To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 1-2 BY HARPER LEE

Chapter 1 The Finch family – Simon Finch escaped religious persecution and started a farm that supported the family ◦Atticus – lawyer, widower, successful, supports 2 children. ◦Jack – doctor ◦Alexandra – farm

Chapter 1: Maycomb Atticus related by blood or marriage to most families. Great Depression ◦“Tired old town” ◦“courthouse sagged”– law is in disrepair ◦“there was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see…”

Chapter 1: Characters Calpurnia, their cook, helps to raise the children. ◦Jem – four years older than Scout / has memories of their deceased mother / sometimes these memories make him unhappy ◦Dill – does not discuss father / playmate of Jem and Scout / visits aunt in the summer.

Chapter 1: Radley Place Arthur Boo Radley is a recluse and no one has seen him outside in years. Boo had gotten in trouble and his father imprisoned him in the house as punishment. He was not heard from for fifteen years later when he stabbed his father with a pair of scissors. Dill dares Jem to touch the Radley house.

Chapter 2 Scout is excited to go to school. Jem walks her (paid by Atticus) ◦“during school hours I was not to bother him, I was not to approach him with requests to enact a chapter of Tarzan and the Ant Men, to embarrass him with references to his private life…”

Chapter 2: School Miss Caroline is from Winston County which make the children believe she cannot be completely trusted. ◦Doesn’t understand society in Maycomb Miss Caroline concludes that Atticus has taught Scout to read. She makes Scout feel guilty for being educated – insulted her father “tell him I’ll take over from here and try to undo the damage… your father does not know how to team…”

Chapter 2 Walter has no lunch; Miss Caroline offers him a quarter to go downtown. ◦He refuses – he will be unable to pay her back ◦Proud and honest family ◦“The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back” Scout tries to explain the C’s economic situation but is disciplined by Miss Caroline, who doesn’t understand. The C family is hardened by the Great Depression which make their farming unprofitable. Pay Atticus for legal services with firewood, nuts, and turnip greens. Mr. C does not want to give up his land and willing to go hungry to retain his voting rights.