Mayella: Sympathetic or Not?



Mayella - a sympathetic character?
Taken from Google Images



Many readers have mixed feelings about Mayella's character.  It is evident from her testimony that she lies about Tom Robinson allegedly beating and raping her, but it is also evident that she has had a pretty rough life.  What do you think about Mayella?  Should readers feel sorry for her?  If so, why?  If not, why?  Give specific evidence for your reasoning!

"Mob Mentality"

"Mr. Cunningham is basically a good man.  He has blind spots along with the rest of us...a mob's always made up of people, no matter what.  Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man.  Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know...it took an eight year old child to bring 'em to their senses, didn't it?  That proves something - that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human" (157).

Taken from Google Images

Journal Prompt - Tell a story about a time when you were functioning with the "mob mentality" like Walter Cunningham.  What did you do that you normally wouldn't have done, but because you were with others it seemed okay at the time?  What was the outcome?

Mockingbird = Innocence



Taken from Google Images

 http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/20/10775671-trayvon-martin-case-to-go-to-grand-jury-fla-state-attorney-announces

After watching the clip above, I want you to ponder one question regarding To Kill a Mockingbird:

What has changed (if anything) since the 1930's regarding race and injustice?  What can be done to stop racism and senseless killing?  How is Trayvon Martin a "mockingbird" himself?

Taken from Google Images

60 Minutes Special on "The N-Word"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_VlJGtYiR8

The use of the "N-Word" is prominent much of literature - Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird use the word quite frequently.  But why?  What is the word's purpose in these pieces of classic literature?

After watching this video clip, I want you to think about the viewpoints that were expressed in the 60 Minutes segment and determine what you think: should the "N-word" be taken out of literature all together, or should the word stay? 

Does eliminating the word from these classic texts make it more powerful than it needs to be, or does its eradication take away the power?  Reflect on what you viewed in this film clip, and make sure to explain the reasoning behind your response.



Taken from Google Images



Trouble in TKAM

Taken from Google Images



Jem, Dill, and Scout are oftentimes in trouble, as you have seen from the chapters you read over the weekend.  The Finch kids and their sidekick always seem to be into something.  For this journal prompt, I want you to think back in your day - a time when your bike could take you anywhere, a time when your imagination never stopped (even in your sleep), a time when "pretend" was reality, a time when you were young and innocent (well, mostly innocent).  Who was your "Dill" AKA the instigator?  What kind of trouble would you get into? (Hopefully you were never shot at by the neighbors...)  What did you do to stress out your parents?  Did your older siblings try to ward you off like Jem does? 

Use your genre sheet to write about yourself and some adventures you had as a child - have fun with this!

TKAM Journal Prompt!

Taken from Google Images



I know you guys don't have to post a blog this week, but it's been soooo long since we've done a journal due to this crazy week, so we're doing one!

Soooo...

Take on the perspective of one of the minor characters of To Kill a Mockingbird (no Jem, Scout, or Atticus).  Write a diary/journal entry from that particular character's perspective about the current events in the novel.  What would Burris Ewell have to say about what happened in school?  What would Walter Cunningham talk about after his supper with the Finches?  What about Miss Caroline in her first horrific days of teaching 1st grade?  Maybe you want to take on the perspective of Dill at his home in Meridian, longing to come back to Maycomb so he could hang out with the Finch children.  Be creative with this!