Marking Up Text

The Gun is Empty (SK's class)

Just before the court hears the verdict, Scout thinks it was like watching "Atticus walk into the street, raise a rifle to his shoulder and pull the trigger, but watching all the time knowing that the gun was empty."  What is the significance of this line?

The significance of this line, that Scout thinks to herself, is that Atticus fought a good fight but knew that he did not have the right conditions to win. Even though he had all the right facts and gave a good delivery of them in the court room, the conditions of that time, where prejudism against Blacks was prevalent and didn't allow people to accept the facts if they favored to the Blacks.
~ Rayleen Struik

The Town Responds to the Outcome of the Trial (SK's class)

Ch. 21/22: Using Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie, and Bob Ewell as examples, describe the town’s response to the trial.

Depending on their opinion of segregation, the town members reacted very differently. Miss Maudie was disappointed in the outcome. She saw the town as white-only people, which they were. People didn’t like Negroes, but they loved all the whites. She was mad because, even though the jury knew Tom was innocent, he was convicted guilty. This wasn’t fair, he shouldn’t be considered guilty because of his skin colour.

Miss Stephanie said she didn’t care too much about the trial, but she really did. She wanted Tom to be convicted, and that he was. She loved to spread rumors, and when she found out that Tom was convicted, she had something she could tell everyone. It wasn’t a rumor, but she adored gossip. She would always be gossiping about something, and this gave her one more thing to spread.
Obviously, Bob Ewell was happy about the outcome of the trial, because it was against his daughter. He was really the one who beat his daughter, but knew that, if he blamed it on a black man, he would be convicted guilty. Bob wanted to get out of the things he did, so he blamed it on Tom. When Tom was proven guilty, Bob was a very happy man. He knew what he did was wrong, but was willing to do anything to get out of it.
The town, overall, was fairly pleased with the outcome. People didn’t like Negroes very much, so when one more left, they were happy. Even though most people knew it was wrong, they were pleased with the departure of a black man. That was the white people at least. The other black people in the town were obviously very upset, and angry, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Nobody listened to black people.

Cole V.

The Town Responds to the Outcome of the Trial (SDH's class)

Ch. 21/22: Using Miss Maudie, Miss Stephanie, and Bob Ewell as examples, describe the town’s response to the trial.


~ Reagan V.

Standing in the Balcony (SK's class)

Ch. 21: Explain Reverend Sykes’ statement, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up.  Your father’s passin’.”


He made this comment to jean because he wanted her to show respect for what Atticus had done to help protect Tom Robinson. Standing Up for someone when they walk by means you are showing respect for something this person has done. Because Atticus really did an amazing thing by standing up for this man when no one else cared to do so. He even knew he was going to lose but he took a risk and did it anyways because he knew it was ultimately the right thing thing to do no matter the circumstance.


Lucas V.

Standing in the Balcony (SDH's class)

Ch. 21: Explain Reverend Sykes’ statement, “Miss Jean Louise, stand up.  Your father’s passin’.”


~ Willem VW

Tom on the Stand (SK's class)

Ch. 20: What are the techniques Gilmer uses to intimidate Tom?  Why does Dill cry?

In chapter 19 Mr. Gilmer questions Tom in a harsh manner using a cruel technique. Mr. Gilmer focuses on all of the things that could have proved that Tom was guilty. It was not based off of clear evidence. For example on pg. 196 Mr. Gilmer says, "Robinson, you're pretty good at busting up chiffarobes and kindling with one hand, aren't you?" Tom replies yes and then Mr Gilmer says, "Strong enough to choke the breath out of a woman and sling her to the floor?" Using these kinds of questions he frames Tom. If Tom says he isn't strong he would be lying about what he is capable of and it would make him sound like he was trying to get out of being convicted. Dill cries because he is sick at how Mr. Gilmer speaks to Tom. On pg. 198 he says to Tom, "Are you being impudent to me, boy?" He is very degrading towards Tom in the way he speaks and this bothers Dill. Scout tries to explain to him that Tom is just a Negro but Dill strongly believes that it isn't right to treat any person that way. All of these things show how black people were viewed in Maycomb.

n. schoepp