which is noted in the beginning of the novel.
DeleteSo far in To Kill a Mockingbird i have become increasingly enticed by Boo Radley and the entire Radley family. Since the first time Boo was introduced he had been an ominous character who is not really known by anyone. Many people have created insane rumors about him, including the protrail of a crazy man who eats squirrels, has bloodshot eyes, and is foaming at the mouth. None of the depictions seem very accurate. I think that if or when Boo Radley comes out of his house that he will surprise everyone with how normal he looks and acts. Many things have happened to the children that are hinting twards the idea that Boo Radley is a normal person. First Scout hears laughter coming from the house and later Scout ends up covered in a blanket while standing in the cold outside of the Radley's house. I think that Boo is aware that the kids are trying to contact him because when Jem was running from the Radley place he got his pants stuck in the fence. He told Scout later that "'When I [he] went back, they were folded across the fence...like they were expectin' me"' (Lee 66). It must have been Boo who fixed his pants which means he knows that the kids were at his house. I think that soon Boo Radley is going to reveal himself to the kids and show them that he isn't the crazy man they thought he was. The reason I think this hasen't happened yet is because Boo's father might not approve of him doing this. I think this to be true because of what Mr.Radley did to the tree that the children got gifts from often. I believe Boo Radley was leaving Jem and Scout gifts in the hole of the tree. "Tree's dying. You plug 'em with cement when they're sick" (70). Jem knew the tree wasn't dying, and I think Mr.Radley was just making an excuse as to why he wanted to keep Boo from making contact with the kids.
ReplyDeleteBeing that authors are almost always adults, it can be very challenging to write a book from a child's point of view and show how that child would actually think and respond to challenges and events in the book. To Kill and Mockingbird was written from a 7 year olds point of view so this would be very hard to capture and get you to understand that it’s coming from that young a person, but Harper Lee portrays this very well. Through the more informal dialogue and actions of Scout and Jem it convinces you that these are actually kids in the novel. “ ‘You mean if you didn’t defend that man, Jem and me wouldn’t have to mind you any more?’ “ (Lee 100). Scout throughout the book is constantly, much like a curious child, asking questions and trying to understand different things that are going on. I like that the way the book is written also helps us as teenagers to be able to understand the text better. We are reading a text that challenges you in the way that they talk differently from us, but you are able to understand their thinking more and feel more of a connection to the characters as they are kids/teenagers like us. I also really like all the suspence and curiosity Harper Lee leaves you with at the end of chapters and after certain events. “... I had heard another sound, so low I could not have heard it from the sidewalk. Someone inside the house was laughing” (Lee 54). Many of the suspence revolves around Boo Radley, a character with many rumors surrounding him to the point that you don’t know what to believe. After events happen in the story like Boo leaving objects for Scout and Jem and putting a blanket on Scout you begin to wonder why Boo is interacting with these kids. I predict that Boo has some sort of a connection to the kids that Atticus knows about but won’t tell them. If he didn’t why would he just interact with them and not other kids in the town? The book leaves you with many questions and much confusion making you want to read more to understand what is truly going on with Boo Radley and the Finch family.
ReplyDeleteBoo Radley
ReplyDeleteI predict that most of what's known about Boo will be false. The things like his real name being Arthur,are true and will probably stay true. Other things like the products of Jem and Scout's imagination, as will as all the words that come out of Miss Stephanie Crawford's mouth will be either utterly wrong, or some close, but still wrong version of the truth. For example, the theory Jem had about Boo being "chained to the bed most of the time" (Lee 12) is very very wrong, and Crawford's story about how Boo shoved scissors into his dad's leg is missing one important point. How was Mr. Radley able to run out of the house, and walk to work every day after, because if he was stabbed by decently sized (5 in) scissors there is a rather high chance that Boo would have hit at least one nerve, and maybe a vein, therefore making Mr. Radley a cripple or a dead person. I also think that Jem's idea that Boo is 6 ft 6 in is wrong. Those could have never been Boo's tracks to begin with, they could have been any random person. Also, in other books I have read, there have been characters who were supposedly monsters, but were really nice and just misunderstood. I think Boo will end up being a really nice person, maybe with a mental disorder, who happens to be really shy and really short.
By the way, this is Emma, and I have not read chapters 12 or 13 at this point.
DeleteKayla Ring
DeleteI agree. I feel like people had been judging people only based off of rumors that they heard such as how Boo eats cats and squirrels. Nobody has actually seen him do it, but it came out of the blue because of assumptions that he cannot get food so he has to go with his resources. People are too quick to judge people off of what they heard before they even talked with the person.
So far, I really enjoy reading “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The first few chapters did not interest me as they were somewhat slow moving, but the more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. Reading about history is very fascinating to me because I like learning about past times that are close enough to now that some of our family members may have lived then. Many people’s great grandparents probably lived during the time in which this book takes place, and we can get a view into how they lived and what life was like for them. One thing I do not really like about this book is Scout as the narrator. She judges people before she really gets to know them or get a glimpse into their lives, completely disregarding what her father, Atticus, told her was a good life skill: “‘First of all,’ he said, ‘if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-’...‘-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’ (Lee 33). I think this is something Scout really needs to take into consideration in order to be a better narrator and have better people skills when she grows up. Even though I do not like Scout as a narrator, I am still enjoying this book so far!
ReplyDeleteKayla Ring
DeleteI completely agree! I believe Scout is too fast to judge people without even getting to know them like Miss Caroline. She never even had a real conversation with her, it was only her telling Miss Caroline what she was doing wrong basically. I feel like this could be leading to the overall theme of the novel which could be don't judge a book by its cover.
The novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a very interesting and fascinating book, because it takes place in a time period that is difficult to convey, but the point of view, written in Scout's mind helps show the innocence of a young child during a time where the Great Depression was blazing and people were struggling financially and emotionally is really important to the novel and the whole theme of the book.
ReplyDeleteWhen Scout started school, the children in the school and their families, who were affected by the Great Depression, could be seen through the eyes of Scout and how, for example, Walter Cunningham could not afford a 25 cent debt to pay for lunch and Scout had to explain to the teacher. "You're shamin' him, Miss Caroline,. Walter hasn't got a quarter at home to bring you, and you can't use any stove-wood."(Lee 24). This quote shows how Scout's level of understanding and knowledge helps Scout comprehend how people in this time period are struggling in different ways because the Cunninghams were struggling from the Great Depression and could not afford food or personal items.
Scout's point of view in this novel is very important to the theme of the story and the plot development. It tells how the time period is important and how the people act at this time, through the eyes of an innocent, but knowledgeable young child. The book is very interesting so far and has a very interesting and developing plot that I can not wait for it to unfold.
I agree that the setting of the story is difficult to imagine because of the conflicting old and modern aspects of the story. I also agree that it was fascinating how families did not even have a quarter to give during the Great Depression. I agree that the point of view of Scout will play a role in the development of political issues in the story.
DeleteKayla Ring
ReplyDeleteThroughout this whole story so far, I have been particularly interested in the Radley family, especially Boo, Arthur, Radley. What really makes me interested is how he sneaks around and is known to be unseen. For example, "'Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn't know it when he put the blanket around you"'(Lee 82). Boo noticed that Scout was cold and placed a blanket around her so stealthily and my question is, how did she not notice? Had Boo just done it so many times that he was used to it and knew how to do it without being noticed? Also, Boo was known to be locked in his house and never stepping foot outside, so are all the rumors that were being spread throughout the town really true, or were they fake. The only real evidence we have on Boo is his real name Arthur. This could be leading to the theme of the story which may be something along the lines of don’t judge a book by its cover showing that if all these rumors are found to be fake then people are judging someone they never talked to by what they have heard.
So far, I have enjoyed the fascinating setting and point of view of the novel. I felt that the setting was slightly difficult to picture because of the interaction between older and modern aspects of the book. For example, it was interesting to see cars present in a time period with children walking barefoot and working in fields. The novel stated that “If Walter had owned any shoes he would have worn them the first day of school and then discarded them until mid winter” (Lee 21). It was also interesting to see the time period through the eyes of a young child. I noticed the differences in what entertained her and what entertains children today. I also noticed how little she understood the racial and social tension of the time period. For example, she was not aware of the racially offensive terms that were used. When Scout was explaining her conflict to Uncle Jack she stated, “A n----- lover. I ain’t very sure what it means…” (98) Her lack of knowledge of the terms that were being used to describe her father showed that she was not aware of the racial tension of the time. I predict that Boo Radley will be significant later in the story and might teach the kids a lesson about judging someone based on rumors. He might interact with them again in some way throughout the story. I also think that Atticus’ criticism will continue and increase as the case progresses, especially if he wins.
ReplyDelete