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Atticus’ Wise Words

Published on November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Image result for rabid dog In chapter 10, the dog of Maycomb becomes rabid. No one stands out to shoot the dog and everyone, including the sheriff, pressures Atticus to shoot it. Atticus successfully kills the dog as everyone watched. Throughout this chapter, Atticus is teaching Jem and Scout that you can only get rid of things that will directly affect you in a negative way by telling them,

“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy . . . but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

Image result for racial equality By revealing this quote, the author Harper Lee wants to let society know not to discriminate against people if they aren’t affecting you. Our group thinks this is a pivotal message because sometimes we forget that all people are the same no matter what race. By forgetting this, we usually act on stereotypes which can affect our paradigms as well as others.

Written by: Gena

How does knowledge affect tolerance?

Published on November 26, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

By knowing things, you can try and use what you know to tolerate things because if you don’t

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the characters Jem and Scout are always learning new things from their father Atticus. Throughout the book, Atticus, Jem, and Scout are tolerant of many things because of what they know.

For example, at the beginning of the novel, Scout realizes that Mr. Cunningham owes Atticus so he pays him with food.

“I asked Atticus if Mr.Cunningham would ever pay us.

‘Not in money,’ Atticus said, ‘but before the year’s out I’ll have been paid. You watch.’…

‘Why does he pay you like that?’ I asked.

‘Because that’s the only way he can pay me. He has no money.”(Lee 27)

Image result for vegetables This quote shows that Atticus is tolerant to the idea of Mr. Cunningham paying him with food instead of money when he knows what he’s going through. Atticus’ knowledge of the Cunningham family leads him to tolerate the way they are paying him.

Image result for old lady on porch Another example of knowledge affecting tolerance is when Atticus passes by Mrs. Dubose’s porch and she was being rude to him but he responded by greeting her and wishing her a good afternoon. He also let Jem read to her on her deathbed and thought of her as a brave lady. He knew that she was trying to stop her morphine addiction and Atticus knew it was hard for her

“Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” (Lee 149)

In this quote, Atticus is explaining to Jem and Scout that even though she was rude to most people, she was still brave and you have to fully see a person to know how they are like.

Knowing that the black church has people that won’t tolerate white children inside the church, Atticus still tolerated the fact that Calpurnia took Jem and Scout to the black church.

“Lula stopped, but she said, “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church, ain’t it, Miss Cal?”(Lee 158)

This quote is an example of how one of the black people didn’t tolerate white kids in their church.

According to The Economist,

The strongest predictor of tolerance, however, is the level of education one has received. College graduates accept outsiders and their views 83% of the time, whereas for those with only a high-school degree the acceptance rate is 64%.

This data shows that knowledge does affect tolerance. I think that if you know more, then you understand more which can train you to be more tolerant of different groups of people.

Written by Gena

Where is the Love by The Black Eyed Peas

Published on November 26, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

People killin’ people dyin’
Children hurtin’, I hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preachin’?
Would you turn the other cheek again?
Mama, mama, mama, tell us what the hell is goin’ on
Can’t we all just get along?
Father, father, father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me
Questioning
(Where’s the love)

Yo what’s going on with the world, momma
(Where’s the love)
Yo people living like they ain’t got no mommas
(Where’s the love)
I think they all distracted by the drama and
Attracted to the trauma, mamma
(Where’s the love)
I think they don’t understand the concept or
The meaning of karma
(Where’s the love)

Overseas, yeah they trying to stop terrorism
(Where’s the love)
Over here on the streets the police shoot
The people put the bullets in ’em
(Where’s the love)
But if you only got love for your own race
(Where’s the love)
Then you’re gonna leave space for others to discriminate
(Where’s the love)

And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you’re bound to get irate
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how hate works and operates
Man, we gotta set it straight
Take control of your mind and just meditate
And let your soul just gravitate
To the love, so the whole world celebrate it

People killin’ people dyin’
Children hurtin’, I hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preachin’?
Would you turn the other cheek again?
Mama, mama, mama, tell us what the hell is goin’ on
Can’t we all just get along?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
(Where’s the love)

It just ain’t the same, always in change
(Where’s the love)
New days are strange, is the world insane?
(Where’s the love)
Nation droppin’ bombs killing our little ones
(Where’s the love)
Ongoing suffering as the youth die young
(Where’s the love)

Where’s the love when a child gets murdered
Or a cop gets knocked down
Black lives not now
Everybody matter to me
All races, y’all don’t like what I’m sayin’? Haterade, tall cases
Everybody hate somebody
Guess we all racist
Black Eyed Peas do a song about love and y’all hate this
All these protests with different colored faces
We was all born with a heart
Why we gotta chase it?
And every time I look around

Every time I look up, every time I look down
No one’s on a common ground
(Where’s the love)
And if you never speak truth then you never know how love sounds
(Where’s the love)
And if you never know love then you never know God, wow
(Where’s the love)
Where’s the love y’all? I don’t, I don’t know
Where’s the truth y’all? I don’t know

People killin’ people dyin’
Children hurtin’, I hear them cryin’
Could you practice what you preach?
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
(Where’s the love)
(Where’s the love)

Love is the key
(Where’s the love)
Love is the answer
(Where’s the love)
Love is the solution
(Where’s the love)
(Where’s the love)
They don’t want us to love
(Where’s the love)
Love is powerful
(Where’s the love)
(Where’s the love)

My mama asked me why I never vote never vote
‘Cause police men want me dead and gone (Dead and gone)
That election looking like a joke (Such a joke)
And the weed man still sellin’ dope
Somebody gotta give these niggas hope (Please hope)
All he ever wanted was a smoke (My gosh)
Said he can’t breathe with his hands in the air
Layin’ on the ground died from a choke
(Where’s the love)

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders
As I’m gettin’ older y’all people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinemas
What happened to the love and the values of humanity?
(Where’s the love)
What happened to the love and the fairness and equality?
(Where’s the love)
Instead of spreading love we’re spreading animosity
(Where’s the love)
Lack of understanding leading us away from unity
(Where’s the love)

I think this song is talking about how kids are influenced by society to think that in order to be accepted by others, they have to join gangs or be racist. I also think that this song is a way for the band to try to teach their fans to spread love and positivity instead of discriminating against people for their race.

Image result for jury of all white people

This song relates to the message of the trial because when Atticus gave the jury liable information, they couldn’t see past Tom Robinson’s race and announced him guilty. All the information Atticus gathered before their eyes apparently wasn’t enough and the jury chose to discriminate against him.

Written by Gena

Mrs. Dubose

Published on November 26, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

In the eleventh chapter of To Kill A Mockingbird, a crucial character was introduced. Her name was Mrs. Dubose.

Mrs. Dubose was an old woman addicted to morphine living in the town of Maycomb. She knew everyone and everything in the town and always made blunt, snarky comments to mostly everyone that passed by her porch. Jem and Scout were hollered by her until they realized that people are more than their looks. They have beliefs and personalities.

Jem runs home after crushing Mrs. Dubose’s award-winning camellias after name calling Atticus. Atticus then orders him to read to her every afternoon for 2 weeks.

Mrs. Dubose cuts her morphine addiction and starts to have fits due to withdrawal. She soon dies and Atticus explains to Jem and Scout that Mrs. Dubose was very brave because she cut off her addiction knowing she could get even sicker than she already was.

“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before yo begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. Mrs. Dubose won, all ninety-eight pounds of her. According to her views, she died beholden to nothing and nobody. She was the bravest person I ever knew.” (Lee 149)

Atticus’ plan the whole time was to teach Jem and Scout what real courage is by watching Mrs. Dubose on her deathbed. Mrs. Dubose showed a lot of courage when handling her drug addiction and was just misunderstood. All she wanted was for people to respect her.

Written by Gena

The Mourning Period

Published on November 23, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Summary of Chapter 25

Chapter 25 is a recap of the Summer Tom Robinson was shot. Scout is narrating what Jem had told her happened when Atticus broke the news to Helen, Tom Robinson’s wife. She passed out before Atticus could even tell her that Tom was shot. After Helen woke up, Atticus, Calpurnia, and Helen stayed inside and talked for a while, presumably about Tom’s death.

Because of Mr. Underwood, the news spread and everyone in Maycomb knew about Tom Robinson’s death. In his editorial, Mr. Underwood explains that Tom Robinson was in fact, innocent. The book says,

“Mr. Underwood didn’t talk about miscarriages of justice, he was writing so children could understand. Mr. Underwood simply figured it was a sin to kill cripples, be they standing, sitting, or escaping. He likened Tom’s death to the senseless slaughter of a songbirds by hunters and children, and Maycomb thought he was trying to write an editorial poetical enough to be reprinted in The Montgomery Advertiser.” (Lee, 323)

This quote shows the perspective of a person other than Atticus, Scout, or anyone that widely shared their opinion throughout the novel. It shows that people care about others no matter what their race because when Mr. Underwood stated that Tom Robinson was an innocent man just because he was crippled he didn’t bring his race into it, he implied that Tom Robinson was not able to take advantage of Mayella Ewell even though he can carry heavy things. The book explains that Mr. Underwood writes mainly for the children of Maycomb to understand what is happening in their town.

The theme of racism comes back in this chapter when the author states,

“To Maycomb, Tom’s death was typical. Typical of a nigger to cut and run. Typical of a nigger’s mentality to have no plan, no thought for the future, just run blind first chance he saw” (Lee 322).

This excerpt from the novel contains a literary device called repetition. These sentences each include the word “typical”.

This quote also showcases racism around the citizens of Maycomb because they think the African Americans of their town are wild and don’t think twice. This is why mostly everyone thought that Tom Robinson’s death was bound to happen incredibly soon.

Written by: Gena

Tom Robinson the Mockingbird

Published on November 20, 2018November 22, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Tom Robinson is a black man living in the town of Maycomb. He is 25 years old and has a wife and children. He works in the cotton fields and occasionally stops by the Ewell’s house to do some heavy lifting.

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Robinson is being defended by Atticus for being accused of raping Mayella Ewell.

Tom Robinson’s character relates to a mockingbird because he doesn’t do anything but mind his own business. Although he has other responsibilities, Tom Robinson takes the time out of his day to occasionally help Mayella Ewell.

“Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird.'”That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.”‘Your father’s right,’ she said. ‘Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy.” (Lee 119)

This quote relates to Tom Robinson’s situation because he doesn’t pester anyone, but helps when he can and I think the author is implying that it’s a sin to accuse an innocent man like Tom Robinson of rape.

We know that Tom Robinson’s left arm is disabled because, in the novel, Jem says,

“Scout, look! Reverend, he’s crippled!’ Reverend Skyes leaned across me and whispered to Jem,

‘He got it caught in a cotton gin, caught it in Mr. Dolphus Raymond’s cotton gin when he was a boy…like to bled to death…tore all the muscles loose from his bones-“(Lee 249)

He was unable to choke her with both hands like Mayella and her father claimed, and as Atticus showed, Mayella had been hit by a left-handed individual because her right eye had been hit, therefore, Tom Robinson shouldn’t have been proved guilty.

Tom Robinson resembles a mockingbird because all he does is what he has to do, and helped Mayella Ewell with chores when he didn’t have to.

Here She Comes…

Published on November 20, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Summary of Chapter 13

$Image result for someone putting a glove on$

“Aunt Alexandra fitted into the world of Maycomb like a hand into a glove, but never in the world of Jem and me” (Page 131-132)

This quote contains a simile comparing how Alexandra fit into Maycomb and a hand fitting into a glove using the word “like”

Image result for maycomb welcoming aunt alexandra When Aunt Alexandra came to the town of Maycomb, everyone welcomed her and enjoyed her stay. On most days, she would have tea with the other women of Maycomb. On some occasions, some of the women of Maycomb would bake cakes for her.

Image result for atticus lecturing jem and scout Although everyone in Maycomb seems to like her, Aunt Alexandra is “pushy” in the eyes of Jem and Scout. She tries to make Scout think she has to wear dresses instead of overalls so she can live up to the expectations of a Finch. She then demands Atticus to teach Jem and Scout of the history of the Finch family.

The theme of this chapter was courage because Jem and Scout had the courage to deal with Aunt Alexandra’s visit to Maycomb and her attitude towards them.

Written By Gena

The Church Visit

Published on November 15, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Chapter 12 summary

Image result for airplane to washington dc

Harper Lee starts off the second part of the book (Chapter 12) by describing how old Jem is and how Dill cannot visit Maycomb because his mother remarried. She also reveals that because Atticus is a part of the state legislature which called an emergency session that caused him to travel to the state capital for 2 weeks.

“The Governor was eager to scrape a few barnacles off the ship of state; there were sit-down…” (Lee 154)

This quote uses “scraping off barnacles” as a metaphor for “cleaning things up”.

Since Atticus isn’t home to watch Scout and Jem, Calpurnia takes responsibility for watching over them. On Sunday, Calpurnia takes them to her church called First Purchase. When they arrive, Calpurnia is called out by a fellow African American woman that goes to this church weekly for bringing wite kids into the black church. This would obviously bother her or anyone else because First Purchase is the only place where the African Americans of Maycomb can be free and won’t be mistreated by white people. When Calpurnia is socializing with the others, Scout realizes she changes her accent so they won’t think of her as higher than them. Later on, Reverend Skyes welcomes Jem and scout and brings everyone’s attention to Helen’s (Tom Robinson’s wife) situation. He asks everyone to help raise $10 for her because she can’t find a job. Now everyone, including Jem and Scout knew why the case their father was working on was well known among the commoners.

This chapter showed the theme of taking care of family when Harper Lee showed that Jem was maturing and he could look after Scout while Atticus was away.

Written by Gena

It’s a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird

Published on November 5, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Chapter 10 Summary:

The Beginning of chapter 10 starts by describing how Atticus is too old to be Jem and Scout’s father. He doesn’t do the typical things the dads of Maycomb do. He usually reads for entertainment while the other fathers hunt or farm.

Scout brought up the topic of why she and Jem weren’t allowed to shoot birds and Atticus replies.

Image result for kids with guns

“Remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” That was the only time I ever heard Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it.
“Your father’s right,” she said. “Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”

This quote is important because of how it shows Atticus’ compassionate side, and how he raises his children. He explains to them that if something/someone doesn’t hurt something/someone then they don’t need to be bothered. This quote foreshadows the events of the trial in the later chapters and how Tom Robinson is accused of raping the Ewell’s daughter Maella even though he did not. In this case, Tom Robison is a mockingbird that the Ewell family are trying to kill.

Image result for rabid dog Atticus is pushed out of his comfort zone when the dog of Maycomb appears to be rabid. Everyone starts pressuring Atticus to shoot the dog. The sheriff arrives and does the same thing. This is ironic because the sheriff is supposed to keep the town safe and protect them from dangerous things, ie. a rabid dog. The sheriff held his gun out to Atticus so he could shoot it. it would only take one shot to kill the rabid beast. When Atticus finally as the courage to shoot the dog, Scout and Jem are proud of him and want to brag about this event.

Theme: Racism

I think the author was trying to explain how Maycomb was slowly getting rid of racism by representing racism, or stereotypes of African Americans through the dog and Atticus killing the dog representing killing the stereotypes/racism.

By Gena

Citations for the pictures:

Knapton, Sarah. “Implant Means End of Reading Glasses Is in Sight.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 24 Aug. 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11053012/Implant-means-end-of-reading-glasses-is-in-sight.html.

Hushin. “KIDS WITH GUNS.” YouTube, YouTube, 16 July 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOaBIQKpBSw.

“What to Do If a Rabid Dog Bites Someone.” Animalwised.com, http://www.animalwised.com/what-to-do-if-a-rabid-dog-bites-someone-1239.html.

What’s the Deal with Foot Washing Baptists?

Published on October 26, 2018November 30, 2018 by genasblogLeave a comment

Chapter 5 Summary

Image result for one person feeling excluded The chapter begins with Scout feeling left out of Jem and Dill’s friendship. She tries to find ways to hang out with them. But unfortunately, her plan did not work and retreated to a friend of her uncle’s, Miss Maudie.

Before we are introduced to Miss Maudie, Scout describes who she is and where she came from. She characterizes Miss Maudie as,

“…a widow, a chameleon lady who worked in her flower beds in an old straw hat and men’s coveralls, but after her five o’ clock bath she would appear on the porch and reign over the street in magisterial beauty.” (Lee, 56)

Scout explains to Miss Maudie why she has come to her and brings up the topic of Boo Radley. While Scout thinks he died, Miss Maudie made a theory of her own. She thinks that Boo Radley’s father was harsh towards him. Because he was a foot-washing Baptist, Miss Maudie feels that they are too literal when it comes to the Bible. As her theory implied, Boo Radley had probably been driven crazy if he doesn’t come out of his house. She reveals to Scout that Boo Radley was a kind, polite child and never caused any trouble.

Image result for foot washing baptist — Foot Washing Baptist

The chapter, later on, reveals that Jem and Dill are trying to get in touch with Boo Radley and go out with him. They wrote a letter for him and ran up to his doorstep to deliver it. When Atticus sees them running up to the Radley’s house, he calls them and demands they confess what they were about to do. After they explain what they were doing and why the chapter ends with Atticus asking them to stop bothering Boo Radley and to leave him be.

This chapter went over the theme of innocence when Scout thought Boo Radley was dead and when Jem and Dill went up to the Radley’s house not knowing that it isn’t right.

Written By: Gena

Hurley, Katie. “How to Teach Your Child to Be An ‘Includer.’” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 8 June 2016, http://www.pbs.org/parents/expert-tips-advice/2016/06/be-an-includer/.

“Thoughts on the Footwashing Decree.” Voice in the Wilderness, 21 Jan. 2016, http://www.shawnthebaptist.org/2016/01/thoughts-on-the-footwashing-decree/.