Chapters 24/25: What is the content of the editorial published in the paper? Why is this confusing to Scout? What is the significance of this?

    In The Maycomb Tribune, Mr.Underwood writes an editorial about how Tom Robinson's death was pointless. "He likened Tom's death to the senseless slaughter of songbirds by hunters and children."(Lee 323). This is the part of the editorial that Scout doesn't understand right away. She does not understand how Tom's death is pointless. He was given a trial, he was convicted, he tried to escape, so he was killed. Simple as that. But, it wasn't. Scout realizes that, "Tom was a dead man the moment Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323) Because of his race, Tom never stood a chance in trial because of all the racism in the jury. He could not win, simply because he was black and the Ewells were not. His death was senseless because there was no point in it or Atticus trying his hardest, although it does show Atticus as one of the good people in Maycomb. He has no chance or choice, just like the songbirds.

Why does Mr. Underwood consider the killing of cripples a sin? How do you think Tom felt about the loss? Would he have been expecting it, or was Atticus a good enough lawyer to change his thoughts?

Chapters 20/21: Examine the final line of chapter 21. What is the significance?

The final line of chapter twenty-one defines respect at the time when Atticus just lost his case. As the jury was reading out the guilty verdict, Reverend Sykes, leader of the African American community, tells Scout to stand up because her father is passing by. In fact all of the African Americans in the courtroom were standing to show Atticus respect, despite his loss in the case to defend Tom Robinson. Most people in Maycomb gain respect from doing things like hunting or playing football. Earlier, Scout noticed that her father, Atticus, doesn’t seem to do what other fathers do, saying,  “Atticus did not drive a dump-truck for the county, he was not the sheriff, he did not farm, work in a garage, or do anything that could possibly arouse the admiration of anyone” (Lee 118). In fact Atticus gained respect by trying his hardest even when he knew he would fail. This reminds the reader about Mrs. Dubose, who also tried her hardest until the end. Atticus gains respect from the African American community and Scout by what he did, namely giving dignity and honor for all.

Chapters 18-19: Why does Dill cry? Explain the situation in detail. How does this relate back to Atticus's comment about having a police force of children? (210)

Dill cries because he was so horrified at the treatment of Tom Robinson at the hands of Mr. Gilmer.  Mr. Gilmer was in the middle of Tom's cross-examination, and Scout had to take Dill outside because his sobs were a distraction to the rest of the court. Scout thinks that Dill hasn't recovered from running away yet, but in truth it is so much more than that. Dill says that "it was the way he (Mr. Gilmer) said it made me sick, plain sick," (Lee 266). The interesting thing about this scenario is that although Dill is brought to tears, the rest of the spectators just continue listening and watching the trial. Dill has led a pretty sheltered life and this has helped him maintain his innocence and naivety, and he has yet to become accustomed to the cruelties of the adult life. The behavior of Mr. Gilmer was extremely disrespectful and rude, calling Tom Robinson "boy" and giving him dirty looks, but the crowd was so used to this course of action that they just took it for granted. The crowd doesn't think that they have enough power to change the way humans treat other humans, when in reality, they do. Dill hates that nobody else cares, and is disgusted and ashamed at the rest of the audience. Dill's reaction relates back to Atticus's comment about having a police force of children by just reinforcing the idea that children are much more open minded than adults. Adults have had more personal experience, and are more likely to be biased and opinionated than children who have led sheltered lives, and just know the basic morals of right or wrong. It depends on the situation, but in the particular one, it almost seems that being less experianced and naive helps children maintain their moral standards better than adults.

If you were watching the trial, how would you react? Do you think Dill was over reacting and it was ridiculous of him to cry, or did he have good reason?

Chapters 10-11: Why is it appropriate to kill a mad dog but not a mockingbird? Explain.

One day after Christmas, Jem and Scout go out to look for some small prey to hunt with their air rifles. Jem is alarmed when he looks down the road to see a neighborhood dog walking "erratically, as if his right legs were shorter than his left legs," (Lee 123). Jem and Scout run to tell Calpurnia, and she immediately calls Atticus and has Eula May call the neighbors to warn them that a mad dog is on the loose. Atticus shows up with Mr. Heck Tate, the sheriff, and they wait for the dog to come within shooting distance. Atticus, to the surprise of Jem and Scout, is asked to shoot the dog, and he  kills the mad mongrel with a shot right above the left eye. Atticus had told the children earlier that they should never shoot a mockingbird, but then he goes and shoots a diseased canine. The difference is that mockingbirds "don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy," (Lee 119). The mad dog could've been a threat to the community, and might have attacked a human. It's okay to defend yourself against something that might attack you, but it is not okay to go out of your way to harm something that has never done anything wrong. I think part of the bigger picture with this situation is that rules change depending on who's playing the game. Everybody has a different background and reasons, so you can't determine right or wrong without knowing the background. If the dog hadn't been mad and Atticus had shot it, he would've been in trouble. If a child shot a bird that was about to peck it's eyes out, that could probably be understood. That's why it's okay for Atticus to kill a dog that was dangerous, but it's not appropriate for children to kill an innocent mockingbird just for fun.

One question I have is how this relates to the rest of the book. Will Tom Robinson be the innocent mockingbird that Mayella Ewell decides to prosecute, or will he be the dog that didn't hurt her, but there was a strong possibility he might've if she hadn't done anything? Is he even one of the two or something completely different?

Chapters 8/9: Discuss Atticus' explanation of the case to Scout. What does Atticus mean by "Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win?"

    When Atticus and Scout are talking about Atticus defending a Negro (Tom Robinson) at a trial, Atticus says that, "Just because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win" (Lee 101) to explain that just because something was basically decided already, doesn't mean that you shouldn't try and win it still. They were talking about this because Tom Robinson is a Negro accused of a crime, so the jury is going to be prejudiced and call him guilty just for the color of his skin. Even so, Atticus wants to try, for that small, small chance that they will win. The town of Maycomb thinks that Atticus should not try very hard to defend Tom, but he is still going to attempt to win, hence the insults thrown by Cecil Jacobs (Lee 102) and Francis(Lee 110 and 112). It shows that Atticus is a one of a few people that have no problem with others based on race. The rest of Maycomb is not so nonchalant about it though. But why do Aunt Alexandra and Francis, think differently? What is it that makes African-Americans so bad, that they shouldn't even be defended correctly?  And what did Tom Robinson do?