Group+14

=Stuart, Alison, Nakisa, Shawn, Jenny, Peter= Did you like the book? Explain. What was your favorite part?

I didn't enjoy reading the beginning of the book but after a couple of chapters i started liking it more. It became more and more interesting and i really liked the characters in the story. My favourite part of the book would have to be the ending because it was the most intense and interesting part of the novel. I was really surprise when I found out that Bob Ewell was trying to kill the children while they were walking home. I was even more surprised when Boo Radley came out and helped the children. It was a nice ending to the novel and I really enjoyed that part. Jenny, May 21

I also didnt enjoy the start of the novel but like Jenny said it got much better once the novel continued and i thought it was much better when there was actually conversation and not when it was the Scout speaking. My favorite part would have to be when they were in court because there was so much action and conversation it was like you were actually there because of all the description. Peter, May 24

I also agree. At first i thought the book was a little boring but as started to go further it got more interesting. I think the trial part of the story was very interesting and i was hoping Atticus to win. I think that the book had some very good lesson to teach and I learned alot about how much things changed during this time. I really liked the character of Atticus. He showed even in the hardest situations a person has to do the right thing. Nakisa May 24

I was very surprised when i read the end of the story. I didn't expect Bob Ewell to try to kill the children. I was also surprised that Boo Radley came and helped the children and killed Bob Ewell. Also when i read that Atticus thought that jem killed Bob Ewell and he wanted to also follow the rules for his own son i was kind of shocked, but i think he probably wanted to do the right thing. I really liked the ending and i enjoyed the book. Nakisa May 24

I also enjoyed the court part in the novel because it was very interesting. I kept wanting to read on at that point because I wanted to see what would happen to Tom Robinson. I really liked hearing both sides of the case from Tom and Mayella but I was mad that Tom was pleaded guilty because it was clear that he really didn't do it. I also agree with Peter that the descriptions and conversations in the court room really made you feel like you were sitting in the court room yourself. Jenny May 25

What is your opinion on the Tom Robinson case? Do you think the case would've been handled differently if it was taken to court today? Explain your response. Jenny, May 10

I am not so sure the judge doesnt seem to be that much against Tom Robinson and i feel that he is just trying to figure out what really happend but you could say that it would be taken differently because they were obviously much more racist back then compared to what it is like today.Peter, May 15

I think the case might of been looked at differently if it were to be taken to court in todays times. One reason being because for the most part we are not as racist as we were back then. Atticus was scared that the jury would falsely accuse Tom of being guilty based almost entirely on the colour of his skin. If it were today, I think the jury would have looked at other aspects of the triel before choosing whether Tom was guilty or innocent. Alison, May 12

In my opinion, Tom Robinson's case would have been much different today with a much less racist jury. In the book, the trial was decided through the fact that Tom is black. If the case had been today with Atticus's evidence, such as Mayella's injuries and Tom's bad left arm to how unreliable Mayella's statement was; Tom's would probably have won with a (hopefully) unbiased jury. Stuart May 12

In my opinion, the Tom Robinson case was poorly decided. The evidence was all there and it was obvious that Mayella was lying. Tom couldn't have beat her because his left arm is crippled. Atticus showed that there is a big possibility that Robert Ewell is really the one that beat Mayella. If this case was taken to court today, the outcome would've been very different. The court would clearly examine the evidence and they wouldn't be as racist as they are in the book. Jenny, May 14

I agree with Stuart because the court was had a very racist jury and that is why Tom lost the case. Tom seems like a very nice person that would not hurt anybody. Robert Ewell on the other hand seems like a bad parent and very unfriendly, but the court decided Tom was guilty because of the colour of his skin. If this case was taken to court today with an unbias jury, then Tom would most likely win this case. Jenny, May 17

In my opinion Tom Robinson's case would have been very different if it was taken today. At that time the tradition forces that was behined the case was more powerful than the truth. Today the people are more open minded and dont want to denounce some one based on his skin color. The evidence on Tom's case was obvious that tom was innocent and Mayella was lying. Nakisa, May 17

Tom Robinson was innocent and every body knew it, but they were all against him only because he was black. If today his case goes to the court without any doubt he will win. All evidence showed that he couldn't have beat Mayella because his left hand was crippled and Mayella was hit in the right side of her face. Today people have much less racism and truth is more important than a person dont get judge by his appearance. Nakisa May 17

I dont think that it is that much different like i said, sure there were people against him but not the people who decide what happends like the judge he didnt seem to be that much against him and wanted to know what really happend.Peter, May 18

Who do you think is a better "mother" to the children, Calpurnia or Aunt Alexandra? Explain your answer.

For me i find that Calpurnia is the better mother by far. She knows whats right for them and trys to help them. Aunt Alexandra just thinks she knows whats best but she is trying to force things when she should let the children do there own things and correct them when needed. I also believe that the children like Calpurnia much more and they want her to be around more then their Aunt. Peter, May 5

I agree with Peter about how the children like Calpurnia more than Aunt Alexandria and want her more as a motherly figure. I believe this is because of two things. One is that Aunt Alexandria chose to influence the Finch kids too late in their life. Calpurnia has been an influence on them their whole lives, being their nurse. The second reason is that Aunt Alexandria uses a more forceful way of trying to change the kids or ways they do not like, such as trying to make Atticus talk to them about making them act like a proper lady and gentleman at the end of chapter 13. Stuart May 10

On page 75, Atticus explained to his children the reason he was defending Tom Robinson. What did he mean by saying he couldn't hold up his head in town if he didn't defend him? Explain. Nakisa, April 27

Atticus is someone who respects everyone and will help anyone who might be in need. He is one in a million people who would actually help an African American in any way whatsoever and he has so much respect for anyone it wouldn't matter who he was defending he would be ashamed of himself if he didn't help him. Peter, May 3

In my opinion, the reason Atticus said he couldn't hold his head up in town was because he believes that this is the type of case that affect a person once in their lifetime, as he says in page 76. Also, he believes that if he doesn't defend Tom, he is breaking his own morals and thus can't live with himself. Stuart April 29

In my opinion, the reason why Atticus is taking the case is because everybody has the right to have a fair trial and its his job and his responsibility to treat everyone equally, but more so because he would be ignoring his values. Peter, April 29

I believe that Atticus is taking this case because he knows that Tom Robinson is innocent but it's really hard to win this case because the town favours white people over coloured people. He says he couldn't hold his head in town if he didn't take this case because even though he probably won't win, he still has to try. If he didn't take the case then it shows that he is just giving up. Jenny, April 30

I agree with Peter and Stuart. Atticus would take this case because if he didn't then he would be breaking his own morals or values. He isn't really the racist kind of guy so he would help Tom Robinson because everybody deserves a fair trial no matter who they are and what colour skin they have. Jenny, May 3rd

In my opinion, Atticus believed that Tom Robinson was innocent and he wanted to help him. If Atticus did not help him he would be no different than other people in town who based their judgements on Tom's skin color. I think Atticus knew that he would not win this case but he had to try. Nakisa May 3

On page 27, the Ewell's family situation is explained. In your opinion, should Burris Ewell come to school everyday, or only come on the first day as always? Explain. Stuart, April 22

What is your opinion about the way the children perceive Boo Radley and how he lives? Explain. Alison, April 22

Boo Radley in my opinion is just a very lonley man. If someone were to seriously go over to his house and try to talk to him or communicate with him, he may not be so bad. He proved during the fire when he put the blanket over scouts shoulders that he has, even though slight, some decency. The children make Boo seem so unearthly just to make their game seem very intersting, even though he is probably just a very normal person at heart.

In my opinion, I think it is totally wrong for a kid who is only in grade 1, even though this is his third or fourth time around, to be staying home all year round just so he can work on a farm, if that even is the case. At the time period it was common for kids around age 13 or 14 to drop out of school to help their families out but not this young. Shawn 04/22/09=

In my opinion, I don't see a point in Burris Ewell coming to school for the first day every year if he is not going to come the rest of the year. The book says that the sherrif makes him come the first day but does not force him to come the rest of the year, and I don't understand that. Also he is very young to be not in school and to be working the whole year. I think that Burris should either come to school everyday for the whole year, and not only on the first day. Alison, April 22.

In my opinion, I believe that Burris Ewell should have to go to school like the rest of the children. It's not fair for the other children because everyone else is forced to attend. He should also go so that they can teach him to grow up to be a better citizen and so that he can learn better values to raise a family in the future. Jenny, April 23

In my opinoin, I think that Burris Ewell must go to school every day like the rest of the children. But in his situation that his mother is dead and his father doesn't care about his education and he only goes to school with the force of law, there is no point for him to continue staying in school because he is not going to benefit from it. Nakisa, April 25

I agree with Alison why would someone come to school for one day? Just to say, "hey i'm here but wont be for the rest of the year"? I think he should be forced just like everyone else although I would not say it is unfair for the other children because if it were my choice i would rather go to school then to work on a farm all day. To answer the other question I believe that everyone just goes by rumors and its wrong for people to think he is a bad person just because of one experience of him being in a so called "gang", and isnt it his choice the way he lives? I think everyone should just mind they're own business and to live they're own lives Peter, April 26

I believe that Burris would benefit by going to school because It's grade 1 so if he doesn't know how to read then they will teach him. He is losing an important experience by missing school but if he is just going to go to act out and not try then he shouldn't go. If he just thinks that since his father doesn't care then he shouldn't care then they could teach him that it matters for your future. Jenny, April 26

In my opinion, about how the kids perceive Boo Radley, I agree with Peter. It's not right for people to make opinions about someone for something they did in the past. Any person can change over time, no matter how unlikely it seems. The kids should just listen to what the parents say about leaving Boo Radley alone and mind their own business. Stuart, April 26

In my opinion children saw Boo Radley as a strange and dangerous person who never left his house and was never seen in the publlic. The children only heard about him by the people's gossip.They judged him without really knowing him. Because Boo didn't act as the majority of people, they made rumors about him. Nakisa, April 27