To Kill a Mockingbird Chapters 1 - 6

Chapter 1

• In Chapter 1, Scout, the narrator, introduces the main characters in her life, which include: her father Atticus Finch, her older brother Jem, their housekeeper Calpurnia and a young boy who is visiting a neighbor for the summer who is named Dill.

• The Finches call Maycomb, Alabama their home. Through the years, their ancestors made a name for themselves within the small community. After law school, Atticus returned to Maycomb and set up his law practice.

• The Radley family who live next door to the Finches are introduced. Mr. Radley is a man with definite views about how things should be handled. "Boo" Radley, his son, is a hermit and hasn't been "seen" by his neighbors in about fifteen years.

• On one afternoon, Dill dares Jem to touch the house; Jem runs up the sidewalk, slaps his hand against the house and the three children run away.

Chapter 2

• In Chapter 2, Scout prepares to start school, but her enthusiasm is short lived. Scout’s teacher, Miss Caroline Fisher, is from Winston County and is not familiar with the type of poverty that is prevalent in Maycomb.

• Scout describes Walter Cunningham, her poor schoolmate, as being from a family that has very little money but will not take anything if they cannot afford to pay it back.

• Scout's problems increase when Miss Fisher discovers that Scout can read and write. She insists that Scout will not learn to read yet, and she must print.

Chapter 3

• In Chapter 3, Scout and Walter get into a fight in the schoolyard. Jem invites Walter to have dinner with them at their house. Walter eagerly accepts the invitation and when at the house, quickly gives himself a healthy portion of food.

• That night after dinner, Scout explains to Atticus that she does not want to return to school and he explains that she needs to be more understanding.

• Scout isn't happy that she must go to school, but is pleased when Atticus agrees that they can continue to read each evening. They will keep it between themselves and not tell Miss Fisher.

Chapter 4

• In Chapter 4, Scout is eager for the end of the school year, which means vacation from school and Dill would visit for the summer.

• Scout walks home and notices a flicker in the knothole in the tree in front of the Radley's house. She reaches into the knothole and finds two pieces of chewing gum.

• Scout comes to the realization that her relationship with Calpurnia is changing. They used to argue all the time, but Scout now makes an effort to get along.

• Jem and Scout pass the tree and find a small box in the knothole. When Jem opens the box, there are two Indian head pennies. He knows they are valuable and tries to figure out whose they are.

• Dill returns to Maycomb and the friends try to find ways to see Boo Radley.

• Jem, Scout and Dill invent a new game and make up plays about the Radleys. Each child plays a different part and Jem usually plays Boo.

Chapter 5

• In Chapter 5, The children decide to stop playing the Radley game, at least for a short time. Instead of stopping completely, they altered the story a little and changed the names of the characters in their plays.

• As the summer progresses, the boys spend time alone and when Scout tries to join them, Jem tells her to leave. Their days were spent in the tree house.

• During this time, Scout begins to spend more time with Miss Maudie.

• Jem and Dill decide to sneak a note to Boo and ask him out for ice cream. The plan is to stick the note on the end of a fishing pole and then stick it through a lose shutter on the house. Jem tries, but the note slips off.

• Jem is busy with the fishing pole and doesn't notice Atticus walking up the street. Atticus tells the boys to stop tormenting Boo and Jem hollers out that he doesn't think he wants to be a lawyer anymore.

Chapter 6

• In Chapter 6, Jem, Dill and Scout decide to walk around the neighborhood that evening. As usual, the plans turn to the Radley house.

• While the children are trying to look into the windows of the Radley house, someone shoots at Jem. The shot rouses the neighborhood, Atticus finds the children and asks what they were doing.

• At about two in the morning, Jem decides that he must retrieve his pants and stay out of trouble with Atticus. He sneaks over to the Radley's and returns, trembling.

Reminders:

Early Dismissal Wednesday September 23, 2015

Chapters 7&8 homework due Thursday September 24, 2015

To Kill a Mockingbird

As we start with To Kill a Mockingbird, I would like for you all to think about some of the words we talked about in class like: stereotypes, prejudice and racism. I would like for you to think about how these topics play a role in your life and how they play a role in Scout's life... Are there similarities? more than what you thought there would be? Are there differences? And what does this tell you about the society in Maycomb and the society that you live in?

As we read this novel we are going to get into many injustices of the world, but I would like you all to think of that role you want to play in them... do you want to be the advocate or the person judging?  

The End!!!

As we come to the end of our novel, I would for you all to reflect on how much Kit has grown. At the beginning of the novel she was excited and had a child's mentality to the Colonies, but in the end Wethersfield disappointed her and she felt alone and depressed.

Here is a reflection from last weeks chapters to this week
 

Chapter 13

• Kit tells John that she has been visiting Hannah, and he disapproves.

• John confesses to Kit that he would like to marry Mercy.

• When John comes to speak with Matthew about courting his daughter, there is a miscommunication, and Judith believes that he has come for her.

• William proposes to Kit, but she says she is not sure. William is willing to wait.

Chapter 14

• The Dolphin is again docked in town, and Kit goes out to meet the ship.

• When Kit speaks with Nat, he is cold and sarcastic because he has heard that William plans on marrying Kit. This bothers him.

• Governor Andros is coming down to Connecticut to take over as royal governor.

Chapter 15

• Matthew is very upset about the coming of Governor Andros, and William agrees with him.

• The colonists worry that their charter and all they have worked for will be lost with the coming of the governor.

• William manages to save and hide the charter, an act considered serious insubordination to the king.

Chapter 16

• Nat and some sailors from the Dolphin place Jack-o-lanterns in the house William is building, and as a result are locked in the stocks.

• Nat's punishment is to be banished from ever coming back into town.

• Kit goes to Hannah to speak about her doubts regarding William's proposal.

• When Kit returns home, she learns that John has joined the militia to fight the Indians.

Chapter 17

• Five days after John leaves, Judith comes down with fever, and Mercy follows soon after.

• A band of angry townspeople come to the Woods' home, stating that they are going to get Hannah because she is a witch, and they blame her for the fever.

• Kit runs off to warn Hannah and convinces her to leave her house just in time. The townspeople come and burn Hannah's house down.

• Nat decides to take Hannah to his grandmother's house for safety.

Chapter 18

• The townspeople, led by Mrs. Cruff, come to the Woods' house to arrest Kit for her association with Hannah, they now believe that Kit is in league with the witch.

• Matthew tries to defend her, but it ignored because they have found Kit's notebook at Hannah's house.

• Kit is taken away and locked up for trial the next day.

Chapter 19

• Kit is taken to trial and accused of dealing with Satan and being friends with a witch.

• Matthew tries to defend his niece to no avail.

• Suddenly, Nat and Prudence arrive at the courtroom to defend Kit.

• Prudence shows everyone she can read and explains that is what Kit has been doing at Hannah's.

• Kit is acquitted of all charges.

Chapter 20

• Winter comes and Kit begins to feel lonely and depressed.

• Kit and William both realize that they cannot marry each other, and Kit realizes that she is in love with Nat but does not know if she will ever see him again.

• Kit considers returning to Barbados.

• John returns from the militia and shows everyone his love for Mercy.

Chapter 21

• Two weddings are announced: John and Mercy and William and Judith. Everyone is happy.

• Kit secretly decides to leave and plans on selling her dresses to finance the trip.

• In May a new boat comes to dock. It is Nat's, and it is named the Witch.

• Nat tells Kit that he has named the boat after her and wants her to come with him.