When asked, most people will identify To Kill a Mockingbird as a favorite novel. The complexity of its characters, the power of its language, and the emotion evoked from its conflicts create a story that is difficult to forget. Throughout the next few weeks, we will be focusing on those aspects of Lee's text which make it so memorable. In this blog, I'd like to hear from you: What, in your opinion, is the most powerful or significant scene in Book 1? Don't forget to support your arguments with evidence from the text...and respond to each other.
31 comments:
I think one of the most powerful scenes in the book is when Atticus is outside the jailhouse protecting Tom Robinson, and then a big mob comes to start a problem. THen Jem, Scout, and Dill show up and stand up for Atticus. I think this scene is the most poweful because 1) Atticus is sticking up for Tom Robinson even when no one else will. He is protecting this man as it is his job even when the whole town is racist and thinks hes bad just because hes black. 2) Jem, & Scout still stand up for Atticus because he is there father and they love him. They are following his good heart by defending Tom Robinson even though hes black because Tom Robison was innocent but he only got punished because he wasn't white.
I think the one of the most memorable parts of the book is at the end when Scout is standing on Boo Radley's porch and looking at the neighborhood from his point of view. Finally Scout can see what Boo saw throughout the whole book, and this helps her understand more about his life. Scout realizes what it is like to look at things from Boo Radley's point of view.
I agree with Lauren. Atticus proves that it doesnt matter what color you are and you shouldnt be judged by that. People should learn to look at the person inside, which is one of the themes of this novel. Also Jem and Scout show how proud they are of their father by sticking up for him. They are not afraid or embarresed of what their father is doing, and I think that was a very moving part of the book.
I agree with Allison. When Scout walks Boo home and views the town in his shoes is by far the most memorable part of the novel. The scene provides closure for all the events that happened throughout the novel and it shows how all the childrens' efforts to get closer to Boo were worth it in the end. Boo's existance changed Scouts outlook on life and she now knows that you cannot judge people based on their past or appearance.
I think the most significan scene in the book is when Atticus tells Tom Robinsons wife that he was shot. In that scene, her breakdown shows that the white people in Maycomb county forget about what is right and what is wrong. All they can think about is what they want. They don not even consider that everyone has feelings. I think that when Jem and Dill were in the car and they saw Mrs. Robinson's breakdown they were forced to grow up. They realized that this started long before Bob Ewell got involved. This shows that no matter what color one is and what ones concept of right and wrong is, every one has feelings.
I think that the most memorable part was at the end of the book when Boo saved Scout and Jem. Despite his reputation, he showed that he was a compassionate and caring person by coming out of his house and saving their lives. Through his whole life he stayed in his house and was gossipped around the town about. Scout Jem and Dill were determined to make him come out and to find out if all the rumors were true. When Boo left gifts for them in the tree and when he put a blanket around Scout when she was cold, he showed taht he really cared, and they were some of the only people in the world who he felt a connection to. By the end of the novel this bond became so strong that he came out of his house and saved their lives. He became known as a father figure to them, and finally Scout realizes what he is really like and that he is not as bad as everyone says after all.
Well i agree with allison because the end is a very memorable scene in the book. It shows what it would be like to be in Boo Radley's shoes. This is a lesson Atticus has been trying to teach Scout throughout the whole book and she finally realizes what he means and recounts the whole past in his point of view from his porch.
just like how we ended per.2 with the topic of Calphurnia to back up what i agree with that the it started when Dill came to town and they became friends... well first of all in the beginning they viewed her as a cold mean lady who spanked them really hard but towards the end they become closer to her and she her as a loving person which Scout would sometimes go to her when she had problems.Scout began to trust her and if she didn't she wouldn't have gone to her for help or gone to the black church where she meets many friends that she sits with in the court case.
I agree with Erica. The end of the novel is very memorable because one can see how Scout has matured by learning about the values in society and how people often influence one another. This relates to the lesson that Atticus tries to teach Scout about how one can only judge another when put into thier situation. This occurs after Calpurnia scolds Scout when she judges Walter Cunningham's table manners during dinner.
Another memorable moment is towards the end of chapter 22. This is when Bob Ewell becomes upset about the trial and spits in Atticus's face and tells him that he will have his revenge. This foreshadows a major event that is about the occur (Bob Ewell attacks Jem and Scout on their way home). This relates to the quote that was discussed in class about Jem breaking his arm. When Dill comes to Maycomb and becomes friends with Scout and Jem. He influences them and wants to make Boo Radley come out because he is curious about his physical appearance. Since Harper Lee makes it so that Scout and Jem go beyond their boundaries, it shows that these boundaries represent their innocence and how Calpurnia and Atticus try to keep them from being aware the down sides to life and the truth. By Dill influencing Scout and Jem, it results in them become more curious. Without Dill, the children wouldn't have learned about how people treat one another in their society.
I agree with Amibka that spitting on Atticus' face was a very important part in foreshadowing the events to come. This foreshadowed Mr. Ewell attacking Jem and also Scout maturing.
i think a really memorable moment in the book is when scout finnally gets to meet Boo Radley because the whole book is leading up to that moment.
Ambika: I love that part too...but more because of Atticus's response: "I wish Bob Ewell wouldn't chew tobacco" -- SOOO cool and calm; that's a man who maintains his sangfroid!!!! And Scout on the porch...I tear up EVERY time I read that (so you will never get me to read that passage aloud in class. I'm such a dork).
Not to be a thrill-kill, but the blog asks to focus on the first part of the book (up through the death of Mrs. Dubose); can we direct the conversation to this half of the book? Thanks & happy weekend!
I think the death of Mrs. Dubose was the most signifigant point in the book because it taught Jem about what real courage was. Mrs. Dubose was very sick but held through each day. Even though she was so old she was very honest to the childern and mean, she had so much strength in her heart to go on each day.
I agree with Maureen. I think Mrs. Dubose's death was very memorable, because it taught what real courage is and how if you focus on your goals you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way. It was also memorable for Jem because he wittnessed someone whom he was becoming close to die.
I agree with Maureen and Zoe because Jem started out hating Mrs. Dubose, and then as he really go to know her he learned that she isn't all that bad. This is a powerful point in the story because Jem finally learns what Atticus has been trying to tell him. Like Zoe said, Jem had to have real courage to stand there and watch Mrs. Dubose, someone who was like a friend to him now, die.
i also think when Mrs.Dubose dies is pretty important because it kind of shows the theme about not jugding a book by its cover.Mrs. Dubose was always really mean to Jem and Scout but Jem realized she was dying and going over some hard troubles and was strong inside.
This theme is shown with Boo radley too.
i also agree with allison. When Scout is standing on Boo Radleys porch, suddenly everything the book represents becomes clear. She sees the neighborhood through Boo's point of view. Sitting in the courthouse she sees the black community's point of view. I think a huge theme of this book is gaining perspective and this scene symbolises it really well.
One of the most memorable scenes in the book may have been when Scout gets in trouble with her teacher for knowing how to read before everyone else learns how to. It just annoys me so much how the teacher says Scout HAS to tell her father to stop reading to her, just because it doesn't go along with a new teaching technique. This doesn't exactly have mush significance, but it's one of many parts that stuck with me anyhow.
I agree with Claudia in that the most memorable scene in the book would have to be when Scout and the teacher face off about Scout's ability to read. This shows that Scout is ahead of her game, and is very mature for her age. However, I guess it's not allowed for her to be able to, and the teacher "cramps her style", by coming up with the excuse that it's against what she is SUPPOSED to teach. It's very weird for a teacher to actually stop a child from learning something, because they are curious. Normally they should congratulate them, not reprimand them.
I definetly agree with George. This scene is very memorable because it is so differant than what would happen in our present time. We would think that a teacher would be proud of such a smart and mature child. The teacher's response to the fact that Scout can read is amazing. She acts like it's such a horrible thing when in reality it's not.
I think one of the most powerful and significant scenes in the book is the last scene when Scout is standing on Boo's porch and almost standing in his shoes and seeing his view of things. She is suddenly a different person and learns that she shouldn't judge people. This scene is a good way to end the book and has you wanting to read more.
I agree with George because Scout gets her first taste of the outside world when Miss Caroline tells her to stop her father from teaching her how to read. This clearly affects Scout a lot as she tells her dad she does not want to go to school anymore. This also teaches her that sometimes "white lies" are acceptable(when her and her father agree to have Scout go to school but continuing reading the paper). This theme of "white lies" and being adventorous carries out throughout the rest of the book.
I believe that one of the best scenes in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, is one of the last scenes where Scout meets Boo Radley for the first and last time. Throughout the novel, Scout is fascinated by Boo Radley and all of the stories that surround him. Boo Radley is a highly symbolic character because he represents the "mockingbird" of the story. While he has not done anything considered wrong, Boo Radley is talked about throughout Maycomb County and is percieved to be a dangerous person, while he is just an honest man that simply does not wish to come outside. When Scout sees Boo Radley, she realizes that all the rumours and speculations had been false, and she steps into his shoes for just a moment in the story. Not only is this a touching and memorable scene, it is also a satisfying on that leaves the reader all "warm and fuzzy" inside.
Ahhhhh...."warm and fuzzy." Doesn't happen to often in this course; can't lie. :-)
Another memorable scene is when Atticus just happens to pick up the Gray Ghost and read it to Scout. It is ironic because the story shows how racism affects people and through the whole story Atticus was trying to shoot down racisim. And this ius the book that Jem got from Dill in the beginning of the book for running past the gate and slapping the door of the Radley place. He never let down a bet so he felt extenely brave for doing this and not chickening out.
Another memorable moment is when Jem goes up to the Radley house and slaped the door. It is a event in the novel that stuck with me because I remember reading that chapter and trying to foreshadow the next event that would occur. Unfortunately, the only thing that happened was that Jem, Scout, and Dill saw a shutter move as they stared back at the house.
I completly agree with Ambika. That moment when Jem accepted a dare and he ran up slapped Boo Radely's door and ran was a very memorable moment This is a point in the book that shows courage. This courage shown was the basic type of courage. The other type of courage shown in the book was shown by Mrs. Dubose. Atticus made Jem read to her because he wanted him to relize that courage isn't just a man with a gun in his hand its someone with strengh inside their heart. This was a very old and sick lady who did have her own views on many things. She had a disease that needed medicine at a certin time unless she would have not made it as long as she did. She knew before she went into the battle that she lost but she keept going and died trying literally. She actually won the war. This moment when Jem opened the box that Mrs. Dubose gave him when she died that contained a camellia in it was another very memorable moment also. Atticus said she was the bravest person he ever knew.
A memorable scene in the book is when Scout stands on Boo Radleys porch because she sees the world through Boos eyes. She finally realizes what Atticus said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” She learns she should not judge others. It shows that she has matured and is learning important values in life.
Another moving scene in the book is definitely when Jem, Dill and Scout witness the Tom Robinson trial. They really see firsthand how poorly blacks are treated and learn about equality and treating people right. They also see how good of a person there father is. That trial will stick with them for the rest of their lives.
I loved this book. It is really boring in the beginning but it gets really good. I couldn't put this book down. I agree with all of you. These are all really good and touching opinions. I have another touching scene...I call it the fishing pole scene. Remember when Jem and Dill stuck a letter on the end of a fishing pole to give to Boo Radley? That was a cool scene.
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