The purpose of chapter one was to explain the Finch’s background such as Simon Finch the fur-trapping apothecary from Cornwall. To Jem breaking his arm, their mother who died from a heart attack and then to meeting Dill. The importance of the last paragraph in chapter 1 was to explain the sadness and unnervingly aura of the Radley’s house. How the children want nothing to do with the house except the feeling of wanting to see Arthur Radley and play with him as further mention in chapters 4-6. “I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that.” I chose that as the most important sentence in chapter one because it is almost a cliffhanger onto what started long before the Ewells, …show more content…
Compare and contrast Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell. Why are their differences significant compared/ contrasted to Scout and her upbringing? 4. Choose one sentence from these chapters that you believe is the most important to the exploration of the theme of children and education and explain why. Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell are both parts of the poverty class in Maycomb County. Their families are similar because of how the town folks treat them and how they communicate. They contrast so significantly because they are two different types of poverty Walter Cunningham’s family may be poor currency wise but they don’t take anything that they can’t pay back with the goods or services that they collect. Scout’s upbringing was so different because her family is part of a different group of people. Chapters 4-5, 32-50 Miss Maudie says of Arthur, “His name is Arthur and he’s alive.” As she delivers this statement she rocks in her oak rocker. In what previous ways has Boo Radley been associated with the words “Oak” and “Live”? Choose one sentence from these chapters that you believe is the most important to the gothic motif and explain …show more content…
Boo was misjudged, Jem and Scout judged him based on what they heard from the other children and adults of Maycomb. Boo is not bad or evil; He helps Jem and Scout out on many occasions First, he left gifts in the knothole of one of the oak trees in his yard. He mended Jem's pants when Jem got caught in the fence and had to come out of his pants because of when him, Dill and Scout went to go look in through the windows of his house. When Miss Maudie’s house burnt down while Jem and Scout were watching the flames he put a blanket around Scout because he saw that she was cold standing outside in just her robe and
Poverty can be a terrible thing. It can shape who you are for better or for worse. Although it may seem awful while you experience it, poverty is never permanent. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which takes place in Alabama in the middle of the Great Depression, Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell are both in a similar economic state. Both of their families have very little money; however, they way they manage handle themselves is very different. In this essay, I will compare Walter Cunningham and Burris Ewell’s physical appearance and hygiene, their views on education, and their manners and personalities.
Jem Finch has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a naive ten year old child. He has come to understand the real meaning of courage, gone from playmate to protector for his sister and has grown enough to understand the workings of the real world, and see the negatives and positives of society. His maturity has been quick and the changes great, and over the years he has come to adhere, respect and carry out Atticus`s legacy and use his father`s ideals to shape his lifestyle. Due to the course of events, his adolescent changes and Atticus`s influence, Jem has matured from a reckless child into a young man capable of making his own decisions.
After learning more about Boo and getting to know him they realize he is opposite of what they thought. Because Jem and Scout are influenced by other people’s opinions they are able to learn from their mistakes and develop a new perspective on people. In the beginning of the novel Jem and Scout believe Boo is a ghost until they get to see the real him. Everyone in Maycomb has a negative judgment of Boo, in the beginning Jem and Scout go along with it.
The theme of these two chapters is that Dill, and Jem wanted to go to the Radely house to get a peep at Boo Radely through the blinds. Scout feels uneasy about it but despite Jem’s wishes refuses to go home. He gets shot at with a gun while trying to escape. He lost his pants while escaping and when he went back to get them they where laid out on the fence like they where expecting Jem to come back. The next day every body was talking about it, they all thought Mr. Radely shot at a black man but missed. It seemed like Mr. Radely knew it was Jem though. Jem and Nathan Radley each said hi and Mr. Radely was talking about filling his tree with cement even though it was perfectly healthy. Jem found this strange.
But Boo tends to be a misunderstood character, just like the mockingbird. In chapter 28, when Jem and Scout were walking back home from school, they took the shortcut which happened to be pitch black. Jem heard a sound which alerted them. At first Jem thought it was Cecil Jacobs (a boy who liked to pull jokes on Jem and Scout), but then they realized it was someone else. They heard footsteps running after them to find that it was a grown man. Jem called out to Scout to run but she fell due to her costume.When Scout finally got back up to find Jem, the man squeezed her until she could barely breathe. Worriedly, Scout called out for Jem but didn’t get a response. She saw two men underneath the tree besides Jem and herself. She called out “Atticus?” but there was no answer once again. She noticed a man laying the ground that had the awful essence of booze, she got up and made her way over the road, and within the light of the street lamp Scout sees a man carrying Jem. The man headed towards the Finch house, where Atticus let him in. Scout eventually realized that “the man” was no other than Mr. Arthur or commonly referred to as Boo Radley. Mr. Arthur, despite his poor perception of
As the story progresses, Boo becomes more of a symbol of kindness and bravery than that of the "town freak" which he is made out to be. Boo leaves presents for the children in the hollow trunk of an old tree, as well as covers Scout with a blanket during Miss Maudie's fire. However, it is not until he saves Jem and Scout's life from the hands of the deranged Mr. Ewell, that Boo shows his true heroic character. Even though Boo is a physically weaker man, he shows no fear when it comes to protecting Jem and Scout's life.
In the case of Scout and Jem, they believed that Boo Radley, who is an outcast of Maycomb, possesses a horrific appearance, and that he is a savage, "he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained." However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that Boo is actually a kind-hearted person who has not done anybody wrong, but unfortunately, he was ruined by the hands of his family. Thus, Boo is an example of a mockingbird, as mentioned by Atticus. The disclosing of the character of Boo demonstrates Scout and Jem's loss of innocence. They can no longer see Boo as a mysterious threat in their life, instead they saw Boo as a person. "...he's crazy..but Atticus I swear to God he ain't ever harmed us, he coulda cut my throat...but he mend my pants instead..." In a way, Boo serves as a symbol of the transition of Scout and Jem's maturity, as the kids exhibit their ability to empathize with
After his father died, his brother moved in with him. While Boo was locked up inside is house, the people of Maycomb County made up stories about him. The legend of Boo Radley was well-known to the people of Maycomb. Jem describes Boo, “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. 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.”
They have many misconceptions of people, places, and concerts in Maycomb county. However as they are young and don't really have opinions themselves. They abide by those presented them. At the start of the novel Scout and Jem see Mr. Arthur Radley or "Boo", as a dangerous, crazy, and rather isolated man. Although never being in his presence or in association with him they always make assumptions about him. They constantly pestered his household and played games that mocked him, "..time to play Boo's big scene...steal the scissors...Jem would fake plunge into Dill's thigh..."(LEE40).They also had the misconception that Boo was kept inside forcefully by his family. Boo was also blamed for unresolved events. As time goes by they mature and start to develop more of an understanding of Boo, "..I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in his house all this time...he wants to stay inside"(LEE227). Jem develops an understanding as to why Boo Radley stays inside. It's not because his family forces him to stay inside. He realizes that when living in a town like Maycomb, there is an incredible amount of judgement and labeling that occurs. It becomes evident to him that Boo has no place and isn't welcomed into the society. Especially with having a stereotype "glued" to his identity. Scout then has an
Burris Ewell and Walter Cunningham, characters from “To Kill A Mockingbird”, both have many similarities as they do differences. Burris and Walter who are both poor residents of Maycomb county, are two very different characters. While one might argue that both live in poverty, that's where the similarities end. Walter Cunningham, is a very sweet and kind little gentlemen whose family is known to be very poor but, also very trustworthy and honest. Mr.Cunningham, Walter's father, is a sincere person who is known to work hard and be responsible for his family's financial situation. On the other hand Walter’s family is known for being alcoholic, and using welfare checks from the government on things like whiskey. Both children have father figures
Boo Radley is thought to be a malevolent, soulless, deceitful person, but he proves to be a caring, good-natured person. In Chapter 1, Jem offers his perception of Boo Radley to Scout and Dill: " ‘Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. 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’ " (16). Jem perceives Boo Radley as being a “monster” instead of being a man. Jem comes to this conclusion despite having never even seen Boo Radley in person. Jem’s understanding of Boo Radley is based on the rumors that he has heard about him. In Chapter 8, after the fire at Miss Maudie’s house, Scout notices that she was wrapped in a blanket that she did not have with she left the house. Scout asks Atticus who was the person that put the blanket around her. Atticus tells Scout, "Boo Radley. You were so busy watching the fire you didn't know it when he...
His first act is when he puts a blanket on Scout after Miss Maudie’s house catches on fire. Boo finds the courage to leave his home and worries about Scout’s safety more than his own. Moreover, later in the novel Boo fortifies his inner strength and saves Scout and Jem’s lives. He gets over his fear of the community of Maycomb County and does what is right and just. Boo is completely aware of the rumours about him yet he continues to be a kind, selfless man who expects nothing in return for his generosity. “‘Thank who?’ I asked. ‘Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you’” (Lee 76). In this quote, Atticus is describing Boo’s kindness. He knows Boo does not want anything in return but insists on Scout to thank Boo whenever she can. Overall, Boo Radley is an exceptional person who demonstrates true courage through his
Boo Radley, also known as Arthur Radley, is the scary, evil creature that lives in the creepy old house down the street from Jem and Scout, and is misjudged at first. Jem and Scout, two main characters, first see Boo as some sort of scary monster. Jem described him in the first chapter as “...six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks...” and said “...he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained- if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off...” Jem also mentioned Boo had 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.” Scout and Jem also call Boo a “...malevolent phantom...” As if that isn't bad enough, the kids hear and tell horrible stories about Boo. One is of how he stabbed his dad with a pair of scissors; another tells how he was locked up in the courthouse basement. Even with such a grisly initial perception at the beginning of...
For example, the book says, “When a man spends all his relief checks on green whiskey his children have a way of crying from hunger pains.” (31). Another way the Cunninghams and Ewells are different is their way of life. The Cunninghams live more civilized and try to do their best to look good with the money they have. For example Walter comes to school with, “a clean shirt and neatly mended overalls.” (19). The Cunninghams also always pay everyone back however they can. In contrast, the Ewells “live like animals” (30) and take everything they can get. Burris Ewell, “was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark grey, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his fingernails were black deep into the quick.” (27). The last way the Cunninghams and Ewells differ is their personality. The Cunningham's father is a courteous man, it shows this in the book when Atticus says, “As the Cunninghams had no money to pay a lawyer, they simply paid us with what they had.” (21). The kids are respectful to adults and always are thankful for what people give them. The Ewells, however, are very disrespectful. The kids are rude to their teachers and never do what the teacher tells them to
Among the many plots within the story, many of them surround Boo Radley or attempting to have Boo Radley come out of his house. In these stories show Jem, Scout, and Dill are terrified of the Radley house and what be inside. However, they are mistaken, for Boo Radley wants to do the exact opposite of scaring the children. For example, Boo tries to show friendship to Scout and Jem by leaving them gifts in the tree outside of his house. These gifts include dolls, gum, a knife, a watch, etc. Boo also is thought to have wrapped Scout in a blanket during the chapter in which Miss Maudie’s house had burned down. Boo Radley is thought to have done it because Atticus says “Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.” (Lee 96) supporting the fact that Boo Radley was looking out for Scout. Lastly, Boo Radley saved Scout and Jem when they were attacked by Bob Ewell. This heroic effort was not only full of care, but also, full of