Q1 Lernzettel To Kill a Mockingbird PDF

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Q1 Lernzettel: To Kill a Mockingbird Historical Background: living conditions in the south of the US during the 1930's racist, discriminatory attitude of the white population towards the blacks  Great Depression (1929-1941): economic need, poverty → social conflicts  strong impact on the southern (agricultural landscapes)  Fears of decline among the white population and aggravating racist attitudes  'Scottsboro trial' (1931): 9 young blacks were charged with raping 2 white women → death sentence for 8 of the 9

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Parallels of 'Scottsboro trial' in 'To kill a Mockingbird': 1. -white farmers gathered in front of the prison to lynch the accused blacks -in many cases the perpetrators got away without punishment 2. -composition of the jury: no chance for a fair trial → women and blacks were excluded -almost white male members → especially racist attitude 3. -as white and as women, the victims were considered automatically modest, bashful and vulnerable -the accused were attributed an animal sexual drive and lack of moral barriers -no one came up with the idea of medically investigating Mayella Ewell: victim of society, family and social circumstances 4. -insurmountable distrust of the uneducated over the educated (Mayella-Atticus) -prosecutor Mr. Gilmer addresses Tom Robinson as 'boy' → derogatory address 5. -curiosity of the uninvolved population 6. -hostility towards the public defender: 'makes his professional duty a personal matter' 7. -deadly attempted escape ► proximity to reality as the reason for the success of the novel

Summaries: Chapter 1: Scouts and Jem's friendship with Dill; Arthur (Boo) Radley's story 

I-narrator: Jean Louise Finch (Scout)

Jem Finch: Scout's 4 years older brother Finch's: have been farming a cotton farm for generations → Finch's Landing → Atticus: lawyer; Jack: doctor  Scout's mom died of a heart attack (Scout was 2 years old)  Household leads Calpurnia, a black  during the summer holidays, the siblings become friends with the 7year-old Dill, who visits his aunt Miss Rachel Haverford  Jem tells Dill that the Radley's house harbours a vicious spirit; Dill wants to lure the ghost out of the house  the ghost is Arthur Boo Radley, who was in bad company as a teenager  his father locked him up in the house; Arthur disappeared from the scene ever since  there is the rumour that Arthur stabbed a pair of scissors in his leg  Dill challenges Jem to touch the house; nothing happend  

Chapter 2: The morning of Scout's first day of school  

Disaster: Scout is reprimanded by the young, inexperienced teacher Miss Caroline, because she can already read and write Walter Cunningham does not have lunch: he does not want to accept Miss Caroline's money because his family is too poor to repay → Scout tells Miss Caroline about it → she gets punches for that

Chapter 3: The rest of Scout's first day of school outraged by the unfair treatment, Scout falls on the break over Walter Cunningham → Jem interrupts and invites Walter to make amends for lunch  Miss Caroline finds a louse in Burris Ewell's hair → he and his siblings appear only on the first day of school each year to do their compulsory education  Atticus advises Scout to slip into Miss Caroline's skin to better understand her  Scout does not want to go to school anymore 

Chapter 4: Unexpected gifts and new attempts to approach Boo Radley 

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on her way home from school, Scout discovers an unused chewing gum in a knothole in one of the oaks on the Radley's property → she eats the chewing gum and is yelled at by Jem on the last day of school, the siblings find a box in the knothole that contains money Dill comes back to visit and while playing with a rubber tire, Scout lands in front of the veranda of the Radley House → she hears a laughter Atticus does not like the children's interest in Boo Radley

Chapter 5: Miss Maudie Atkinson; serious admonition of the children by Atticus   

Scout feels left out → she now spends more time with her neighbour Miss Maudie Atkinson Scout asks her about Boo Radley → she remembers Arthur as a kind, polite boy Dill and Jem decide to send Boo a message → they are caught and admonished by Atticus

Chapter 6: Nocturnal Adventure 

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At the End of the vacation, Dill and Jem sneak into the back garden of the Radley House; Scout reluctantly joins in, accused of behaving more and more like a girl on the porch the shadow of a man appears, stopping in Front of Jem → the children flee in panic → a gunshot sounds Jem stays hanging on the fence, has to slip out of his pants and leave them behind the neighbours came together → Mr. Nathan Radley, Artur's older brother, just blew it up this time → the children have come running to avoid suspicion → everyone notices that Jem has only shorts on Atticus has never hit Jem and he wants it to stay that way → that is why Jem picks up his pants still this night

Chapter 7: More presents in the knothole  

Jem's pants hung folded and mended on the fence the siblings regularly find gifts in the knothole → they write a letter of thanks to the anonymous donor → when you want to deposit it, the knothole is stuffed with cement

Chapter 8: Winter; Miss Maudie's house burns down completely   

Scout and Jem build a Snowman → is similar to the neighbour Mr. Avery Miss Maudie's house burns down the following night while Scout stared at the flames, someone threw a blanket over her → it had to be Boo Radley

Chapter 9: The upcoming process casts its first shadow   

Scout's classmate Cecil Jacobs claims her father defends nigger → she beats Cecil Atticus asks Scout to hold back in the future and instead fight his fists with his head they spend Christmas on Finch's Landing (is run by aunt Alexandra and her husband Jimmy)

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Scout beats Francis (her nephew) because he calls Atticus a disgrace to the family

Chapter 10: The children learn to look at their father with different eyes   

the children often suffer from Atticus being different from other fathers instead of playing football games, he sits at home and reads this attitude of the children changes as they see Atticus killing a rabid dog with a master shot → Mr. Tate, the sheriff, urged him to do so

Chapter 11: Ms. Dubose dies and the children learn something new 

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Ms. Dubose is sick and insults the siblings every time they come over → Jem loses his nerves and destroys her flowers → Atticus wants him to apologize to her Ms. Dubose wanted him to read her two hours a day for a month to make amends → shortly thereafter, the old lady dies

Chapter 12: Guest in the worship of the colored community   

the children remain in the care of Calpurnia they visit the worship service of the coloured community on Sunday and are greeted respectfully the collection is for Tom Robinson's family, since his wife has not been working since her husband is accused of raping a white woman

Chapter 13: Aunt Alexandra is involved in the education of children   

Atticus believes the children need more female influence in their upbringing her family pride is strong and she tries to transfer it to the children when Atticus sees how unhappy Scout is, he assures her that she does not need to change

Chapter 14: Internal familial tensions; Dill arrives  

Scout gets annoyed with Jem's patronizing Dill flees to Maycomb as he feels neglected by his new parents

Chapter 15: Atticus, his children and Mr. Underwood prevent a lynching

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through the impending process, pranks fade into the background → Scout realizes that Boo Radley has a right to be left alone the children see Atticus sitting in Front of a prison → several men face Atticus in a semicircle and ask him to leave because they want to lynch Tom Robinson → the children run to Atticus → Scout recognizes Mr. Cunningham and talks in a friendly way → the men are leaving → Mr. Underwood gave Atticus cover

Chapter 16: The morning of the process day      

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tensions between Atticus and aunt Alexandra Atticus does not want to see the kids in the city center today in the morning the jury will be selected everywhere are people who do not want to miss the process the kids are still on their way anyway whites and blacks remain under each other, except for Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who married a black woman and has children with her (considered a drinker) with the help of Reverend Sykes, the priest from Calpurnia's community, the children are given seats in the gallery where the black crowd is

Chapter 17: The statements of Mr. Tate and Bob Ewell 

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Mr. Tate was called into the house by Bob Ewell and finds Mayella Ewell lying on the floor, trashed over → Father and daughter say Mayella was raped by Tom Robinson → however, there is no medical examination the Ewell's live in miserable circumstances (mother long dead and father drinks) → live in a shed → children without school education, under-served, often ill Mayella has the role of surrogate mother and is overwhelmed → she longs for ordinary conditions the offender had to be left-handed → Bob Ewell is left-handed → he hates Atticus

Chapter 18: The statement of Mayella Ewell      

Mayella says Atticus scares her and wants to make fun of her Mayella is an 19 year old girl without friends and perspective she assures her father has never been violent against her she asked Tom Robinson to dismember an old dresser (not for the first time) and then he exploited the situation and raped her Tom Robinson can hardly be the culprit because his left arm is shortened Mayella, however, insists on her statement

Chapter 19: The statement of Tom Robinson      

Tom is 25 years old, married and has children Mayella called him to help her → he did this because he saw how difficult the girls life is she tried to get intimate with him and told him that she had given her sibling money to eat ice cream that she had saved for a long time Tom was frightened and fled because this situation was dangerous for him → at the same moment, Bob Ewell appeared at the window Prosecutor Gilmer tries to confuse Tom with sarcasm, which works out well Dill is crying because he's mad at Mr. Gilmer's meanness

Chapter 20: The plea of Atticus 

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Mr. Raymond offers Dill to drink from his bottle → they are surprised that it is cola → he trusts them that he plays drunk only, as it makes it easier for his white fellow citizens to accept the life he leads Atticus talks to the jury: Mayella had broken an unwritten law of society by trying to seduce a black man → fearing to be punished, she tries to destroy Tom Robinson → the prejudices of the whites over the blacks make this plan easier for her → but in court, all people are equal and Atticus trusts in the integrity of the jury

Chapter 21: Tom Robinson's conviction 

the jury sits together for a long time →Tom Robinson is convicted unanimously → Atticus will request a revision of the procedure

Chapter 22: Bob Ewell swears revenge  

Miss Maudie invites the children to join her and tells them that Atticus is one of the rare people to accept what others shy away from Bob Ewell had waited in front of the post office for Atticus, spitting in his face and swearing that he would pay him back

Chapter 23: The events of the last days are discussed in the family   

Atticus did not respond to Bob Ewells provocation → Atticus prefers Bob's anger against him rather than his children Jem discusses with Atticus the inadequacy of the justice system Jem now knows why Boo Radley never leaves the house → he just wants to stay for himself

Chapter 24: The hypocrisy of the so-called good society

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Aunt Alexandra has once again gathered the ladies of the mission circle with her they are outraged by the bad mood of their black domestic workers followed by the conviction of Tom Robinson Tom Robinson has tried to escape from prison and was shot dead Aunt Alexandra and Miss Maudie are deeply upset, but do not show it

Chapter 25: Reaction to the death of Tom Robinson    

Tom Robinson's wife has collapsed all prejudices against blacks seem confirmed by his pointless escape attempt only Mr. Underwood calls it a sin to kill a cripple according to Bob Ewell, there are only two left to ruin

Chapter 26: Other examples of hypocrisy and double standards   

Scout is ashamed of the former attempts to lure Boo out of the house due to the behaviour of her classmates, she realizes that their parents have been critical about Atticus her teacher is critical of Hitler → this astonishes Scout, as Miss Gates said on the day of Tom Robinson's condemnation to Mrs. Stephanie Crawford that it was time to teach them (blacks), as they already believed they could marry White

Chapter 27: Bob Ewell does not rest; a party is being prepared 

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Bob Ewell gets a job and is released shortly afterwards because of his laziness → he blames Atticus for it → he abuses and persecutes Tom Robinson's widow Mrs. Merriweather is planning a Halloween show for the kids → Scout acts as a ham Atticus and Aunt Alexandra want to give up the performance → Jem accompanies Scout

Chapter 28: Nocturnal attack   

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it's pitch black and Cecil Jacobs lurks on the siblings to scare them on the way back Scout keeps the ham costume they are being persecuted → think first that it is Cecil again → however, the pursuer remains silent and runs towards them → it comes to a fight → someone rushes Scout and Jem to help the stranger who saved the children is standing against the wall and behaving silently Jem's arm is broken

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Mr. Tate examined the crime and discovered Bob Ewell's body, with a kitchen knife between its ribs

Chapter 29: Scout's report  

Scout's costume saved her life; Atticus is stunned Scout recognizes the stranger who tries a scared smile and talks to him: 'Hey, boo'

Chapter 30: Atticus bows to the Sheriff's will   

Atticus tells the Sheriff that Jem will have to answer for the crime Mr. Tate, however, says Bob Ewell fell into his own knife and makes it clear to Atticus that Arthur Radley has stabbed Bob Ewell Atticus realizes that Mr. Tate is right and thanks Arthur that his children are still alive through him → he leaves Scout alone with Arthur

Chapter 31: Scout escorts Arthur Radley home   

Arthur visits Jem one last time and strokes him Scout takes Arthur home because he asked her to → she never sees him again Scout realizes that she has matured through the serious events of the recent years

Structure:   

Question about dealing with social outsiders Destiny of Arthur Radley: insurmountable human shyness → becomes a phantom → Curiosity of the neighbour's children Destiny of Tom Robinson: Outsider in a white dominated society → racial prejudice → falsely convicted of a crime → driven to death

Period of action  

Part 1: from the early summer of 1933 to the spring of 1935 Part 2: Beginning of the summer holidays 1935 until the end of October 1935

People constellation: Scout's Family

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Scout, Atticus and Jem Finch, Aunt Alexandra and Uncle Jimmy, Uncle Jack, Nephew Francis, Calpurnia

Finch's neighbours  

mostly older, single and female Miss Maudie Atkinson, Miss Stephanie Crawford, Dill's Aunt Miss Rachel Haverford, Mr. Avery, Radley Family (older son Nathan and younger son Arthur), Mrs. Dubose

The circle of Christian ladies   

so-called better society complacency and moral hypocrisy Mrs. Grace Merriweather = stereotype

The Cunningham's   

poor, comparable to blacks Aunt Alexandra does not welcome these people Atticus, on the other hand, teaches his children to be respectful to them

Missing school friends    

Walter and Cecil are just classmates → Scout cannot handle girls and does not like school in general Atticus' isolation among his citizens transfers to Scout Her brother Jem and his friend Dill are Scout's only friends Dill is a special child, as well as Scout herself (very honest)

Atticus' 'friends' 

Sheriff Tate, Judge Taylor, Prosecutor Gilmer, Mr. Underwood, Tom Robinson, Helen Robinson, Reverend Sykes

Liberal whites without a racist attitude 

Mr. Dolphus Raymond, Mr. Link Deas, Atticus, Miss Maudie Atkinson, (Sheriff Tate and Judge Taylor)

Shame of the white population 

Bob Ewell: thinks he is better than every black citizen

Characteristics: Scout 

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impulsive and boyish → she avoids feminine sphere → feels good among boys and men → tomboy → Scroll image of the wild girl represents a new generation childish-naive view: insufficient understanding of many situations has a pure heart no sentimentality intelligent beyond her age newly won inner maturity → ladylike → has learned to put oneself in the skin of other people you have to get to know people before you can form an opinion about them displaces deadly danger for her own protection → preserves her childlike innocence

Jem         

Dill

siblings spend a lot of time together growing Football Passion: need to be a normal boy → suffers from Atticus being different from the other fathers is in many ways similar to his father: usually more prudent and uses his mind feels under which pressure Atticus stands and tries to assist him would like to be an attorney → need to identify with Atticus is great has great courage → does not hesitate to take up a fight understands earlier than his accomplices that Boo is very different than they thought reading service at the bedside: insight into the mixed nature of the people → enables him to understand Aunt Alexandra worthy son of his father

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lacks the care and comfort of a family escapes from his bleak reality to an imaginary world has grown up under different circumstances → sees the openly displayed injustice and racially-motivated malice of the wrongness of the world Scout's best friend → 'engaged' to her extraordinary character

Atticus     

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good will and good humour, just and humane superior in wisdom, morality, righteousness → nevertheless no 'hero' educates children in a partnership way → still sets standards unconditionally follows the voice of his own conscience ability to empathy → most important style of education → they should be able to look at things from the perspective of others as well self-confidence and tolerance Tom Robinson trial = personal test renounces violence and revenge does not force anything on anyone, not even a purer moral differs significantly from his fellow citizens: outsider → shows them their own weaknesses through his attitude people's representative of the state of Alabama self-protection: refuses to accept Bob Ewell's malice → shows him the price of his decent, courageous and peaceful demeanor

Calpurnia     

housekeeper, cook and substitute mother of the Finch's contributes to the education of the children indispensable part of the family → Atticus appreciates and respects her very much leads a second, different life → requires a lot of life wisdom and prudence willing to learn: teaches Scout to read

Miss Maudie Atkinson    