Free Response- What do you think is significant about the last paragraph of chapter 7? -Boesch-Powers

Harper Lee ends chapter 7 by Jem and Scout figuring out that the knot-hole where they had been receiving gifts had been filled in with cement. Mr. Radley explained that this cement was put in place to help the dying tree survive. Not being able to receive gifts anymore upset Scout, but she understood that this was necessary for the tree which shows that she is starting to grow. Jem, however, was surprisingly very sad about this, which is uncommon for his proud character. 'When we went in the house I saw he had been crying; his face was dirty in the right places, but I thought it old that I had not heard him' (71). This paragraph adds depth to Jem's character and actions. He is no longer only Scout's older brother who leaves her out because she is a girl and is not afraid to go out in the middle of the night to find his pants, but a growing boy who likes presents. Lee put in this paragraph to not only add emotion to Jem's strong character but to highlight the excitement Jem and Scout had by finding and opening these gifts. Overall, this paragraph portrays Jem and Scout as a little less like smart, proper young adults, and more like the kids that they are. \


Why exactly do you think Jem was so upset?

Why did Scout describe Jem's face as 'dirty in the right places' and why do you think it was this way?

How did Scout grow in this one page (71)?

What do you think Jem was thinking about when he was outside for so long... was he on the porch for the whole time?

Why did Jem say 'but I thought it odd that I had not heard him...' and what is the significance of this?

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2019 at 5:03 PM

    Jem was much more emotional than Scout when the tree was sealed. I agree that it showed a different side of Jem. He was not the bold, brave older brother, but a kid. I think he may have been upset because it was exciting for him. At first, they were taking someone's things, but it soon seemed as if they were gifts. Also, it seems as if he was ashamed of being upset when Scout says “I thought it was odd I had not heard him.”, it is most likely because he is trying to be quiet. I also think that the tree was sealed not because it was dying, but because Mr. Radley is trying to stop the gifts. It seems odd because he most likely would not care if a random person was hiding things in a trunk on the edge of the yard. Who do you think could be leaving the gifts?

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  2. UnknownSeptember 16, 2019 at 5:13 PM

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2019 at 5:15 PM

    Jem, as noted, is a proud character, and regardless of the childlike ways his pride makes itself known, such as refusing to play with Scout because she's a girl or pretending he's not scared of the Radley house, he believes in his dignity. It makes sense, then, for him to hide his tears from his sister. Earlier, he comforted and shushed Scout when she was crying, and as the older brother, he doesn't want to let her know that he too feels this loss just as deeply, if not more. The gifts left and received in the tree were a kind of companionship that both kids appreciated, but throughout the chapter it becomes clear that Jem takes to them more than Scout, going so far as to give up Atticus' watch for the watch left in the tree. The enticing game is put to a harsh end by Nathan Radley, leaving Jem upset and trying to hide his crying from his younger sister. As she is standing next to him at the time, all he can do is be quiet, leaving Scout to think that 'I thought it odd that I had not heard him...'

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2019 at 5:51 PM

    How does Scout grow on this page?

    Throughout these 2 chapters Scout grows in a sense of awareness. There are multiple examples of this. The main one I am going to focus on is the example on page 70 and 71. On the bottom of page 70 Scout says “He seemed to be working himself into a bad humour, so I kept my distance. This shows how Scout has more awareness. If Jem was in a bad mood at the beginning of the book when Scout was younger, first of all Scout would not have sensed that Jem was in a bad mood but also Scout would not have kept his distance to not make Jem mad. Another example of Scout’s growth is on page 71. Near the end of the chapter Jem is just standing outside and he ends up coming in crying. In the situation Scout says that as politely as he could he says to Jem. “Do you itch Jem?” These are 2 examples of how Scout has grown thus far into the book.

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