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Dialectical Journal For To Kill A Mockingbird

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I am reading To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. In Chapters 10-15 Jem and Scout learn new things that they didn’t know about their father. Their Aunt Alexandra comes to live with them. Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra are both great mother figures to Jem and Scout. In this journal, I will be characterizing and evaluating. G: Atticus is over protective of his kids but cares about them a lot. He is secretive and old. Y: Atticus is overprotective and caring. R: wouldn’t teach kids to shoot R: stopped jem from shooting R: made the kids stay away from the rabid dog. Y: he is secretive and old R: he never told the kids about him shooting R: he never plays with jem anymore R: he barely does anything G: Atticus loves his kids. He doesn’t …show more content…

He bought his kids air rifles but he wouldn’t teach them how to shoot them, “ when he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn’t teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn’t interested in guns. (Lee 119)” Jem was going to shoot Miss Maudie in the butt. Atticus said “ Don’t you ever let me catch you pointing that gun at anybody again. (Lee 121)” One of the neighbors dogs became rabid and Jem told his dad about it. Jem opened the door and Atticus said, “stay inside son! (Lee 125)” Although he is overprotective he is also very secretive about his past to his kids. According to his kids he is very old. When the rabid dog came Atticus shot him in one shot. Miss Maudie told Jem “ didn’t you know his nick-name was Ol’ One-Shot when he was a boy. (Lee 129)” Atticus would play keep away with Jem, but he would never play tackle. Atticus never played tackle “ Atticus was never too tired to play keep-away, but when Jem wanted to tackle him Atticus would say, I’m to old for that son. (Lee 118)” Atticus is old, he is almost 50 years old. Jem and Scout think that he can’t do anything, “ our father didn’t do anything. (Lee 118)” Even though he is old and boring in his kids eyes he still loves them. He doesn’t tell his kids much because he doesn’t want them to be like …show more content…

In my opinion… Calpurnia and Aunt Alexandra are both great mother figures to Jem and Scout. They both have their own traits. Calpurnia is a great mother figure. When the dog came she made sure the kids were safe inside and were all right. She then called Atticus and told him about it so he could come and help out with it. Atticus was out of town and the kids didn’t know what to do. Calpurnia was going to church and she invited them to come with her. Even though Calpurnia isn’t always the nicest she does everything she can to keep them safe and out of trouble. Scout states “ I had caused Calpurnia to deny my entrance to the house every time she saw me with a stick in my hand. (Lee 134)” Calpurnia is a great mother figure, in my opinion Aunt Alexandra is only a good mother figure. She came to live with the Finch’s to help Atticus for when Scout starts growing into a woman. Aunt Alexandra says, “ We decided that it would be best for you to have some feminine influence. (Lee 170)” She was always declaring what was right for the family. Scout

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Journal #4 I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and I am on page 304. This book is about a girl named Scout that lives with her brother Jem, her friend Dill, her father Atticus, and her housekeeper Calpurnia. She has many adventures with the boys and learned many great lessons from Atticus. In particular there is the case of Tom Robinson in which Atticus defends him. The kids observe the trial

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G Calpurnia is a better mother figure than aunt Alexandria Y Calpurnia is a good mother figure R cal comforts scout when jem doesn’t want to be with her (pg.154) R she cleans them very well before she takes them to church, calls them her kids (pg. 156) R sticks up for the kids at church Y Aunt Alexandria is not a good mother figure

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• Jem o “When we went home I told Jem we’d really have something to talk about at school on Monday. Jem turned on me. ‘Don’t say anything about it, Scout . . . I reckon if he’d wanted us to know it, he’da told us. If he was proud of it, he’da told us . . .

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“As we drank our cocoa I noticed Atticus looking at me, first with curiosity, then with sternness. ’I thought I told you and Jem to stay put’ he said. ‘Why we did. We stayed-’ He said.

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She teaches these kids that it’s not always the right thing to do what everybody else is doing. Calpurnia looks after these children and takes them in as her own when she is told to. Atticus shows the most examples of courage in this story. He teaches his people many lessons, especially his children.

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Over the course of the novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, Scout changes immensely in many ways. Jean Louise Finch(Scout) the daughter of Atticus Finch, becomes very different at the end of the book, than the beginning. Scout becomes more mature, a respectful lady, and begins to accept people the way they are. Throughout the novel Scout changes in many ways.

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Again in chapter 12, Cal says, "How'd you and Mister Jem like to come to church with me tomorrow?"(Lee,156). Even though Calpurnia just helps around the Finch household and isn't of any blood, she shows love to Jem and Scout. Cal didn't have to take Jem and Scout to church with her, instead she offered to because she was looking out got Atticus. The love that everyone shows throughout "To Kill a Mockingbird", is done out of pure respect for one

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Atticus also says, “I don’t want my boy starting out with something like this over his head. Best way to clear the air is to have it all in the open.” (Lee 14) Atticus doesn't want a dark secret hanging over Jem, especially when he’s so young. Atticus is very adamant about Jem confessing to the incident which shows how important honesty is the Atticus.

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it's not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things, and the way we conduct ourselves when the chips are down—well, all I can say is, when you and Jem are grown, maybe you'll look back on this with some compassion and some feeling that I didn't let you down." And he’s not a parent that keeps stuff away from kids but knows that they will always remember this trial and someday look back at it. (Chapter 11, page 20) As you can see in all of these, Atticus is a very smart kind and loving person.

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Jean Louise Finch ‘Scout’ is a headstrong young girl who narrates the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, set in the fictitious County Maycomb over the span of three years. She is often found sporting dirty overalls or breeches and possesses a rather tomboyish personality, much to her aunt’s dismay. It says, “Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire... When I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. ”(Page 90)

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“..if I didn’t (defend Tom Robinson) I couldn’t hold up my own head in town, I couldn’t represent this county in legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not to do something again.” (86) As a father, Atticus has a responsibility to his children and setting the best example to his children, especially during a difficult situation, such as defending an African-American man accused of rape in a small town trial. “I’d rather you (Jem and Scout) shot tin cans in the backyard…” (103) Even a small warning such as that one shows that he cares for his children and is responsible for their safety, especially when they’re armed with rifles.

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This is one of many examples Calpurnia sets for Jem and Scout. Calpurnia is not the mother of Jem and Scout. She is the Finch’s cook, but she plays a more serious role in the children’s life. People expect African Americans to be uneducated and poor, but Calpurnia is the exact opposite of those standards. She is wise, caring, and conflicted.

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When Aunt Alexandra tried to convince Atticus to get rid of her, he stuck up for Cal saying how much she’s done for them and that she is part of the family and they’ll never get rid of her. This shows that Cal is extremely important to the story, and like a mother to the children. Like any good mother does, she teaches the kids some very important lessons. Calpurnia was an excellent role model for Scout because she planted various important lessons in her daily life.

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Atticus is very strict with Jem, and he’s always yelling at him. Atticus also has many ways he treats others besides his children. Calpurnia is always over at the Finch house, she works everyday and gets treated very well by Atticus. Atticus told Scout they could not live without her. He said “ She is apart of this family”(Lee 28).

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