To Kill a Mockingbird (Ch. 9)

What does Cecil Jacobs announce at school about Atticus, and what does Scout do about it?

He said that Atticus defends "ni*gger**s"; she prepares to fight him (74)

What comparison does Scout use to describe her relationship with Aunt Alexandra and what does this reveal about her character?

compares her aunt to Mt. Everest - "she was cold and there"; shows that Alexandra is stuck in her ways (77)

Comment on education

education in school can bring some students down (like if it exposes them to things like cussing) (78-79)

Theme - courage:

Atticus asks Scout not to let words/names bother her (87)

Atticus and Maudie deliver lines that shape the children's ideas about race. They both insist on calling people by a single name.

Atticus says, "I'm simply defending a Negro - his name is Tom Robinson." Maudies says, "His name is Arthur and he's alive." (75)

Theme - courage:

Atticus says, "Simply because we were licked..." (76). Scout will learn to fight in the face of assured loss. This also ties in with the losing battles motif.

Who is Tom Robinson? Why is Atticus defending him? Why does Judge Taylor appoint Atticus?

Black man that Atticus is defending; says if he didn't defend him he couldn't hold his head up in town; Judge Taylor appoints him because he thinks he's the only one who can handle it (75)

For what does Scout receive a spanking from Uncle John? Why does Atticus believe she deserved it?

For fighting with her cousin Franics; she deserves it because Atticus had already warned her about fighting (83, 87)

Losing battles motif

Scout loses the battle with Francis

The Cecil Jacobs incident introduces the motif of losing battles.

Scout will come to understand that losing is not the point. (74)

What has Scout learned about injustice from Miss Caroline and the townspeople?

She learns that everyone is going to judge Atticus because he's defending a black man - they're prejudice

Explain Scout's reasoning regarding her "cussing frequently."

She thinks that Atticus will think she learned it at school and she won't have to go back (79)

What is Maycomb's "usual disease"? Who coined this phrase?

The tendency of people in the community to just follow what everyone else does - not to think for themselves; coined by Atticus (88)

Religious allusion - "Let this cup pass from you, eh?"

This compares Atticus to Jesus. He will sacrifice himself for the sin of others. Atticus will fight the racial battle of the Tom Robinson case for Maycomb's well-intentioned citizens (78).

Introduces the 2nd major plot strand in the novel - the Tom Robinson trial

We move from childhood terrors (Boo) to adult terrors (racial prejudice, etc.)