Why are these Chapters in the book? How do they push the plot? Epee-Bounya

           Throughout Chapters 12 and 13 the main two focuses are on the new dynamic between Jem and Scout, and the build up to Atticus' trial. Earlier in the book, Scout and Jem were very close, and it was very rare that they would not be seen together. Now, Jem is in a new phase of his life, he is becoming a teenager. Jem now views himself as an adult, while Scout is still a child. The Finch siblings do not share the same interests, and  relationship is changing. In these two chapters, Scout and Dill are often together, while Jem is alone doing other things. When Dill is discovered under Scout's bed, Jem betrays the trust that the kids once had, or as Harper Lee says, "he rose and broke the remaining code of our childhood" (159). Jem no longer sees himself as a peer of Dill and Scout, but as a superior.
            The other main focus in these two chapters is on the build up of the Tom Robinson case and trial. As the trial date approaches, Scout realizes how much of a big deal this trial is for Maycomb. In the last reading, Scout is introduced to a new perspective of Tom Robinson at Calpurnia's church. Now, with Aunt Alexandra and the majority of the town against Atticus, Scout and Jem are realizing the gravity of the situation. Now that Jem thinks he is an adult, he feels like he must protect his 'old' father from gangs that may try to attack him. Scout and Jem have seen what people might do out of anger towards Atticus, and there are a lot of expectations from the town on how the trial should end.

Do you think Dill was exaggerating when talking about why he ran away?

Do you think Jem and Scout's relationship will ever be the same?

How do you think Harper Lee will intertwine the case with Boo Radley?

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 4:58 PM

    I think Dill exaggerated his escape because he is still a young kid and in the past, we know he likes to put emphasis on the way he tells stories. However, I do believe that Dill does not get as much attention as he would like, and that is why he tells a crazy story. He probably thinks that because his mom is married, she does not spend enough time with him. Also, we still do not know what happened to Dill’s real dad because maybe Dill just does not like his stepdad. I think even though some of the adjustments at home may difficult, he should still tell Jem or Scout what actually happened. The way Dill tells his story makes him sound lonely, so if he told one of his friends maybe he would feel better.

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  2. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 5:01 PM

    Dill has been known to exaggerate, especially when it comes to telling Jem and Scout about his family. He uses his vivid and plentiful imagination to his advantage when the topic comes up, spinning tales about what his father does and how much he loves Dill. Such is that when he runs away, Dill tells his friends an inflated version of the truth. He later amends to Scout that his parents didn't, in fact, lock him up in the basement and leave him to die. But for a kid, what his parents actually did must have felt worse than that could ever be. While it didn't fit the bill of emotional abuse, it was a form of neglect and ignoring what Dill actually needs: attention and care. His father promised him bonding time over a boat; the promise went unfulfilled. His parents buy him everything he needs, and yet don't care enough to spend any time with him or even get to know him. I think that Dill has tried many times to cover up or deny his family life, but in the face of his real home--with people who love him for who he is, who play with him and make him feel valued--he tells the truth about why he ran away.

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 5:10 PM

    Scout and Jem have become more distant and Jem has gone off to new things, but I think that they can have a good relationship again. They are both at very different times in their lives, but once they are both teenagers, things may change. Also as they become Adults, age will matter less. I don’t think their relationship will ever be the same again. Dill symbolizes summer and being carefree. The kids were too preoccupied with things like the trial to think about Boo, but when Dill comes back, so does the plans to make him come out. Boo symbolizes the children being young and curious, but as they start to get older, their interest fades. Bring Boo back is bring back something much less serious than the trial. He is also somewhat of a game. I think there is an important reason Boo is in the book other than to show Scout's growth. Harper Lee will bring him back later in the book.

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 5:51 PM

    Do you think Jem and Scout's relationship will ever be the same?

    During this novel Jem and Scout’s relationship has changed a lot. At the beginning of the book, Jem and Scout are very close and rarely fight and always stick up for each other. As the story continues and they both get older specifically Jem starts to drift a little bit and not want to be with Scout all the time. This is confusing to Scout because she is still young and doesn’t understand that Jem wants her space. But the thing that remains constant throughout the book is that they always will stick up for each other. An example with this is that when they go to the jail Somebody touches Jem and just like a reflex Scout kicks the man. This makes me believe that Jem and Scout will always have a strong relationship just sometimes there will be bumps in the road

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 6:52 PM

    Do you think Jem and Scout's relationship will ever be the same?
    I don’t think that Scout and Jem’s relationship will ever be the same as it once was. They were very close because they were going through the same things and had similar interests. One example of this is making Boo Radley come out. Jem is growing up and doesn’t want to play with Scout anymore and she has to find ways to deal with this. I think that it is possible that they could become close again but not like they were at the beginning of the book. Here Harper Lee models what modern siblings are like as well as how the bond they share changes. While Scout and Jem can still be close, their friendship cannot be what it once was.

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 7:09 PM

    Do you think Jem and Scout's relationship will ever be the same?

    I don’t think Jem and Scout’s relationship will ever be the same. Jem and Scout are both slowly growing away from their childhood games and maturing into teenagers. Harper Lee must do this in order for the narrator, Scout, to give accurate and precise information for the upcoming trial. She can still provide information about the trial by having Scout ask elders questions. Scout and Jem's relationship will become stronger once the trial begins because they will both be dealing with the same negative energy and words that will be shot at them throughout the trial. Dill will help make their relationship go back to the way it was by being curious about Boo. Boo is a wonder to them that they both can connect with and Dill will help bring him back into the story.

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 8:15 PM

    I think that Dill did exaggerate why he ran away from his new family. Dill has been know to stretch the truth and makes things seem more intriguing than they really are. At first he talks about how he was locked in the basement, and tortured by his new dad, but later he opens up to Scout about what really happened. He says the his new family was just better off without him, it was not that they were mean it was that he didn't add anything. In addition, Dill talked about how it seemed as if they didn't even want him there, and they spent a lot of time away from him. This relates to Scouts growth because she is starting to realize how lucky she is to have a family who cares about her a lot, and doesn't shun her.

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  8. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 8:16 PM

    Jem and Scouts relationship is slowing growing apart, and in my opinion it will not be the same. As Jem grows up he starts doing less "childish" things and begins acting more like an adult. Harper Lee is able to show this when Jem tells Scout to go away because he is "reading the paper." Reading the paper is something an adult would normally do and not a kid. However, Scout is still in her childhood moments as she still thinks like a child and plays childish games. Jem and Scout's interests have grown apart aswell. In addition Harper Lee also shows that their relationship is growing apart due to all the bickering between the two.

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 23, 2019 at 9:48 PM

    Do you think Jem and Scout's relationship will ever be the same?

    I do believe Jem and Scout's relationship will be the same in some type of form. With the whole trial coming up Scout and Jem need to be as close with each other as possible for both of them to feel safe and have someone there for each other. Harper Lee also added a part where Jem takes Scout and Dill with him to the Maycomb jail to see Atticus past their bedtime. As for the Jem at the beginning of part two would shut her down immediately. Also, now that Aunt Alexandra is in the household they have to handle many things with each other.

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