We spent a day-and-a-half in class watching some of A Christmas Story. You’ll remember that I asked you to pay attention to the tone of Ralph’s voice as an adult. He was excited, boisterous, overly enthusiastic, and easily swooped up into waves of deep emotion (hilarity, tragedy, fear, etc.). In short, Ralph as an adult sounded like Ralphie as a kid. Ralph as a narrator still believed in Santa, still believed in the almost magical power of an air rifle, and still believed in pure Christmas magic. At least, he sounded like he did. This is what made the movie so funny. Triple dogs dares just don't exist in the adult world.
So here we are a few days into To Kill a Mockingbird, and guess what? The same device is used in the novel. Scout as an adult is seeing the events of the novel through her eyes back when she was a little girl. Barely sad moments are full of grief, and tragic adult moments are hardly visible whatsoever. We might, for this reason, consider Scout what we call an “unreliable” narrator. In other words, we can’t always trust what Scout says.
After all, Scout already knows how the book is going to turn out. She lived it, right? She can’t give away the ending! She needs to create drama, suspense, humor.
One such example of Scout-the-adult-narrator mimicking the voice and vision of Scout-the-six-year-old is in chapter one when she recounts Jem’s description of Boo. According to Jem, Boo “was about six-and-a-half feet tall” judging from the tracks Boo left behind and “dined on raw squirrels, and any cats he could catch” (Hansberry 16). Scout thinks this is a “reasonable description” (16). The reader, of course, knows Jem’s description is anything but “reasonable.” In fact, it is far from it. Heck, he makes Boo sound like Frankenstein's monster. This is a great example of moment in which the tone (the narrator’s attitude) is contrary to the mood (the reader’s attitude).
Your Task : Find another example of this narrative discord – a moment in which Scout the narrator is being less than straight with the reader and thus creating a chasm between tone and mood. Your comments should be thoughtful and thorough, use correct textual citations (just like my example), and contain correct grammar and punctuation. Remember, we're looking for specific examples, not broad generalizations. Look for short, concise word clusters. Feel free to find your example anywhere within chpaters one through eight. One more thing: No repeats! (So be sure to read the comments posted before yours.)
Extra Credit: Feel free to comment on one another’s responses. Just be sure to move the conversation along. This is a discussion, not a list of repeated ideas. You may agree or disagree with one another as long as you support your claims with evidence.
Note: When you post your comment, be sure to select "name" on the drop down menu and include your first and last name so you can earn credit for your work.
This is an example.
ReplyDeleteIn the very begining of chapter 5, Dill asks Scout to marry him. But then he forgets about it a little bit later. So I don't think Dill was serious about what he says. But Scout also states that later Dill says "Scout is the only girl he would ever love, then he neglects Scout" (Lee 55). The tone, or Scout's view, is that Dill is serious because after Dill neglects Scout, "she beat him up twice but it did no good" (55). The mood, which is our view on this, is not serious. We see it as a funny joke. But Scout takes it seriously.
ReplyDeleteAn example of when the adult Scout sounds like a child is in chapter two when she is in school with Miss Caroline. Miss Caroline writes the alphabet on the blackboard, and asks the children if they know what it is. Scout answers correctly. After discovering Scout is literate by making her “read most of My First Reader and the stock-market questions from The Mobile Register” (Lee 22), Miss Caroline asks Scout who taught her to read because she wasn’t “born reading The Mobile Register” (22), to which Scout replies, “Jem says I was” (22). She also goes on to say that her last name is really Bullfinch, and that she was swapped when she was born (22). Scout believes this is to be true because Jem told that it was. We, however, find this is amusing because it sounds ridiculous. It sounds so silly that Miss Caroline thinks Scout is lying, and says, “Let’s not let our imaginations run away with us, dear” (22-23).
ReplyDeleteThe adult Scout sounds like a child on page fifty. She falls out of the tire and lands near Boo Radley's house, (Boo Radley is rumored to be insane). As Scout gets up she "raised [her] head and stared at the Radley Place steps in front of me. I froze" (Lee 50). The tone of of the book is very serious, seems like Scout is very scared. While the mood, for the audience is no big deal.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Chapter 5, Scout it sitting on Miss Maudie's porch. It was getting ready to be nighttime. Scout starts asking Miss Maudie about Boo Radley, and his house. She starts to ask Miss Maudie if Boo is still alive. When Miss Maudie tells her that he is, Scout seems doubtful and suggests that "maybe he died and they stuffed him up the chimney" (Lee 43). The tone and mind of Scout is serious and scared while in the perspective of the audience, it is a silly joke or rumor that a only a childs mind could come up with.
ReplyDeleteOn child Scout's way home from school, she notices a piece of gum in the knot-hole of a tree in front of the Radley's house. Scout is convinced the Radley son, Boo, is a violent and crazy man. When she spots the piece of gum, her first "impulse was to get it into [her] mouth" to chew, but then "remembered where [she] was" (at the Radley's hose) and decided to check the gum for poison before eating it (Lee 40). Scout's tone is really worried the gum might be harmful or poisoned, while the reader can tell that it is not a serious worry that the gum is harmful, and meant to be a joke.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 5, Jem and Dill plan to give Boo Radley a letter. They end up getting Scout to be a part of it even though she was reluctant to do it. Scout said that she doesn't "wanta watch", but Jem makes her "watch the back end of the lot" (Lee 62). Then when Jem is ready to use the fishing pole to give Boo Radley the letter, Scout tells him that if he is "brave enough to go up and touch the house" then he shouldn't use a fishing pole (63). The tone of the adult Scout seems very serious while the audience looks at it as this amusing plan that three curious kids came up with.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Petrina's comment about how we think it is funny that Scout believed her last name was Bullfinch just becuase her older brother told her it was. I think it is funny becuase this is probably something we all did as younger kids.
In chapter 4, Scout walks with Jem towards the live oaks at the Radley place to show him where she had last found the pieces of gum. As Scout "raised [her] finger to point for the hundredth time to the knot-hole where [she] had found the chewing gum" (Lee 45)surprisingly enough Scout "found [herself] pointing at another piece of tinfoil" (46). Jem reaches into the oak tree and takes out a small, shiny package. Instead of opening the package right then and there, Scout and Jem run all the way home and carefully open the package once safely on their front porch. Inside the package were two polished pennies. Then Scout and Jem go on making a big deal about the two pennies and what they should do with them because "[they] are important to somebody" (47). The tone of the whole situation from the narrator's point of view made it seem like the fact that Scout and Jem had found two pennies was a huge deal and that if they found the rightful owner, they would return the pennies to them. While the mood of the situation from the audience's point of view probably thought that it was nothing special since nowadays people always find pennies lying around and its never a big deal to anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter eight Scout wakes up, looks out the window and nearly dies of fright. Her screams bring Atticus into the bedroom half-shaven. Scout yells "The world's endin', Atticus!" (Lee 86)Even though the narrator knows now that what she thought was the world ending was merely snow. The tone is very serious because the author makes it seem like back then there was something causing the world to end. The mood is funny because the readers know what snow is and see it 3 months of the year.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six, Jem, Dill, and Scout decide to sneak into Boo Radley's backyard and look inside his house. They sneak into the backyard and Jem looks inside, Scout, Dill and Jem then see a shadow and they run out of there. But as their running Jem's pants get stuck and they rip off. The next night, Jem decides to go back and get them. Scout trys to argue his way out of it, but it does not work. Scout "began to feel sick" (Lee 60) thinking about Jem going there by himself. The tone of the book is scared and worried. But the mood is fine and okay with it because the reader knows nothing is going to happen to Jem.
ReplyDeleteTowards the very end of chapter one, Jem is telling Dill the story and supposed rumors of Boo Radley when Dill suddenly dares Jem to try and make Boo come out of his house. He then changes the dare to "just got up and touch the house"(Lee 18). Of course Jem has his doubts about the dare and tells Dill "he'll kill us each and everyone" (17) in hopes of scaring Dill and changing his mind. When Jem realizes that Dill clearly wont budge, he "sped to the side of the house"(18) and "slapped it with his palm"(18). The tone of this part of the book is intense and frightening, while the mood is seemingly humorous. To Jem, touching the house is terrifying. But to the reader, the realization is that all he does is touch the house. The situation in the book plays off as a big deal, when to the reader it's portrayed as a joke.
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of chapter 6, Jem and Scout go to say goodbye to their friend Dill until next summer. They recall a memory they had about Mr. Avery who lives across the street from Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose's house. It was dark one night when the kids spotted an arch of water pouring out into the street from Mr. Avery's porch. It turns out that he was going to the bathroom in the street. Jem and Dill started talking about what is was. When they figured it out, the were wondering why he was doing that. Scout was saying how she felt left out again because she was "untalented in this area" (Lee 68). To Scout as a child it seems like a big deal because this is just another thing that keeps pushing Scout apart from Jem and Dill, but when Scout describes this incident as the narrator, it seems like a joke. The tone at this part of the book is kind of sad to Scout because she is left out again but the mood is somewhat funny because well...we all know why.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter five, Scout and Miss Maudie are sitting on the porch talking about Gem and how he is getting more and more like their Uncle Jack Finch everyday. Scout remembers that when Uncle Jack visits every Christmas, he yells across to Miss Maudie, "Come marry me"(Lee 58). Scout and Jem think that this is a strange way of asking for marriage. The tone of this part is very serious and confused, where as the mood is humorous. Everyone knows that Uncle Jack finch is joking around and having a good time. Having the tone and mood different makes this book funny.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter seven Scout it talking about the way Jem has been acting after he went to the Radley house by himself. She noticed that he became "mood and silent for a week" (Lee 77). So like her Father had told her to she tried to look at the situation in Jems eyes, as she did this her response to going to the Radleys by herself was spoken in a very dramatic tone. "If I had gone alone to the Radleys place at two in the morning" just like Jem had "my funeral would of been held the next afternoon" (Lee 77). When the adult Scout narrator says this it is meant to be a very dramatic statement but because it really is not a very serious situation it becomes more humorous then dramatic, and that is why it is funny.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Jacks comment, because Scout is so young she doesn't understand the humor in the situation, so she is confused and serious about it. But as readers we understand the joke making the making the mood serious when the tone is actually serious and confused
ReplyDeleteAt the end of Chapter eight we can truely say Boo Radley is alive. We have proof of this not only when Scout, Jem, and Dill try and see into the house and are first found by a big shadow like figure that does not say or do anything to them but watches them. But also when Scout is covered with a blanket during the fire. We can rule out the whole town because all of the men where trying to help, stop the fire in Miss Maudie's house. When Scout and Jem are questioned by Atticus about how they acquired the blanket they are puzzled until Atticus latter says how Scout should thank "Boo Radley" for giving her that blanket (Lee 96). When Atticus says this, Scouts reaction is how her "stomach turned to water" and how she felt like throwing up when Jem pretended he was Boo Radley sneaking up behind her (96). Scouts reaction to this kind act of Boo Radley is how horrible it is and how it should be viewed as something she should be afraid of. When to the reader it seems that it is a great form of kindess and sign of respect from Boo. It can also make the reader sad that everyone views Boo Radley as a monster. While in reality he, at least from his actions, is a very nice and friendly person.
ReplyDeleteI also think that what Grace said about how everyone thinks that all things found on the Boo Radley house is poisoned or dangerouse adds to the dilemma about how Boo Radley lives and exists, adds to the humor and horrer of the Radley monster.
Towards the beginning of chapter 4 Scout is talking about how the whole neighborhood thouth that "Mrs. Dubose was the meanest old woman who ever lived"(Lee 46). she also said that even her big brother Jem "wouldn't go by her place without Atticus beside him"(Lee 46)
ReplyDelete. Scout is so seriouse when she is saying all of this. She really does believe that Mrs. Dubose is the meanest lady every. Also it's obviouse that Scout looks up to Jem a lot and she believes that if even he can't go past Mrs. Dubose house without their father she really must be a horrible wicked old lady. What makes this whole think funny is that the tone is so seriouse and mabye trying to be a little scary too but the mood is funny since this litlle girl thinks an old lady is the meanest person ever just because her brother can't stand up to the lady and a bunch of silly rumors say she might be mean.
I also agree with Brendan that the scene is very funny. Scout looks out the window and is screaming at the top of her lungs that the world is coming to an end because their is white stuff falling from the sky. As audience we all are laughing our heads off because we know it's just snow and it wont harm anybody. The funniest thing is how seriouse and positive Scout is that the world is ending just because a few snowflakes that melt in your mouth are falling from the sky.
In chapter eight when the fire is spreading nearer to the Finch's home Scout is worried about gathering all of her belongings out of the house. Although she is mainly worried about a book she borrowed from Dill. "That book" Scout said worriedly, "it ain't mine, it's Dill's..." (93). To the narrator it is very important that she save the book from the fire, but to the readers it is humorous that she cares mostly about saving the book rather than things that appear to be more important to others.
ReplyDeleteTowards the beginning of chapter 7, Jem and Scout find many things in the knot-hole such as two dolls carved to look like themselves, a pack of gum, and even a spelling medal in which Jem and Scout found wonderous and magnificent. On page 81 though, they found their "biggest prize" (Lee 81). It was a "Pocket watch that wouldn't run, on a chain with an aluminum knife" (81). The tone that the narrator has set is that this one of a kind prize is more amazing than anything Scout and her brother have ever seen when it reality, it is simply just a pocket watch that does not even work. The adult Scout is in a sense mocking herself as a child for thinking that this was such a huge prize they had found when really, as an adult, she realizes that anyone could find an old watch on the street that is broken and useless. This part of the book really makes readers laugh to themselves at the openmindness of Scout and Jem as children and the happiness they share of anything they find.
ReplyDeleteIn the beggining of chapter two, Miss Caroline is reading the students a story about Cats. The adult scout is mocking the way she thought about how the other students and her interpreted the story. She said that everyone in her grade was "immune to imaginative literature" (Lee 22). The adult scout is making fun of herself as a kid because Scout as a kid was a know it all and thought she knew everything. A very similar circumstance happens again when Miss Caroline writes the alpabet on the board and asks if anyone knows what it is. The adult scout says that "everybody did; most of the first grade had failed it last year" (Lee 22) This part in the book shows how Scout thinks about what the teacher is teaching.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Justin with how scout takes it seriously that Dill wants to marry her which is the tone. The fact that we think the situation is a joke which is the mood and Scout is confused about what is happening.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter seven, Jem and Scout is talking about their school life. Scout talked about her second grade life and how much she did not like it. Also Jem talked about his sixth grad life and what he had learned. In class, Jem was learning about the Egyptian period and told Scout about how Egyptians walked, "sticking one arm in front of him and one in back of him, putting one foot behind the other"(Lee 79). Scpit took this seriously and believed Jem. To Scout, this is a new fact that she has learned and to us, it is funny because we know a little more than Scout does.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ben's comment. Scout takes Jem's sayings literally and it might be the fact that Jem does believe in it as well. And the author's tone is that Scout is having a serious talk about Boo Radley when the mood is funny because we could probbally guess that Boo Radley would not get "stuffed in the chimney" (Lee 43).
ReplyDeleteAt the end of chapter one, page 19, Miss Caroline tries to give money to Walter Cunningham, and walter wouldn't take it because of the way he was raised. Obviously, Miss Caroline did not know this so when Scout tried to explain the concept that Walter was a "Cunningham" and that he did not take something that he could not pay back, she got in trouble. And even though she was being completly serious about telling Miss Caroline about the country folks in their town, Miss Caroline thought Scout was being sassy. When she was called over and hit on the hand with a ruler and had to stand in the corner, she was confused on why, she did not think she did anything bad, but really it was humorous for the person reading the story and her mood towards her actions.
ReplyDeleteI personally agree with Min's comment. It was very humorous for the reader to read Jem telling Scout how the Eygyptians walked. But the funniest part was how Scout believed him.
ReplyDeleteIn the middle of chapter one, adult Scout tells the reader about when Jem asks Miss Stephanie Crawford about the Radley's because Atticus refuses to talk about them. Miss Stephanie Crawford claims to know "the whole thing" (Lee 13). Both Scout and Jem are terrified of Boo Radley because of the stories they are told. In this case, Miss Stephanie Crawford tells Jem about how Boo Radley should be in an insane asylum. One time, Boo was cutting items out of a magazine for his scrapbook, when his father came in. Miss Stephanie Crawford claims that Boo "drove the scissors into his parent's leg" then took them out and "wiped them on his pants" (13). Boo then continued cutting up the magazine. When the sheriff arrived Boo seemed to be innocently cutting up his magazine, so the sheriff "hadn't the heart" (14) to put him in jail. Mr. Radley also had said that no Radley was going to an insane asylum when it was suggested to him. This situation shows the different feelings within the tone and mood. The tone is shock, alarm, and fear. Adult Scout is trying to express her fear of Boo Radley to the reader by recounting the events Scout and Jem had heard about. Concurrently, the mood is turned more towards saddness for Boo because he seems to be an unstable person. For all the reader knows, Boo could have been brought up in a bad environment and not cared for the way he should have been. Boo might have been brought up in an abusive household and thought of stabbing his father in the leg as a way to 'repay' him. The reader deosn't know enough about the Radleys to agree with the tone set by the narrarator.
ReplyDeleteIn the middle of chapter eight Jem and Scout are woken up by Atticus since fire was blazing out of Miss Maudie's house. They were told to go outside and stand at the gate of the Radlie's house. Scout is very scared and says to Jem "Oh-h lord,Jem (Lee 92)." The fire is causing Scout to become terrified in this event in the book. On the other hand the adult Scout is saying what is happening in a calm way as if it happens every day. The two are vastly different from what Scout in the book is felling. This is what the narrator said during the same time Scout in the book was freaking out "We stood watching the street fill with men and cars while fire silently devoured Miss Maudie's house (Lee 92)." Scout being horrified and scared of the fire is the tone. The adult Scout is just saying the event with no emotion is the mood.
ReplyDeleteIn the middle of chapter eight Jem and Scout are woken up by Atticus since fire was blazing out of Miss Maudie's house. They were told to go outside and stand at the gate of the Radlie's house. Scout is very scared and says to Jem "Oh-h lord,Jem (Lee 92)." The fire is causing Scout to become terrified in this event in the book. On the other hand the adult Scout is saying what is happening in a calm way as if it happens every day. The two are vastly different from what Scout in the book is felling. This is what the narrator said during the same time Scout in the book was freaking out "We stood watching the street fill with men and cars while fire silently devoured Miss Maudie's house (Lee 92)." Scout being horrified and scared of the fire is the tone. The adult Scout is just saying the event with no emotion is the mood.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren's comment. I thought it was funny to read Scott's reaction because she was so naive about why she was being punished by Miss Caroline.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lauren's comment. I thought it was funny to read Scott's reaction because she was so naive about why she was being punished by Miss Caroline.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 7, Scout and Jem find many neat things in a knot hole. Everyday there would be something new in that hole and everyday they would take it. They said that "everything [they] found in the knot hole was [their] property" (Lee 79). One day while Jem and Scout are going to put a letter into the knot hole for the person whose "giving" them the gifts, Jem screamed finding out "someone had filled [their] knot hole with cement." (83) They took it as if it was the end of the world, while Jem's telling Scout "don't you cry now" (83) The tone is that since the knot hole is gone, the good things in life are gone. The mood is that its just another part of life. It's not something to cry about. Even if the hole isn't really theirs. Scout as a narrator is portraying grief.
ReplyDeleteOne example of how the mood and tone are different in the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the dinner scene at Scouts home in chapter 3. Scout and Walter Cunningham fought in the school yard, after Jem broke up the fight he invited Walter to dinner. Before they started to eat, Atticus and Walter talked like two old friends about farming and the problems that go along with it. During their conversation Walter asked if there was any molasses in the house. Calpurnia brought a pitcher from the kitchen for Walter and he proceeded to pour it all over his meat and his vegetables. Scout asked Walter, "what the sam hill he was doing (Lee 27)?" Atticus just shook his head at her, and she replied by saying "But he's gone and drowned his dinner in syrup (Lee 27)." Calpurnia then asked to see Scout in the kitchen where she was furious with anger. Calpurnia's anger was evident because when she gets angry her grammar becomes erratic. Scout then went through the swinging doors to retrieve her plate and Calpurnia gave her a stinging smack. This is humorous because the tone and mood are vastly different. The tone is very serious and the mood is funny because as readers we find it amusing that she cares so much about how Walter chooses to eat his food.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter two, Scout's new teacher, Miss Caroline tells Scout "Your fatehr does not know how to teach." (Lee 23). Even though we know that Scout is able to read, Miss Caroline tells Scouth she doesn't know how to read only because then Miss Caroline won't know what to do with Scout for the rest of the year. In the book, Scout is mad, complains about Miss Caroline to Jem afterwards,and finds thinks of the situation as a huge tragedy, but the reader views it as Miss Caroline being a bit ridiculous. She's only putting down Scouth for her own benefit and to make herself feel more secure as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter one Jem, Scout and Dill are all discussing Boo Radley and the many myths that evolved over the years. Jem gives a "reasonable" description of Boo Radley, describing him as: "six and a half feet tall, with a long jagged scar, yellow rotten teeth and eyes that pop." When Dill suggests they try to get a look at what he actually looks like, Jem and Scout were quick to disagree. Connecting to the movie: "A Christmas Story", at one point a boy was triple dog dared to stick his tongue on a light post on a snowy, cold day. Though a seemingly obvious mistake, the dramatic effect on the "double dog dare" makes the boy feel as though he has to do it. Similar to the story when Dill tells Jem to simply touch the house he refuses. Dill then asks: "You gonna run out on a dare?" (Lee 17) Though the tone is set very dramatically, the mood is almost comedic.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter five, Scout describes the action of Ms.Maudie killing the nut grasses, and she explains how harmful the grass killing spray is. She tells them that it's poisonous and that it will kill all of them if they come closer. "blasts from beneath with a poisonous substance she said was so powerful it'd kill us all."(Lee56) The tone of this sentence is very serious when the mood is just a little too ridiculous. Miss Maudie is obviously over exaggerating the fact that the substance kills the plant.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six adult Scout tells about Dill and Jems plan for Dills last night,"Dill and Jem where simply gona peep in the window with the loose shutter to see if they could get a look at Boo Radley". to Scout this seems like a death wish but Jem wont listen to her. the tone of this scene is ridiculous, they are just going to peek in the window to see Boo and nothing will happen, the adult scout knows that but she sitll freeks out.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter eight, Miss Maudies house was on fire. When the whole town was at the house trying to get out the furniture Scout and Jem where outside watching while standing infront of the Radley house. She didn't relize it at the time but Boo Radley put a blanket on her. When they got home and relized that there was a blanket on her back and she freaks out. To keep the dramatic mood of this, Scout as a narrator doesn't explain what happened. Even though She knows what really happened and who really did it. Scout makes the scene alot more dramatic then it really is.
ReplyDeleteTammy Song said...
ReplyDeleteIn chapter six, Scout narrates "He evidently remembered he was engaged to me, for he ran back out and kissed me swiftly in front of Jem." (Lee 55). Of course at that time, when Scout young, she thought it was like a serious relationship, but in reality she knows it is a joke. She is not really engaged to a small boy that is not even up to her height. She was young and now she is telling the story like a funny childhood memory.
I agree with Matt Angel, I really like how she made the mood creepy because she acts like a mysterious blanket appeared on her. The only thing I worry about your comment is that there are no quotes, Not that I mind personally but it helps me remember the mood more and I'm sure it would help with your grade.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Michael Jobski,especially his comment about Boo Radley "When to the reader it seems that it is a great form of kindess and sign of respect from Boo. It can also make the reader sad that everyone views Boo Radley as a monster. While in reality he, at least from his actions, is a very nice and friendly person." Good Job.
ReplyDeleteOne example when the tone and mood are different, is in Chapter four, when Dill had just arrived for the summer. Scout, Dill, and Jem were trying to find a game to play, and Dill looked at the Radley House and claimed "I-smell-death"(Lee 48) Jem ans Scout do not understand what Dill is trying to say and Dill tells them, "I can smell somebody an' tell if they're gonna die."(Lee 48) Then he tells Scout, "Jean-Louise-Finch, you are going to die in three days."(Lee 48) Scout becomes frightened and threatens Dill, "Dill if you don't hush i'll knock you bowlegged."(Lee 48) As a character, Scout somewhat believes what Dill is proclaiming, and is scared, but us as readers can see that Dill is lying.
ReplyDeleteAn example of adult Scout over exaggerating her tone would be when Scout and Jem first meet Dill. Though Dill was small, he had seen so much more then them. "Dill had seen Dracula, a revelation that moved Jem to eye him[Dill] with the begginning of respect." (Lee 9)You can see that she is stretching the suspense and emotion of Scout and Jem's feelings toward this new and exciting thing that Dill has introduced. You feel as a reader that it's not that big of a deal that there was a movie, and you can tell that Scout is being over excited in her tone.
ReplyDeleteOne example of the tone and mood conveying different messages, is when Dill dares Jem to touch the Radley house. Jem is clearly scared and trying to cover it up. He casually walks up to the gate then pauses supposedly "studying the simple terrain" (Lee 18). But when Scout "sneered" at him he "threw open the gate" to appear brave. Jem ends up simply sprinting to the house and back, the whole situation is found humorous and childish by the reader. But to Scout and Jem it's a nerve wracking, teeth chattering endeavour.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with Marie's comment. When Miss Caroline says that to Scout, the reader views it as an insecure overreaction. Whereas Scout doesn't understand and ends up not liking it, but being forced to believe it.
ReplyDeleteAnother time when scout shows this attitude is when is when she is talking to Atticus. Scout says,"I didn't see why we had to keep our heads anyway", Scout follows that with this, Nobody I knew at school had to keep his head about anything."[139 Lee] This attitude of scout show's she is very young and immature and does not realize the severity if she were to crack and say something unwise. There is even a saying cooler heads prevail. This saying is often used in sports when there is a brawl, or something like that. Scout shows in this book that attitude quite a bit, and this example is of many in the book where Scout displays this attitude.
ReplyDeleteDuring Chapter fifteen, Scout shows us how childish and disarming a child could be during serious and uneasy times. It is late at night and Scout, Jem, and Dill all go to Atticus's office to check up on him, when they find him sitting in front of the jail. They hide in the bushes, when four cars roll up in front of the jail and men start talking to Atticus. Close enough to hear what was going on Scout ran to Atticus, not knowing how serious what was going on. Dill and Jem eventually followed. When Atticus told them to go home Jem wanted to stay. Finally, when they were about to leave. Scout spotted Mr. Cunningham, and started to talk to him about, how she goes to school with Walter (his son). She continues to talk about how he is "a real nice boy" and when he gets home to tell him she says "hey" (Lee 205). Once Scout realizes that this is not interesting him, she tries one of Atticus's methods, which is talk about what they want to talk about. So, not realizing the seriousness in the subject scout starts talking to Mr. Cunningham about entailments. When Scout said this "some had their mouths half-open". She continued to think about the "Idiocy I had committed" and thought that it was a good enough topic to talk about. Scout still confused became even more quizzical when Mr. Cunningham told her he would say she says hey, to Walter, and said "Let's get goind" to the group (206). The perspective on the mood and tone are completly different. The reader knows how dangerous and scary things could get, while younge Scout has no clue what was going on and tried to start and friendly conversation. Scout completly made the men uncomfortable with such a friendly gesture they were not forced, but inclinned to leave and do nothing. It is quite funny if you think about it.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 6, " Every night-sound I heard from my cot on the back porch was magnified three-fold;every scratch of feet on gravel was Boo Radley seeking revenge, every passing Negro laughing in the night was Boo Radley loose and after us; insects splashing against the screen were Boo Radley's insane fingers picking the wire to pieces; [...] " (Lee 74) She over-exaggerates her situation making it humorous for the audience to laugh at but in her point of view, she is actually really scared thinking that Boo Radley is outside of her window.
ReplyDeletei like this website, i'm going to show it to my teacher, we are about to start To Kill A Mocking Bird. I think she will enjoy this. Especially since we just got done learning a skabillion literary devices. :)
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