Section 2 TKAM-Rumi Sherriff

This second section of “To Kill a Mockingbird” focuses primarily on the change and growth of Scout and Jem as they mature and become more attune to the goings on around them in Maycomb. The driving force in the maturation of the children has been the behavior of Atticus, and how his children, especially Jem, begin to mirror his views more and more. However, Jem and Scout also appear to have mixed emotions about their father’s behavior and how it is so much different from the behavior of their extended family and of the other residents in Maycomb. Two examples of this would be the interaction between Mrs. Dubose and the children, and the conflict between Scout and her cousin Francis. It seems as though Atticus wishes to challenge his children, and expose them to views which are opposite from their own in order for them to grow and strengthen themselves.

Section 1 TKAM- Rumi Sherriff

The first section of “To Kill a Mockingbird” serves to describe the setting and circumstances in which the story takes place, and also gives some insight into the characters and their lives. This first section truly highlighted the different perspectives that are present throughout the novel. One example of this is in the first person narration that the author employs, telling the novel through Scout and her perspective on Maycomb and its residents. Another example is the contrast between Miss Caroline and her students in the classroom. As she comes from northern Alabama and from a wealthy family, she cannot understand the actions of some of her students and their backgrounds. This is best reflected in her interaction with the Cunningham boy, as she cannot understand why the boy won’t accept help from her, yet all of the other children understand this as they know that the Cunninghams do not accept charity. These different perspectives show how even a small, mostly white town in Alabama can be diverse, albeit in a socio-economic manner, and it will be interesting to see how all these different characters with different backgrounds and beliefs interact with each other as the novel unfolds.

Section 3 TKAMB Kaitlyn Dewey

This section was so intense. It was tedious to read, but so satisfying. The court scene and Atticus' dedication to proving Tom Robinson innocent is amazing to hear about and imagine. Atticus' mannerisms as a lawyer are that much more amazing since the story takes place through Scout's eyes. Although they don't have a typical father-daughter relationship, the one they do have is remarkable and different, and I admire that. Reading about the cross-examinations and the evidence and questions being brought to everyone's attention is invigorating. Although Atticus seems to have it all figured out, using his words ever so eloquently; he seems to doubt the jury will see it that way based on his first time sweats. Will the jury believe him or doubt him? Will Mayella Ewell ever get true justice for her situation or simple something to live by?

TKAM Section 4 Brandon Prasouvo

The last section of the book was really satisfying to read. From the beginning, we heard about Boo Radley as being a mysterious, dark creature. We saw the changes of both Scout and Jem. We read about the circumstances that influenced or catalyzed the changes in the children. Scout sits right next to Boo and in a way, it symbolizes her facing reality, the end of childhood. She witnessed the trial of Tom, she felt innocent feelings of love, she has pride in her beliefs and name, she understood different perspectives. All of these traits that Scout has acquired are just the start of her life. By seeing Boo Radley, experiencing intense anger, embarrassment, seeing the affects of racism and different mentalities, she is testing the waters of growing up. The book as a whole was a real ride in the lives of many people. Although, all the characters had a place and role to the central theme of growing and change.

TKMB Part 2 Alexis

This section started off really boring to me. Hints why I barely finished reading it. Toward the end of the chapter the plot started to intensify. I really enjoyed learning more about Atticus and the case. Thus far it seems like the typical black vs. white case. For Atticus to represent Tom wholeheartedly shows a lot about his character. He cares about the greater good of humanity not just what his townspeople think about him. I absolutely enjoyed Scout's curiosity. Her innocent questions highlighted the wrongs in humanity. I really appreciate the fact that Cal and Atticus actually try to give her straightforward answers. I guess they assume that she gets enough crap from other people pertaining to the case that Scout deserves at least one honest response. During this section I started to view Jem and Scout as kids with guidance. Before it seemed like they just ran wild. I'm looking forward to her to reading more about he case and Scout's reaction to everything.

TKAM Section 4 Aaliyah

I just want to give a special shout out to Mrs. Schulz for making us, well not making us but assigning us this book, it was amazing and I loved it so much that I found the movie on Netflix and forced my best friends to watch it. That's not the point though, this was such an unexpected ending and there was so much that I could focus on but what really caught my attention was when Mr. Tate and Atticus were having a conversation on the porch and Mr. Tate said, "Let the dead bury the dead this time, Mr. Finch. Let the dead bury the dead." Those few sentences stuck out to me so much because they confused me a little but I interpreted it as Mr. Tate telling Atticus to let the whole situation go. Atticus was so set on having Jem say that he did something that, whether he did it or not what's done is done and it would be so much easier to "let the dead bury the dead." Tom Robinson is dead and so is the man responsible for his death so there's no reason to further aggravate the situation, it would just give the town something else to talk about. Letting the dead bury the dead was the best option and the only option according to Mr. Tate. I loved this book by the way if I didn't make that clear enough.

TKAM Section 4 - Keely Ryan

I was pleasantly surprised with the closing of To Kill a Mockingbird due to the sense of peace I received rather than the edge-of-my-seat tensions I felt throughout the book prior. The character development was brought full circle and we learned that Atticus indeed is a great role model for Scout and the youth of the story. Scout seemed to always cherish that her father once told her to view life from different perspectives in order to fully understand the world around her. With this piece of advice in mind, it was prevalent throughout the upbringing of the children as a whole. From the beginning, Scout portrayed Boo Radley as a villain, yet was particularly curious to prove herself and everyone wrong about him. Atticus always reminded Scout to not shut others who are different out from her life, but rather to embrace and accept their differences and learn something while doing so. With this idea in mind, the quote from Atticus, "You never really understand a person until you've considered things from their point of view... Until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" is truly brought full circle and we can see Scout doing so as the story comes to an end.

Zariah Brown- S4

The theme of evil destroying innocence is key and it is simplistically demonstrated in almost every significant scenario that includes the main characters in the story.  The idea is that childish innocence is being stripped from Scout and Jem-- but Atticus is a grown man and he already knows what evil the world is capable of, he just chooses to have hope in the good. But what threw me off was Atticus believing that Bob Ewell wouldn't do anything too rash; there is a difference between hope for good and oblivion to evil. Yes, it's fine to believe that there's good in everyone, but everyone knows that Bob is racist and irrational (Alexandria and the kids were both still worried) and I'm sure it'd be fine for him to assume the worst from Bob if it meant keeping his family and himself safe.

On a totally different note, can I just say that I'm so glad that Bob was killed? I disliked him with a passion.

To Kill a Mockingbird-Finale (Jonathan Garcia)

The final chapters is riveting, while Scout and Jem are still in the court house awaiting what will become of Tom Robinson, Atticus continuing to do whatever needs to be done to give Tom a fighting chance and to me there was a chance where it did seem like Tom would have been pardoned, but then he tried to escape and got killed. One of my favorite parts throughout the novel Is when Scout is about to smash a roly-poly but then Jem tells her not to because the bug didn't to anything to harm her which goes back to when Atticus told them not to kill mockingbirds. What really made these last chapters exciting was the sense that Scout and Jem were growing up, where Jem seems not to mind growing up but actually excited about it Scout seems somewhat more reluctant to it, which brings me back to the roly-poly scene, scout not wanted to care about what happens to the bug, the same way a child would not care, and Jem older and somewhat wiser urgers Scout to leave it alone because it didn't do anything to harm her.

Section 4 - Brittney

The meaning behind the phrase "to kill a mockingbird is a sin" some what touches on the topic of humanity, but more like the absence of humanity. A mockingbird is a generally is a very harmless bird. It sings to bring happiness to those around it and it would be a cruel act for an individual to kill a mockingbird, because it does no harm to anyone. In the book, mockingbird refers to the kind-hearted people of society. Everyone assumed that Boo Radley was a nasty and mean spirit that haunted the society of Macomb. However, he left presents in the tree for the children. Tom, who represents the black’s struggle against oppression in a white-dominant society, is killed without committing any crime. Society pays for their “sin” of killing the mocking birds; “for the wages of sin is death.”

Section 4 (Monique)

I was completely wrong about Arthur. At the beginning of the book, the mystery that surrounded him led me to believe that he had malicious intent. I didn't think Bob Ewell would come for the Finches. I didn't expect him to attack the kids, but I guess I should've because Atticus presented evidence that implied that Bob Ewell attacked Mayella. Arthur prove that he had no malicious intent when he saved the kids. At the end of the novel, You can really start to see how different Jem and Scout have become. Scout still has hope in people, she is still a bit of an idealist and openly questions why injustices are the way they are, like during class when her (racist) teacher criticized Hitler. Jem seems to prefer moving on and not speaking about the trial. Maybe that's why Atticus thought that Jem killed Ewell.

Section 4 : Jasmin Aguirre

After Scout seen who Arthur Radley "Boo" was, she couldn't believe she would actually ever have the chance to meet him in person. After all Atticus was right . Atticus had told Scout a while back that, "you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them." Scout realized that he was right when she sat beside him and he did nothing to harm her rather than to protect her. If it wasn't for Boo, Jem and Scout could have been dead and the story would have ended in different terms. I would like to have known more about Boo Radley and have him explain some stuff about his life and the reason he's been indoors for a long time.

Section 4: TKAM (Rachel)

The ending of the novel was both expected and unexpected from my point of view. From the beginning I knew that the book would likely culminate in an extreme event impacting an innocent life due to the use of foreshadowing by Harper Lee. However, as I read I never thought the innocent harmed out of hate would be Jem. I always thought it would be Atticus as he seemed to both embody the ideals of liberty and justice, and to be subject to extreme judgment from the Maycomb residents (as they were finely attuned to their own stereotypes, labeling anyone as different, bad). I believe that this particular ending is to show the growth in the two children. Throughout the story both kids worry at certain times over issues that present itself in their lives (Atticus being threatened, Atticus being made fun of, etc.) and yet through all the issues that are circumvented or dealt with Atticus would say, "It ain't time to worry yet." At the end, Atticus acknowledges that Scout would generally have felt scared as her life was being threatened from Mr. Ewell, but she said neither Jem nor her were scared, and that the only scary things were in books. The fact that even after witnessing humanity at its worst Scout is still unafraid of people and the harm they can bring shows that Atticus has taught her well. He had been trying to portray to his kids that people are only people who are lead to make mistakes at times, but they are never to be treated as any less, and this shows in Scout's behavior in the end of the story, not only because she understands why Mr.Ewell was capable of such a crime, but also in her actions regarding Boo Radley. In realizing who he was, she did not let her childish tendencies take over and judge him as his reputation made him out to be, but as he really was. Scout was finally able to actually understand what it meant to "stand in his shoes and walk around in them."

Section 4, Vianca

I don't know what to think. The novel concluded so abruptly to me that I'm not quite sure I understand it. I don't know what Jean Louise meant by "well, it'd be sort of like shootin' a mockingbird, wouldn't it?" Also, I don't like how Tom Robinson's death was not as surprising as it could and should have been. The way that Lee wrote the story was great and it left me with several thoughts. Will Jem try to hide what he did? What was it that Boo Radley did that night? Save Jem and Scout? How do we deal with racism and people who are willing to do anything on behalf of their beliefs? I also want to know what Lee's main reason was for writing this novel. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and was glad that it gave insight on what it means by stepping into someone else's skin at the end.

Section 4 To Kill A Mockingbird- Katie

The ending of To Kill A Mockingbird was really bittersweet for me. Throughout the novel we understood things as they were understood through Scout's eyes. Our view of her world was limited by her own perception and maturity. Arthur (Boo) Radley was a source of mystery and intrigue for Scout and Jem. In the end, when Bob Ewell attacked them with the intent to kill, and Arthur came out of his house for the first time (as far as we know) to save the children, it felt very befitting. Arthur represented childhood fantasy and now Scout’s idea of him has become more mature. He helped the kids get home after they’d been badly injured. 2 years ago Scout would have shuddered at the thought, but now she has grown to accept him. She even began wanting to have conversations with him. I was sad that she never saw him after that night, I wish she would have become his friend. I’m also sad that the book is over in general, I feel like my childhood is well over too.