Group+16

= Matthew, Kaleb, Kristen, Stephanie, Ruth, Donnie= 
 * Since we are __FINALLY__ done To Kill A Mockingbird this week's question for you is this. Do you think that the final eight chapters really gives the title of the book it's relevance or is the title of the book's relevance somewhere earlier in the novel?Explain what you think the relevance is and if it is before or at the end of the novel?~Donnie~May 18, 2009, 2:47**

I think the reference to the title was hinted near the beginning, when Atticus told the children it's a sin to kill a mockingbird. It goes more deep at the end when Tom Robinson gets killed for basically no reason. I'm not sure if Bob Ewell would fall into it or not. He was in a way killed for no reason, but it was also his fault because he was attacking Jem and Scout. -Kristen May 21 2009 7:32pm

I have to agree with you Kristen that one of the the relevances of the title is near the beginning but I think I think it's near the end. The reason I think it's at the end is because Bob Ewell was mocking Tom for raping his daughter and because his family was black so he wanted him to be put in jail. In other words Bob Ewell got killed because he was being a Mocking Bird.~Donnie May 24,2009

**Okay! Since the book is almost done, now is a good time to reflect upon the characters.** **The trial really reveals some interesting characters, so** **do you have a favorite character? Least favorite? Or do you think the interaction between two characters is particularly interesting?**
 * ~ Ruth ~ May 12 (sorry), at 5:3****0 pm**

 I think Scout is my favourite character. I like her because she's still young and innocent, and still trying to figure out how everything works in Maycomb. There's a lot she doesn't understand, so the reader learns from the questions she asks. I think that's a neat way that the auther gives us information. I'd have to say my least favourite character is Aunt Alexandra, just because the role she plays, being the grumpy strict lady. -Kristen May 13, 2009 8:52pm

My favorite character would have to be Atticus because he is ery philosophical and smart. I also like him because he defends Tom Robinson and he finds the evidence to prove Mr Ewell is guilty of the charges placed upon Tom. I would have to agree with Kristen that my least faorite character is Aut Alexandria because she is mean, bossy and doesn't like doing her own dirty work. We know this because that she tells Atticus to do something about the children after the matter has been dealt with so that he will do it and not her. Those are my favorite and lesser favorite characters.-Donnie- May 14, 2009-1:01 PM ~ Look what I found!! It's not all that relevant, but makes me quite happy. So, to answer my own question, my favorite character is Scout, my second favorite, Atticus. Scout is awesome with her narrative, showing her innocence, opinions and ideas. Atticus is a great dad to his kids, his wisdom paired with a way of making his children understand and respect him. ~ Ruth ~ May 15, at 5:43

Thanks for the comic Ruth! Very nice!

** How do you think Atticus really feels about having Aunt Alexandra in the house? How do you think Aunt Alexandra feels about being there? -Kristen May 4, 2009 1:09pm **

~ Having Aunt Alexandra in the house is definitely a change for the residents. It is probably quite stressful for Atticus, having a family member in the house. He is suddenly having to deal with another criticizing face in his home, tying to turn his children into "respectable" members of society. Aunt Alexandra probably feels that her input is beneficial to the household and shudders to imagine what would become of Scout if not for her interference. ~ Ruth ~ May 7, at 7:36

I will have to agree with Ruth about aunt Alexandra being in the Finch household because everyone thinks that she is a pain except for Atticus because he probably thinks that he is doing a bad job as a father. Atticus probably thinks that she is a pain also because she doesn't want to look like the bad guy so she uses him as a puppet by making him do the dirty work. Aunt Alexandria probably thinks that she is a big influence by her being there as a role modal and by using her puppet to get things done around the house. Donnie-May 7, 20099:25

- I agree with you two that having Aunt Alexandra in the house is putting unwanted pressure on Atticus. Aunt Alexandra is trying to make a better environment for the kids, and is trying to make big changes to the household. An example of this is when she is trying to convince Atticus to get rid of Calpurnia, saying " If anything, she's been harder on them in some ways than a mother would've been." Personally I think Atticus appreciates that Aunt Alexandra is trying to help out, but he really wants her to just leave as soon as possible. -Matt - May 7, 2009 - 10:36

Yeah I agree with all you. It definately adds a bit of stress to the household. Aunt Alexandra is a lot more strict with the kids then Atticus is, like when she wouldn't let Scout go to Calpurnia's church. I find it weird because sometimes Aunt Alexandra speaks her mind, but during times like when Dill came, she just sits back and observes. It's hard to tell what Atticus thinks about having her there, because he never really says anything about it. I doubt it was his idea for her being there. -Kristen - May 9, 2009 6:31pm

- I'm curious about how Aunt Alexandra will leave, will she leave quietly or will it end on a bad note. I have a feeling that she will not be gone at the end of the novel. I also want to find out if Atticus will give into all this pressure, will he fire Calpurnia and raise Jem and Scout to be normal kids from that community? What do you guys think? -Matt - May 10, 2009 - 12:14am

I think that Atticus doesn't really enjoy Aunt Alexandra's presence in the house because of her intensely overbearing attitude and the way she feels the children have been raised and should be raised. He would never say anything to her because of his respectful nature and because i think he feels he has some how cheated the children by not haveing a woman in the house other than Calpurnia. Also i absolutely agree that Alexandra adds a large amount of unnecessary amount of stress on Atticus and the whole houseold and seems to make everyone walk on egg shells so they don't send her on a tirade about how they should act or speak or dress. Kaleb May 12, 2009

 Yes, it seems as though Aunt Alexandra will not want to leave until possibly Jem and Scout are grown adults. It also seems to me that Aunt Alexandra is very racist against blacks because there's nothing wrong with Calpurnia staying and acting as their housekeeper and a role model to the children. Aunt Alexandria will probably not be gone by the end of the novel because of what I said earlier that she will stay until Jem and Scout are older.-Donnie-11:50PM-May 10, 2009



 What effect does the looming Robinson trial have on the Finches' relations with their relatives and neighbours? Why might this situation be more difficult for Jem and Scout than for their father?

I agree that the period of the trial will be tough on Jem and Scout; on the other hand just think of what Atticus must go through just to defend a man or just be himself. Atticus may seem like he does not know what some people think of him but since the book is told from scouts point of view, she would not know what Atticus knows and what he doesn't and I doubt Atticus would let on how he feels about another person's distaste for him. -Kaleb- May 04, 2009

This situation is more difficult for Jem and Scout because when their father acts as the lawyer for Tom Robinson it reflects on them and everyone makes fun and says that they pretty much aren't good people because of it. Their relatives and neighbors think that they are no good doers because they are helping a black man in the judicial system. -Donnie-May 2, 2009, 7:26

I think that the Finch kids are having a harder time with the case because they don't fully understand why their father is defending an black man. It is also harder because for the kids because adults insult others behind their backs, where as kids just come out and say what they heard. This was a very risky move by Mr. Finch because if he loses the case then his reputation is shot, and it will put relationships with family and friends in jeopardy. -Matt - May 02, 2009 - 10:32pm

I agree with Donnie and Matt. Jem and Scout both struggle a lot when friends, neighbors and relatives make fun of their father. We see this when Scout starts fights with people and also when Jem attacks the neighbor's flowers. I also agree that part of the problem is that they don't know why their father is defending Mr. Robinson. Whenever they ask Atticus, he doesn't give them much of an answer. -Kristen May 03, 2009 - 1:24 pm

~ The trial situation would be more difficult for Scout and Jem for several reasons. The comments and opinions that people have about the situation that they wouldn't say to Atticus, they voice to others, like Scout and Jem. They get the reputation for it, because they are in the family, not because they did, or understand, their father's actions. Getting teased is so much harder when you don't fully understand why. ~ Ruth ~ May 3, at 4:27pm

That's true, I don't think anybody would ever say any of that to Atticus. I'm pretty sure they would never call him a "niger-lover". It's not really fair that Jem and Scout are having to go through the worst times, because what Atticus is doing has nothing to do with them. The way the kids are getting upset about it is almost a good thing, because it shows they have a good relationship with their father, and care about him a lot. -Kristen May 3, 2009 - 10:38pm

-Kaleb **
 * Since we have two discussion question director this week, here is my contribution: Is Arthur "Boo" Radley really crazy or is his less than wholesome persona all fiction created by an amalgamation of town gossip?

-I think that Boo Radley might be a little crazy, but in general the town just blew it up into something that it is not. He probably has some disability that would make it hard for him to fit into society, so he just chooses to stay in his house. That is my guess of what is going on with Boo Radley. -Matt - April 23, 2009 - 10:29pm

I think that Boo Radley is crazy because he shows a lot of signs of being crazy like stabbing his father in the leg and then going on about his business like nothing just happened. Another reason I think he is crazy is because he stayed at home all the time so he wouldn't be able to interact with other people so he wouldn't know what is socially right and socially wrong. I conclude that he is crazy because he stabbed his father's leg and he stays inside without having any sociable interactions with other peple, i mean wouldn't you go crazy too? -Donnie-April 24, 2009-10:30 PM

~ I agree with Matt. Boo Radley is probably somewhat challenged in some way, but not all out crazy and feral like the villagers make him out to be. He is the small town's mystery ghost. His figure gets enlarged with every retelling of the story. ~ Ruth ~ April 25, at 3:09pm

I also agree with Matt. The stories probably started for a reason, but it most likely has nothing to do with Boo himself. The Radley's seem to have a fairly long history of being different from the rest of the people in the town. I think the rumors started out as a bit of fun, and continued to grow and grow. I'm interested to see if the book will tell us more about the real Boo Radley and not the one that the children/adults have made up. Kristen April 26, 2009 10:16pm

- I do agree that it is confusing so far, and I think that is why it is boring for me. My favorite part so far is when they hear the gun shots at the Radley house. The reason I like this part is because it is the only part that I would consider a "hook", it had some action and mystery. When I started reading that part I actually liked the book for a little bit. - Matt - April 22, 2009 - 5:43pm
 * I think that this book is getting really boring. What do you guys think of the book so far? Explain why you like or dislike it. What is your favorite part? Explain why. **

- I am actually really liking the book so far. I think that the confusion is mostly caused by the story being narrated by a first grade student and that you have to read some pages over to get a full under standing also being from a place and time that none of us are familiar with makes it harder. Personally i don't find the book totally gripping but it does have it's mysterious moments which provide decent reading. I haven't picked out a favourite part yet but i have enjoyed the beginning of the book. - Kaleb - April 21, 2009 - 10:09pm

~ I agree that this book, like most, starts out a little slower. But, it's not bad at all compared to some other books I've read. I think that the book is very well written and I appreciate the word choice. I think it will turn out to be a pretty good book, even if it's not the genre I usually read. My favorite part isn't really specific. I do like the parts where Scout is confusing and annoying her teacher, being confused herself about this matter of school. ~ Ruth ~ April 21, at 6:20pm

=I think a lot of books start out kind of slow, and this one is no different. It's hard to decide whether I like it or not right now, because we've only read a few chapters. I found it a bit confusing at the start because it would go through a lot of time very quickly. I think the whole school year went by in 3-4 chapters. It was also confusing with the amount of characters. It would take me a while to figure out who the author was talking about. Kristen April 21 5:47pm =

-I think that the book is a little bit boring but other than that it is sort of funny. I like the book because I am able to picture the story in the book actually happening, I also like the book because it is about the south and when everyone weren't fond of the black people and that is what gives it the realizm that the book has. My favorite part is when Jem comes out into the scene without any pants on and him and Scout said they were playing strip poker. I like this part because you wouldn't think that a bunch of kids their age would be playing strip poker.-Donnie-April 26, 2009-11:02 PM.