The Secret Diary of Arthur "Boo" Radley

Day 333
Next week is the Tom Robinson's trial, and everybody is getting prepared for it. Atticus went out last night to read in front of Maycom's Jail. Jem, Scout and Dill followed him. Four cars arrived and parked near. I was afraid something could happen to the children. It is a dangerous place. The men told Atticus to send his children home. Scout told something I couldn't hear to a man, I believe it's Mr. Cunningham. The children never left the place when told so. They were finally safe and went home with Mr Finch. 
Day 335
Tom Robinson's trial began today. People from all over the county were present. It came to my attention that Mr Raymond was there: he's too wealthy and eccentric to be part of a trial. Most of the assistants are against Tom Robinson, but Scout, as a young and innocent girl, believes in him as all the black people do. The children didn't have a place to sit and Reverend Sykes offered them to sit in the black balcony. They are safe now. Nobody's going to hurt them. Black people are very friendly. Mr Tate was called to declare.
Day 345
 Jem and Scout are on their way to school. Today is the Halloween event. Scout is dressed as a ham. Atticus is not with them and they're going through a shortcut by the bushes. I better hurry up to catch them... I knew it! Bob Ewell attacked them. They were alone in the bushes and Bob attacked them! Luckily I was in time to save them. Took them home but there was not much I could do. They finally found me. Scout was so excited to see me! I really like that girl...

The Help

"The Help" is one of the most thought-provoking and touching portraits of African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. In this movie we find a very important phrase: "separate but equal" which means that Black and White people have the same rights and obligations but they don't have it at the same time and place. They can't live together. Jim Crow Laws were present at the time and many times mentioned. Everything is appreciated in the movie, for example, different toilets, movilization and neighborhoods. In the movie, Skeeter wants to write a book with the testimonies of maids. The maids in The Help took a risk by telling their stories. Even though they knew they could be shot to death in their front yards, they went ahead with the project. If people are not willing to take risks then they are not going to achieve what they want. Everyone wants something, but to achieve it we have go through a difficult way. By going over the obstacles we know that we really want something and no matter what we do, we will get there one day. In the case of the movie, Black people's final goal was equality and to achieve it they had an extremely difficult road, full of holes and dangers. By writing the book, they were getting closer and jumping over the first big hole.

Chapter 12-17 Analysis Questions.

Ch. 12
1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase Church. What does Scout learn about how black people live?

The First Purchase Church is called like that because it was bought by the first free slaves with their first earning. The children learn that Black people are very poor, close to each other and most of them didn't know how to read and write.
2. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church.
Because Black people might get offended because of the lack of education. She adapts to the circumstances.

Ch. 13
3. Aunt Alexandra thinks Scout is "dull" (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right? 

She thinks that because Scout doesn't act like a lady. Alexandra is completely wrong.
4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Macomb's social life?

She meets with neighbors and gossips about everything, specially the Finch family, their richness. Alexandra want to be a feminist influence the the children.

5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family, in contrast to Atticus' visions. Who's right, do you think? Why?

Aunt Alexandra thinks that values must go from one generation to another, whereas Atticus thinks that everyone should express their feelings and differences from their parents. I think Atticus is kind of a "modern father".

Ch. 14.
6. Comment on Atticus' definition of rape. How suitable is this definition as an answer to Scout?

I think it is a proper definition in contrast with Calpurnia's.

Ch. 15
1. What is the Ku Klux Klan? What do you think of Atticus' comment about it?

It is a gang that scares and kills Catholics. Atticus tells that it is not a gang, it is a political organization but there's no one to scare in Maycomb.
2. How does Jem react when Atticus tells him to go home, and why?

He shakes his head and refuses to go. Atticus and the children finally go back together.
3. What persuades the lynching-party to give up their attempt on Tom's life?
The interruption from Scout.

Ch. 16
4. What sort of person is Dolphus Raymond and what is your opinion of him?

Dolphus is a rich white man who lives with Black people and presented an an alcoholic. He later says that he acts like that because he hates white people's hypocrisy.
5. How does Reverend Sykes help the children see and hear the trial? Is he correct in doing so?
He calls them and lets them seat in the black balcony. The children can now listen and see the trial clearly. I think his attitude is correct and does so as a way to thank Atticus who is defending Tom.

Ch. 17
6. Choose three quotes from chapter 17. Explain the context of each, the characters involved, and their relevance for the story, themes and overall message of the novel.

"Did you call a doctor Sheriff? Did anybody call a doctor?"

"I just wanted to make sure judge"

"Will you write your name and show use please"

In all this quotes from Atticus, we get to know that Atticus knows something, and he is totally convinced that Tom didn't rape Mayella. Atticus want evidence that Bob hit Mayella, and later proves that Tom's left arm is "dead".

Personal Recount - Written task
"Mixing with strangers"

I've been in many places living with strangers. The US for example was a place very similar to Chile but you can clearly notice the cultural differences, specially in organization and public respect. In New Zealand happened the same. I "lived" there for three weeks and I noticed the difference in the food eaten, the way of life and education system which is very different to ours.  I have also met people from other social classes which gave me a better understanding of the world. This is very similar to what happened to Jem and Scout when visiting the Black Church. 

To Kill A Mockingbird - Part One Essay

We spent a whole week writing a formal essay about part one of To Kill a Mockingbird. I chose topic 2: What impact does setting have on your understanding of the central ideas or themes presented in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. 

My thesis was that of course, "the setting of the story helps the reader to understand the book in a better way.  We have the Walter Cunninghams issue, racial segregation and the Tom Robinson's case which can be understood in a better way if you know the context and setting.

All these aspects help the reader and that's what my essay is about.

To Kill a Mockingbird Part 1 Analysis Questions

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?

By choosing a young narrator, in this case a 5-9 year old girl, we get an innocent but true point of view. The description sometimes is childish but totally objective.
2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during part 1 of the book?

At first, they thought Boo was a bad person, scary and crazy, but as the story goes on, they start changing their mind. After founding his trouser nice and tidy when running away from the Radley place, after finding gifts in a knothole and after Scout is helped by Boo during the fire, they start thinking of Boo as a good person, just oppressed by his family.
3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 

Among all of the examples we can find in the novel, strictly referring to the first part we have the Walter Cunninghams case. When Jem invited him to have lunch and Walter purred syrup all over his plate, Scout cursed him and then she was punished by Calpurnia. Scout didn't understood the position of Walter at first, but when she stood in his shoes, she knew the situation better. Her life was easy compared to Walter.
4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 

Atticus is a good father in the aspect of teaching values and moral education of his children, although his almost never present and Calpurnia has to take care of the children. Atticus just tries to keep the house and family up.
5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.

Almost everyone in Maycomb was racist and this is represented when Atticus has to defend a Negro, Tom Robinson. People from Maycomb bother Jem and Scout. The finch family is upset too.

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 

Racism was an important issue during the times of the author and before. Now days we still have discrimination but not as a big issue as it was before. the same happens with classes, but the difference is that  it is still an issue now days.
7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why?

I would say is Boo, as he is really a good person oppressed by society and misunderstood. He helps people and hopes for the best as we will see later on in part two.

ALABAMA RADIO ONE 

Tom Robinson's Trial.