TKAM Chapter Notes
Chapters__9-11______
Plot Notes:
Chapter 9
Scout and Jem learn that Atticus is defending a black man-Tom Robinson
Uncle Jack comes to visit for Christmas and they go to Finches Landing to spend time with Aunt Alexandra and her family
Scout is trying her hand at cursing and uncle Jack makes her promise not to fight and curse any more b/c it is unladylike.
Scout ends up beating up Alexandra's grandson Francis and Uncle Jack punishes her by spanking her without hearing her side.
Scout later explains to Jack that he didn't know how to discipline and she explains to him why
Chapter 10
The kids have this idea that their father is a feeble old man-he's 50. they do not see him as the other fathers. He does nothing that the other fathers do-hunting, fishing, poker, or play football.
Jem is especially upset by this, but everything changes when Atticus kills a rabid dog with one shot
Chapter 11
As the Tom Robinson's trial gets closer, the kids have to endure more taunts from kids and from their neighbors
Mrs. Dubose makes a remark that sends Jem over the edge and he destroys her flowers with Scout's baton
Atticus makes Jem apologize to her and Mrs. Dubose gets to decide how Jem is punished- he has to read to her for a month and Scout goes with him
After his punishment is up, Mrs. Dubose dies. Atticus tell the kids that Mrs. Dubose was a very sick woman and was addicted to morphine
She left Jem a single camellia flower
Character Notes: chapters 9-11 characterization of Atticus
Atticus: the reader gets to see his true character- he's defending a Black man knowing that they will lose the case, but says he has to because it is the morally correct thing to do. Also Atticus keeps telling his kids, that no matter what they hear, they need to hold their heads high.
When Atticus shoots the neighborhood dog, he is unwilling to tell the kids about his talent. The kids go to Ms. Maudie for an explanation and she tells them that Atticus has a gift for shooting and this gives him an advantage over other things-so he decided to not pick up a gun to hunt. He is unwilling to have an advantage over something that can't fight back. This is a metaphor for why he feels he has to defend Tom Robinson
Literary Terms:
Idioms:
"He was nearly blind in his left eye, and said left eyes were the tribal curse of the Finches (p. 94)."
"I would fight anyone from a third cousin upwards tooth and nail (p. 94)."
"When Atticus returned he told me to break camp (p. 96)."
symbolism :
the mocking bird:
Mrs. Dubose's Camellias
the rabid dog-Tim Johnson : When the trail starts, the town will behave much like the dog. The people look the same, but underneath there is danger and poison ready to surface.
Theme appearances:
Prejudices
Truth/Trust:
Uncle Jack punishes Scout harshly when she goes against his wishes. Scout goes out on a limb and tells her Uncle that what he did to her was wrong. She trusts him not to tell Atticus what Francis said; he agrees and keeps her promise. But in the same discussion she asks him what a whore-lady is and he makes up a story instead of telling her.
Bravery
Scout overhears Atticus talking to Jack about how he hopes that the kids will be able to endure the trial.
Atticus teaches Scout that she needs to be brave without fighting
When Atticus agrees to take Tom's case, even though it can't be won- he is teaching the children what it means to be brave.
In response to Mrs. Dubose's addiction to mophine – Atticus says that she is one of the bravest people that he knows – only then do the kids she how this mean woman could be considered brave.
the idea of bravery beginning to take on a more adult-like perspective at this point in the book
Feminity/gender roles
Chapter 9 Scout is constantly be reminded that she needs to act like a lady. Uncle Jack and Aunt Alexandra keep pointing out to her what it means to be lady-like: girls don't wear overalls, girls don't curse, girls don't play certain games, and girls wear dresses. Atticus and his sister even fight about this and he tells her that he is doing the best he can
Atticus tries to keep from assigning this role to Scout by buying her an airgun too and telling her that “Aunt Alexandra doesn't understand girls much, she never has one.”
Even Jem tells Scout to “hold your head high and act like a gentleman” when Scout starts to react Mrs. Dubose's comments
Misc. Points: