january 8,2009; themes

A theme that is shown throughout chapter 15 is courage and understanding. Scout, Jem and Dill show courage when they go to see where Atticus is. Scout shows courage when she runs to Atticus and breaks through the crowd of people that she does not know just to save Atticus. Jem shows courage when he stays at the jail when Atticus tells him to leave and take Scout and Dill with him. Atticus shows courage by being at the jail to defend Tom. Jem is understanding of Atticus, but he still will not do what he says. All of the men that were there that came out of the cars were understanding of Scout because they could tell that she was scared for Atticus so they left them alone. Everyone stands up for each other so courage shows up in the text all the time. The Finch family understands each other, so understanding has occurred before.

This chapter shows that Atticus is a brave man and he does what is right. He keeps his promises not matter how difficult it might be to do so. This chapter also shows how much Atticus cares for others by the way he is willing to get hurt or in danger for Tom, Scout, Jem and Dill. The Cunningham's know that the town has helped them and it is their own fault that they are where they are now. Mr. Cunningham knows that the Finch's help him out and if he hurt Mr. Finch or anyone involving him that they would not be the right thing to do. This shows that Mr. Cunningham is a good person and that he is capable of doing what is right.

january 7, 2009; in class.

Meaning behind the conversation between Atticus, Jem and Scout is that Jem and Scout have to grow up. They have to start to live up to their reputation as Finches. Aunt Alexandra told Atticus to talk to Jem and Scout and tell them to start acting like the lady and gentlemen that they are. When Scout says "it takes a woman to do that kind of work" she means that Atticus can not change them because he does not care about his reputation as much as a woman would. A woman could be more strict and rule enforcing, and Atticus could not tell them to change, so he defiantly could not make them change.

january 6, 2009; stages of morality

1.A stage of morality that Calpurnia and Scout follow is obedience. Obedience is when you do what you have to do to avoid punishment. Scout uses this when Aunt Alexandra tells her to come in and talk to people. She does not like talking to ladies or acting like them. Scout knows that if she does not talk to the women like Aunt Alexandra says then she will be in trouble. Calpurnia uses obedience when Aunt Alexandra tells her to pick up her bags and carry them up to her room. Calpurnia has to do what she is told even if it might be hard. If Cal does not do what she is told to do she could get fired.

3. Another stage of morality that is used in To Kill A Mockingbird is conformity. Conformity is when you do what you have to do to make other people pleased with you. Atticus uses conformity when Aunt Alexandra tells him to talk to Jem and Scout about the importance of Finches. She tells him that Jem and Scout have to start acting like the lady and gentlemen that they are. He does not think this is necessary because he thinks that his children are fine the way they are but he still tells Jem and Scout this to make Aunt Alexandra happy. Scout uses conformity when Atticus asks her if she is okay with Aunt Alexandra staying with them and she says that she is fine with it. She lies. She really does not like Aunt Alexandra but Atticus would be disappointed if she said that Aunt Alexandra could not stay there.

january 5, 2009; norms.

1. The norm Atticus follows the most is personal norms. A personal norm is a standard that you have about your own behavior. Atticus will not do certain things, not because someone told him not to, he just does not think some things are right to do. For example, Atticus stopped shooting because he did not think it was right to kill animals. When Jem and Scout got their air rifles for Christmas, Atticus told them that he would not teach them how to shoot. This was because he did not think shooting was right, therefore he followed a standard that he set for himself a long time ago when he was done being old one shot.

2. In part one of To Kill A Mockingbird, Mrs. Dubose, Jem and Scout all break implicit norms. An implicit norm is a norm that is not openly stated but no one usually does that. Mrs. Debouse breaks an implicit norm when she yells at Jem and Scout about their fathers decisions and that is not right to do. No one ever told her that what she is doing is not right but most adults do not do that. Scout breaks an implicit noun in part one when she beats up Walter in the very beginning. No one told her not to fight before that because the situation never occurred. Most children do not go around beating up other kids. Jem also breaks an implicit norm when he vandalizes Mrs. Dubose's lawn by ripping up all of her flowers. Jem and Scout we never told not to do that to people but again, most people do not go around doing that.

Jem 12.22.08

Me and Scout were walkin' and we found a crazy dog. It was my idea to run and tell Calpurnia. She called Atticus and all of the neighbors, she even knocked on the Radley's door which i though was crazy but somethin' happened later that was even crazier. I always thought that Atticus couldn't shoot. As it turned out, he was the best shooter in Maycomb County. They called him old one-shot Finch. I turned into a shock when i found this out. I wanted to talk to him but i didn't know what to say. The dog was killed with one shot by Atticus. he knew exactly what to do, and first Scout and i were scared because we thought he was goin' to shoot his foot, but he didn't.
Scout and i hate Mrs. Dubose. I think she is a bad old woman. She says things that make me want to rip her head off. She was saying things about Atticus that i didn't like and finally i lost my head. I tore up all of her bushes. Then Atticus made me apologize and i had to read to her for two hours everyday after school and on Saturdays for a month. I really don't know why Scout came with me, i think she just didn't want Mrs. Dubose to kill me. She had an alarm clock and it would go off and Jessie would throw us out the door as soon as it went off. Atticus told me and Scout that she was sick because she had a morphine addiction. I finally got to stop reading to her. She died a couple of days later. She made Jessie make me a box. This upset me and I threw it in the fire and cried into Atticus's arms. I really don't know why I threw that box into the fire, I guess I just wanted her to leave me alone.

scout 12.16.08

Today, Jem though the world was ending. It was just snow. Jem kept yelling at me not to step in in, he said that i was wastin it. His snowman was lovely, it looked just like Mr.Avery. that made me laugh. Atticus told us to make the Mr.Avery snowman look different because Mr.Avery would not like it. Jem took Miss Maudies hat and clippers and put them on the snowman. It made me laugh.

put the blanked on me. Miss Maudie's house caught on fire! Atticus woke me up and i had no idea what was goin on. It was very early and I almost froze outside. Atticus told me and Jem to go away from the fire. We stood in front of the Radley house. It was so crazy outside, everyone in Maycomb County was outside trying to help Miss Mauldie. When the fire was finally over,we went inside that house and Atticus made us hot chocolate. Then he said, that he thought he told us to stay in one spot. Me and Jem, we were very confused because we did stay in one spot. Atticus then asked me why I had a blanket around me because it was not our blanket. Then he told me that Boo Radley put it on me, then Jem went crazy. I just kept trying to figure out why i did not notice someone put a blanket on and and especially since that someone was Boo.