TKAM Chapter 23
Important Questions
Group 1
Assuming Miss Stephanie’s account of Bob Ewell spitting at Atticus in this chapter is true, how do you explain Atticus’s decision not to defend himself? How do Scout, Jem, and Dill try to explain it? How does Atticus explain it?
Group 1 Jerry, Kaleb, Daniel
Atticus doesn’t defend himself because he claims he is “too old”. Atticus explains to Jem and Scout that he isn’t worried but we think he secretly is. Atticus is always calm in situations where he is in danger, like the jailhouse.
Group 2
What similarities does Atticus see between the men at the jailhouse the night before the trial and the jury the next day? What does he think causes juries to unjustly convict innocent black men? How does Jem propose to fix the problem? How does Atticus propose to fix it? Do you think either of their proposals would guarantee that trials in Maycomb like Tom Robinson’s would be fair?
Group 2-Jake,Ash,Dylan
The similarities are that their views are not their opinion meaning they follow what they had to believe when they were raised.
Racism causes the jury to unjustly convict innocent black men.
Jem proposes that they should get rid of the jury’s.
Atticus thinks that the law should be changed by having only judges have the power of fixing the penalty in capital cases.
No, because the judges could still be racially biased.
Group 3
What does Atticus mean when he tells Jem, “With people like us—that’s our share of the bill. We generally get the juries we deserve”? What responsibilities does Atticus think people like him should live up to? What factors does he think prevent people from doing their civic duty?
Group 3 Nicole, Tony and Gisselle
He was talking about a bill to be payed because how bad all the low-graded white man taking advantage of the black. When he said people like us he meant the non-racist whites that DON’T take advantage of blacks. Atticus thinks that people like him should fight for the justice system and not the color of their skin. Many reasons that prevent people from Maycomb to do their civic duty is because they will always favor someone from Maycomb but people outside of Maycomb that have no knowledge of the other person will assign a better justice system . .
Group 4
How does Jem respond to the news that one of the jurors was a Cunningham, and that he had initially moved to acquit Tom? How does Atticus explain why a Cunningham would have such a quick change of heart? How does Atticus suggest that individuals can be persuaded to set aside prejudice to act more justly?
Group 4
Jem was shocked and didn’t understand why Mr. Cunningham not long ago wanted to kill Tom and then initially moved to acquit Tom in court. Atticus explained why a Cunningham would have such a quick change at heart because once you get on the good side of a Cunningham they will do anything for you. In this case Mr. Cunningham was doing this also to help Atticus. Atticus suggests that individuals should put themselves in other peoples shoes and look at everything from multiple perspectives to act more justly.
Group 5
After Jem advises Scout, “Don’t let Aunty aggravate you,” Scout reflects, “It seemed only yesterday that he was telling me not to aggravate Aunty.” What disagreement does Scout have with Aunt Alexandra? How does their disagreement show Scout’s growth in how she understands the world? How has the way that Scout and Jem think about Aunt Alexandra changed?
Group 5 Gerrit, Adam, Joey
Aunt Alexandra said “ you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem” P300. This quote shows that no matter what the personality of someone, if they are born in a lower class, no matter what, they cannot be like the more privileged people. Scout disagrees with this idea and believed the opposite. This shows Scout is old and mature enough to show she can form her own opinions and is confident enough to go against the accepted values. Also Jem and Scout’s views on Aunt Alexandra have changed. At first the two accepted Aunties teachings with little disagreement. But know they start to form their own opinions and sometimes they are contrary to hers. She says “... you’re enough of a problem to your father as it is.” This quote represents that Jem and Scout’s beliefs and doings have gone against what Auntie believes and she is not happy that the kids are branching out.
Group 6
Both Atticus and Aunt Alexandra degrade people by referring to them as “trash” in this chapter. How do their definitions of what makes someone “trash” differ? What does this tell you about each of them?
Group 6 Ben, Luke, Kyle `
Aunt Alexandra’s definition of “trash” is anyone who is worse that the Finches in the town of Maycomb. In chapter 23 Aunt Alexandra says “I’ll tell you why, cause he is trash.” This shows that anyone who is lower than the Finches are trash.
Atticus’s definition is summed up in one paragraph. “As you grow older you will see white men cheat black men everyday of your life, but let me tell you something and don’t you forget it-whenever a white man does that to a black man, no matter who he is, how rich he is, or how fine of a family he comes from, that white man is trash.” This shows that he believes in fairness and if someone violates that fairness, they are trash.
Group 7- Ashley, Nayeli, Elizabeth
As Scout and Jem try to figure out how they are different from the Cunninghams, how do they understand the word “background”? Which character do you think understands their society better? Which character is more idealistic?
Group 7
The background given to Scout and Jem was from Aunt Alexandra talking how the Cunninghams are white trash. Jem seems to understand better than Scout about the view Aunt Alexandra has on the Cunninghams, because of Jem’s maturity. Scout seems to not understand why Aunt Alexandra is saying to be polite to Walter but she cannot invite him over to the house.
Group 8
Why does Jem conclude that Boo Radley stays inside because he wants to? What does he imagine Boo is trying to avoid? What can we infer about Jem from this?
Group 8- Daniela, Emma, Sophie
Jem says, “I think I’m beginning to to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside.” (304) Jem concludes this because he thinks that Boo Radley might not fit into any social groups of Maycomb once he leaves his house. Also, people would be scared of him because of all the rumors made up about him. Boo may be trying to avoid all of the segregation in Maycomb. Jem is trying to put himself in Boo Radley’s shoes while he says this.
Group 9
What evidence does this chapter provide that both Scout and Jem have become more mature in their understanding of the world? How has the way that they understand the differences between people changed from the beginning of the novel?
Group 9 Brett, Chris, Nicolas
“I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time . . . it’s because he wants to stay inside.” pg.304 This shows Jem has matured because he realizes that Maycomb isn’t “safe.”